Somerset Hills Gran Fondo
vs
Posts: 468
My first ride of the year. I enjoyed the small turnout and friendly atmosphere, I have a bit of an aversion to the crowds and hype of the big sportives these days.
Starting with a climb up Cheddar Gorge and then 50 miles down or rather up onto Exmoor and down to Dunster into a hellish headwind made for a hard solo trip.
At Blue Anchor I had to wait at the level crossing for what seemed like 10 minutes while the Somerset Steam Railway puffed past. It was warming up so I decided I would use the time to shed my base layer. It was as I was putting my jacket back on that I looked to my right and saw that two very giggly teenage girls had been ogling my naked but hopefully taut 46 year old torso from the back of their parents Range Rover; that and the thought of a tail wind finally replaced my weathered grimace with a smile
Up the coast and over to Watchet, the sun came out and with some wind behind me I was thinking the hard bit was over. However the route took us on to some roads back to Bridgewater which I feel are too busy and fast for a cycling event, or it might be that I do so much of my cycling on the virtually traffic free lanes of Exmoor I've lost my nerve a bit.
Finally turn off of the highway and then, after 78 miles, up Crowcombe Hill which is a 1 in 4 wall, and not a short one, I needed all of my 25 sprocket.
Then it was just a case of crossing the Somerset levels back to Cheddar but unfortunately back into increasing cross and head winds.
Arrived back in 6 hours 23 minutes for 113 miles. Just had a look and quite pleased to see it was the fastest time.
Well done to the organisers for putting on a well run event.
Starting with a climb up Cheddar Gorge and then 50 miles down or rather up onto Exmoor and down to Dunster into a hellish headwind made for a hard solo trip.
At Blue Anchor I had to wait at the level crossing for what seemed like 10 minutes while the Somerset Steam Railway puffed past. It was warming up so I decided I would use the time to shed my base layer. It was as I was putting my jacket back on that I looked to my right and saw that two very giggly teenage girls had been ogling my naked but hopefully taut 46 year old torso from the back of their parents Range Rover; that and the thought of a tail wind finally replaced my weathered grimace with a smile
Up the coast and over to Watchet, the sun came out and with some wind behind me I was thinking the hard bit was over. However the route took us on to some roads back to Bridgewater which I feel are too busy and fast for a cycling event, or it might be that I do so much of my cycling on the virtually traffic free lanes of Exmoor I've lost my nerve a bit.
Finally turn off of the highway and then, after 78 miles, up Crowcombe Hill which is a 1 in 4 wall, and not a short one, I needed all of my 25 sprocket.
Then it was just a case of crossing the Somerset levels back to Cheddar but unfortunately back into increasing cross and head winds.
Arrived back in 6 hours 23 minutes for 113 miles. Just had a look and quite pleased to see it was the fastest time.
Well done to the organisers for putting on a well run event.
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Comments
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Thanks vs - I wasn't aware of this one but it sounds like a great ride. May look at it next year but I couldnt get close to your time - well done.0
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Real pity im back at uni, would have been a great ride to do! I know crowcombe hill, good stuff getting up it, its evil! Think i'd struggle on my mtb let alone the road bike! Great time too btw, i wouldnt be anywhere near that!0
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With 80 miles in early season legs Crowcombe Hill is wicked. Some guy was PUSHING his mountain bike up the hill and because of the hills nature, where you can see all of it in one frightening look up, I saw him early but never actually thought I was going to catch him.
Here's my Garmin Connect, if anyone's remotely interested.
It does show a moving time of 6.15, I didn't hang around at the food stops, perhaps a minute at each to fill up a bottle and get my time recorded, so it looks like 5 of the 8 standing minutes were waiting for the train.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/865728820
