The bucket list
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| The route map and elevation chart |
As with so many of my cycling stories it started with a simple message from Richard:
"Always wanted to do this one! its only short 32miles but lots of cimb! Available Sat/Sun or Mon mornings early start from Wxm then from Bala over to Vyrnwy and back to Bala in time for lunch. :-)"
Now my renewed love affair with cycling started with a throw away comment from Richard asking if I would like to ride Lands End to Jon O Groats for charity. He has form. I have a lot to thank him for.
When I initially thought about the question posed by Probikekit.co.uk about my favourite ride, one of those days should probably have sprung to mind. However, as picking a day from that would be a bit like being asked "who is your favourite child?", it didn't.
What I did think of instantly was the ride that followed the message above.
The hellfire pass.
The lots of climb referred to in the message primarily related to Bwlch y Groes. This is Welsh for the Pass of the Cross but the route is also known as the Hellfire Pass. It features in the 100 greatest climbs in the UK book and was historically a key feature of the Milk race where local legend tells of riders in the early 90s powering up on the big ring.
It is most famous for being the highest mountain pass road in Wales at 545m or just short of 2000 feet and although this is not a lot in relation to the Alpine climbs the ascent does start from around 180 meters so by UK standards this is not a bad altitude. This is painted on the road just in case the fact is lost on you.
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| In case you didn't know. |
Richard referred to this ride as one on his "bucket list". If you are not familiar with the term it is a list of things that you have to do before you kick the bucket. A little bit morbid but we were going to do it so I was wondering would it live up to the expectations? It by far surpassed them.
Ride through the clouds
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| Cloudy start at the lake |
Starting from Bala lake in cold and cloudy conditions after the drive from Wrexham the route meandered down the side of the reservoir. There is a cycle path that goes the entire length of the lake, and for those after a more relaxed ride a very quiet road that circles back on the other shore, which provided for a nice gentle start.
Shortly after you reach the westerly end of the lake, instead of following the shoreline, you make a right hand turn. The road starts to ascend in front of you through the trees on what is an unremarkable country lane.
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| The start of the climb |
What was remarkable was as the road hit a steeper section the cloud had descended to form a mist. On your right through the trees you could see glimpses of sunlight breaking through and providing the effect of spotlights beneath.
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| Light at the end of the tunnel |
A few more turns of the pedals and we emerged through the top of the clouds to a brilliant sunshine. Bala was not under cloud as much as a mist that blanketed the valley like freshly fallen snow and much like a plane taking off we were now looking down on this serene view.
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| At Cloud level. |
At the point the photo was taken, we were probably about 2/3 of the way to the top and the remainder of the climb snaked upwards ahead of us. Yet the views meant we were still smiling and just discussing how amazing this view was. This continued all the way to the top and instead of the usual bout of competition meaning we headed off at different paces, three of us steadily progressed pretty much together chatting towards the summit.
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| Approach to the summit |
Nick had gone a little bit ahead as you can see in the picture. Now, picture what you expect to see at the top of a hill like this. Something like the picture below?
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| Not exhausted...just trying not to laugh |
Hands up if you picture a Rottweiler bounding towards you at full pelt? I bet even fewer people pictured a man running after the dog from his parked van with the familiar cry of all dog owners "he is friendly!". For the crowning glory; Who pictured the back doors of the van open with the man's partner asleep on a camp bed inside? All of that is what greeted Nick and the rest of us shortly after. We don't have pictures. I just couldn't figure out how to take it without adding to an already odd situation.
This apparition aside, the views were stunning. Looking back where we had just come from the blanket of mist stretched all the way back along the valley and we were bathed in the sunshine.
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| Blanket of cloud from the top |
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| Arty shot of bike point downhill |
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| The Anti Yazz |
The discussion of the potential reaction of our wives if we suggested the top of a hill in the back of a ford transit for our next holiday destination did provide a welcome distraction however. Whilst, I was brave enough to make the descent, I wasn't brave enough to suggest the holiday.
Lake Vrynwy
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| First view of lake |
As the road levelled out the gaps in the treas showed the beautiful Lake Vrynwy. The perfectly still water reflecting the sky and shore like a perfect mirror this symmetrical view of the world was just as stunning as the climb.
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| Flat lake path |
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| BoB. Bike on Bridge |
We stopped on the damn that crosses the lake for a quick drink before heading back to Bala. The panoramic view below showing the lake on one side and the drop away to the river on the right hand side. More beautiful scenery and all within 20 miles of our start point.
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| Lake Vrynwy Panorama |
Having circumnavigated the lake we then took a different route back towards Bala which involved a climb not as long as Bwlch y Groes but steeper in gradient. As I pulled over to let an oncoming car pass, I heard the unmistakable hiss of mytyre popping.
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| The mirror like water |
As I normally climb ok I suggested that the others went on and I could catch them up. Fortunately, Nick came back just as I realised I had not just popped the tube but ripped my tyre. He had a typical pump as opposed to my CO2 cannister so I was able to deflate the tube again. Had he not come back, I would have been really stuck, not only without a tyre but also no way to re-inflate the tube.
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| "You stay with him"..."no you stay". Nick came back when he chose paper to Richard's scissors |
So how did we escape? Why am I not still trapped on the Welsh hillside?
interestingly, there is a link to the royal family in the answer to the question. I was not rescued by a locally based royal family member in a Sea King helicopter but the Queen played a part...well her image anyway. A far more experienced cycling friend of mind had said he always carried a £10 with him because the paper was surprisingly strong. He suggested you could fold the note within the tyre and it would hold the tube inside long enough for you to get home. Remembering this conversation, that is exactly what I did. It worked brilliantly as well and came with the added advantage that I couldn't pay for breakfast as my money was inside my front wheel. Bonus!
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| I can see the pub from here..just not Nick |
It did mean I was even more cautious on descents where the tyres would be under pressure. This was a shame with roads like the one above to ride down. Maybe we can go back this August? Nick quickly became the dot in the distance as he reached escape velocity and tucked his barber shop sign wrapped frame into as small a shape as possible.
Bala awaited at the end of the valley and we made great time there with minimal effort. There was one short sharp hill just towards the end that caught us all in the wrong gear. We tried to out muscle each other by pushing the pedals as hard as we could instead of changing gear.
Just about winning the ensuing battle with inertia, we then made the final roll down to the town where we parked the bikes and tucked into the aforementioned lunch. Well breakfast really but it was pushing lunch time.
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| The spoils of victory |
By the time we got back to the lake the scene was an idyllic summers day as opposed the autumnal weather we had departed in. It was also fair to say that my general mindset had also changed during the ride in a similar way. I had a far more sunny disposition than when we arrived. Three hours in the company of friends and a reminder of how stunning the Welsh and British countryside actually is can do that to you.
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| Back to the start |
If you have ridden this route and enjoyed this as it brought back memories of the day then I will be pleased.
If you have not done the route above then I strongly recommend you plan a day or weekend in the summer to take the time as my pictures do not do the scenery justice.
Just ride
In case it is not clear, my reason for this being my favourite ride was the purity of it.
This was not a ride for training purposes. There was not a set time limit to make the route in. It was not a ride where I was aiming for a strava segment (obviously I did record it on my Garmin and Strava because otherwise it didn't happen!). It was not a ride where I was constantly staring at a heart rate monitor to try and stay within a particular zone. Yes, there was a sense of achievement in making it to the top of Bwlch y Groes but the time taken was irrelevant. In fact the views were so breathtaking with the cloud below that a fast time was impossible.
This was a ride to spend time with friends, Mike, Nick and Richard. A chance to take in some views that simply have to be seen. To experience the freedom only a bicycle can bring. It was almost like a step back in time to being a child where a trip 300 metres along the road with friends was a voyage of discovery filled with awe.
What started off as a trip to tick an item off a friend's bucket list actually ended up as something I ticked off my own list and I am thrilled I was there for the ride.
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