Out with the Kingsway CC again at 9:00 this morning. Pleased to see a good turnout of 10 today, including 2 newcomers. We did a gentlish circuit via Standish and Saul Canal Junction, where we stopped for tea and a chat, then back to Kingsway before the remaining 6 of us started a second, much tougher, circuit incorporating my all-time nemesis, the beast that is Haresfield Beacon.Picture a 1.5 mile hill with a profile that looks like the side of a volcano. Every single bend you come round greets you with another ramp-up in gradient. Even when you think it can't possibly get any steeper, you come round a corner and, guess what? It does.
Respect to Jonah and
@gordyfinbar, who both got up the beast in one. Quite an achievement. Personally, I got about 30 metres further than ever before before having to stop..... just up above where the Cotswold Way crosses the road, at the point where it is about 25%. My front wheel had been skipping occasionally for a few hundred yards, so I had started to zig-zag my way up the killer part. Within sight of the ridge across the road, where the gradient eases off visibly, I was just coming out of a zig-zag when the front wheel jumped up again, and I pulled a wheelie. So over I went. I got my foot down OK, but it was frustrating to fail again. Haresfield Beacon still has the better of me. The good thing, though, is that it is starting not to look totally impossible. Maybe I'll try it again soon, and attack the worst bit standing on the pedals instead of seated. While I was pushing the bike for about 75 metres, I caught sight of
@Dark46 behind me, riding up the very worst bit in bursts of 2 or 3 yards at a time, stopping regularly but steadfastly refusing to walk. Chapeau!
At the top, it turned out that 2 of the others had got off and pushed their way up the same section as me, so I didn't feel so bad. A great descent down from Edge to Gloucester followed, with me hitting a PB fastest speed of 37.6mph on the way. Beautiful, though chilly, day today. Glad I had winter clothing and base layer on, but it was a lovely day to be out and about.. God, I love cycling.
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Plus some apple sauce, crumble and cake!
