I thought the first day was brilliant. The second was even better. Of cource any day that starts with a tasty coffee and delicious bun is normally a good one.

Little did I know what lay in store when I leant my bike against the wall of Caffi Lab just after eight on Sunday morning. 

The weather was cooler, and the sky overcast. No rain was forecast, but everyone knows what to expect when in Wales.

The hills started very early and continued to get steeper and longer for most of the route. I felt good and the reduced heat meant I found them challenging but very satisfying. The Garmin planner had me on quiet roads, I hadn’t really inspected the climb profile. The criteria had been a loop of around fifty miles, gravel and north out of Cardiff.

There was a long section of road, which I covered quickly. Then I turned off onto sand a rock.

Quiet a few times it was hike-a-bike steep. Up as well as down. The ascents were just too loose and the descents were equally unridable, for me at least. I was completly reliant on the directions I was getting from the Garmin. Occasionally there didn’t even seem to be a path. I filmed my progress as well as taking many pictures. The footage will be part of a feature film coming soon. I cooked the front brake keeping my speed down. This section was way above my skill level, The Kona definitely felt the strain.

I was releived when I got to the valley.

The views from such massive climbs were worth it.

Here is the hill I climbed up to and then boiled brake fluid coming down.

The valleys provided many picturesque vistas.

Fortunately there were some flatter bits. Like yesterday I rode along a few repurposed railway lines.

I find myself turning corners regularly to reveil sculptures to the area’s past.

Nearly at the top of the steepest, longest climb I saw a badly parked Morris Minor.

It was, I think, the longest, toughest I’ve ever completed.

The moor was worth the effort.

This section was incredible, gently rolling and hardly any drivers. I adopted an aero position and flew along. I could take the racing line on bends because with no trees or hedges I could see a long way ahead. The road surface was perfect too.

Coming back into Cardiff I returned to gravel cyclepaths. Then with single digit miles to go I was faced with a long, very steep climb. I was surprised how close I was to home and still be

surrounded by countryside.

Another post where I could have stopped to take even more pictures than you see here.