Five riders left the square just after 6:30am on a chilly 13°C morning, heading south out of Gloucester. The first long section towards the Severn Bridge was taken steadily, mostly along the A38, with everyone saving energy for the big day ahead. There was an early bit of entertainment when a car screeched its tyres at some traffic lights, causing the most junior member of the group to jump sideways like a startled cat!
By the 9:30am services stop, the temperature had risen considerably and the sun was already feeling surprisingly hot. At the Severn Bridge we discovered that the south-side cycle path was closed, but fortunately our plan was to use the north side anyway. The crossing was remarkably calm, with hardly any wind. After a long drag up the red cycle path, we negotiated the busy roundabout at Chepstow before heading onto quieter roads towards Usk.
The roads towards Usk and Abergavenny were lovely, with plenty of forest cover and sections alongside the river. By Abergavenny the heat had taken away most of our appetites, but a breakfast sub was forced down in preparation for the big challenge ahead: Gospel Pass.
As we approached the mountains, ominous smoke appeared in the distance and we could smell it too. We kept an eye out for any sign of a wildfire affecting our route, hoping it wouldn’t become a problem. The climb itself was tough in the heat, but it was nice to be cheered on by walkers while we tackled the final steep section. Reaching the top of Gospel Pass was a great feeling. We stopped for a well-earned rest on the grass and took in the stunning views.
Unfortunately, our youngest rider’s ongoing mechanical problems eventually got the better of him. After he didn’t show up at the summit, our mountain biker went back to look for him, and we soon saw him pass us and start the long descent. We later found out that he had become so fed up with his bike that he had decided to head straight home.
The remaining riders continued to Hay-on-Wye, where a few of us enjoyed a roast beef dinner in a sixteenth-century pub. From Hay it was a lumpy stretch of main roads towards Lock’s Garage in Allensmore for a pit stop.
As we approached Ross-on-Wye, the wildfire smoke made another appearance, with both the smell and smoke visible again. By this point food and cold drinks were very much on the agenda, so we stopped for some pizza and fizzy drinks before setting off for the final leg home.
Thank you to my fellow riders for an epic adventure, a memorable and challenging day out.
138 miles 7,700 feet of climbing
