After a day off yesterday that saw Sally and I drive over to Cardigan to see my friend in his spanking retirement pad, todays route was a bit tempered as fatigue had crept in.
Chris and Julie made us most welcome and we got to enjoy the views and birds in their garden before we reluctantly left with the green eyes of envy. It’s a lovely rural part of the world and some tough riding around there too that should keep the old dog entertained 🙂 I look forward to taking them up on their invite and returning to try it for myself at some point.
This morning’s forecast was light rain till lunchtime so I decided to stay in for a bit and see what happens. With daytime TV beginning to grate and only so many routes I can look at online, I opted to just go and ride my original 65km route over to Builth and back in a kind of bow-tie bit of Strava art.
I left just after 11am. Straight down to the main road then off up a lane to cut a big chunk of the main road out. Within yards aswell as blowing out my arse, I was in drizzle and my feet were getting wet. I’d ridden into a bit of a shower. I dropped back to the main road and the mile or so along there the roads were really wet but thankfully quiet so no spray from other vehicles. In Garth, I turned right and began the big climb of the day upto a viewpoint which had been touted as having unbelievable views. What I can say was unbelievable was the fucking climb! It turned out to be significantly longer and harder than I expected not helped by driving rain from my right. Near the top I questioned whether it was actually worth it. Just riding back down and home did cross my mind because the fatigue in my legs was giving me the dull ache of a 15hr week on the bike. On the way up I passed signs indicating I was entering a military training area. The Sennybridge training area is actually the third biggest in the UK. You can pass through but you must adhere to the signs and stick to the roads.
On top the views were as amazing as I had been told, but the cold, the wet and the threat of an even heavier shower rolling in meant I just kept going to stay as warm as I could praying the sun came out or the rain stopped at least. Sally and I planned on visiting Builth Wells, this afternoon, so I could always take the car up to see it properly later on.
Over the top the road rolled up and down open moorland peppered with sheep and signs reminding you where you were. I was passed by three Police motorcyclists. I wondered whether they were on their way back from being seconded to the Tour of Britain Women’s first stage to Llanduno yesterday. Maybe? Then a little further on I passed the Drovers Arms, an old pub now owned by the MOD.
After a lengthy but tricky descent being buffeted by strong winds and hearing the pops and cracks of gunshots off to my right, I hit the junction with the B4520. Here it was left to Builth Wells but first I had to climb back up over the top with a stepped 16% test.
The descent into Builth was interesting as it started with a a sign saying 25% then a little further on another saying 16%. It’s rare to have gradient signs stacked up a climb, I was just glad I was going down it.
In Builth I skirted the town centre and was out and back into the lanes super quick but what I thought was going to be a relatively flat ride tracking the river over to Llanwyrtd Wells turned out to be an interval session up and down relentless, short, sharp, energy-sapping climbs. My legs were really tired now not helped by the strong headwind. As I crossed the road where I climbed earlier, I put any thoughts of cutting the ride short out of my head and just chugged on but unable to get into any kind of rhythm.
Thankfully Llanwrtyd came sooner than I expected so I knew all I had was a 10 mile ride back up the Irfon valley now and one last steep climb out of Abergewsyn and it was downhill home.
I briefly stopped at the wash pool to have a look at the still-looking river waters and then continued on. The steep pitch out of Abergwesyn was ok, I was happy to go into the red a bit now as my riding for the week was almost done.
Just a 4 mile downhill ride now with just a couple of kickers to negotiate.
I was home in 2h30. 65km in the bag but it honestly felt like I’d ridden 165km. Ironically, probably the hardest ride of the week. It’s been a 17h+ week for me on the bike since last Saturday so the fatigue is expected. I can enjoy a few days rest now and hopefully that block will pay off in the next few weeks.
Home tomorrow but not before a trip out to Builth this afternoon and some pub grub tonight.
Adios