Tell us about your weekend ride

I had a pretty great weekend riding in North Wales, the place I grew up. It rained the whole time, but I came to love the muted colour palate of a rain-drenched hills.

Day one, I set of from my Parents house and went to the shelf (as featured in 100 Hill Climbs) after that and just six miles into a century ride I decided to pull of the road and take a break in the mountain biker’s café in Llandegla. It was a smart move, the rain had been hammering down and after a cup of coffee and some typical roadie vs. MTB, your clothes are so fucking silly looks in the cafe, I was ready to set off again. My Gabba Jersey was dry. From Llandegla I headed to the worlds’ end climb as featured in the wiggle sportive etape Cymru. It’s an awesome hill that lands you at world’s end, a mysterious wilderness of a place. From the top of worlds end, it’s a 5.6 mile descent to Llangollen, good luck riding this on the wiggle sportive guys; the road surface is dogshit, considerably worse than a year ago. It may just be sour grapes on my part w/r/t road surface as I fell off at the point the river floods across the road on the descent, by losing my back wheel on some Algae. From the bottom of worlds end, unhurt but blood dripping from my lip and knee I road alongside the Dee River for 20 or so miles to Pentroefoelas. This is a nice route on lanes and I would suggest this over the A5, from Pentroefoelas it’s a punchy climb up to Denbigh Moore’s and then a sweet smooth descent on well surfaced roads into Denbigh, by this time the sun was out and it was a great day, so I went on a noodley loop between Denbigh and St Asaph, before I headed home to Craigfechan,

Ride clocked in at 100 miles with 8,307ft of Climbing,

http://www.strava.com/activities/183860730/

Day Two took in two more climbs from 100 Hill Climbs, the short and steep Moel Arthur climb, and the long ‘Road to Hell. Road hell is aptly named, Every time I ride it, a headwind and rain are guaranteed. It’s also quite long but really kicks up in places, as much to 17% in parts. Once completed the reward for ring Road to Hell is great, a sweet view of Llyn Brenig and what feels like a 20 mile decent. Into Ruthin (although there are a few hills)

Ride Clocked in at 56.8 Miles, 4,944 ft of Climbing and an improbable top speed of 60.6 MPH

http://www.strava.com/activities/184159256

Day Three was the big one. Riding in Snowdonia, a friend hooked me up with the route that does two loops of the roads around the mountain range, if you ever fancy heading to Snowden to do a ride, this is a great route. The climbs are a lot longer and less steep than two rides I did previously. It feels like riding in the mountains more than riding in the hills I guess, The first loop was in hammering rain, this takes in the Pen Y Pass from the easier side and features a wonderful descent down the Pen Y Pass on the steap side (which you eventually finish the ride by riding back up) and also a descent down the capel Curig road, where I chased someone in full team sky kit, riding one of Bossan Hagen’s ex race bikes. The second loop takes you out towards the coast, the rain stopped for this one, the larger version of the Pen Y pass climb is really challenging at the end of an 80-mile ride, but quite rewarding. Seriously go and ride this one.

75.9 Miles 4,898 Ft

http://www.strava.com/activities/184791808

Day 4 – recovery on tired legs. Two times x 100 hill climbs. The shelf and Bwlch Pen Barras

http://www.strava.com/activities/185146901

Microcosm is kinda beyond me sometimes.

PHOTOS

1. Worlds End
   
2. Denbigh Moores
   
3. Road to Hell
   
4. The Shelf
   
5. Bwlch PenBarras
   

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