17 HOURS IN THE SADDLE

I completed my 150 mile challenge on Sunday despite the rain.  It rained all day and severely tested my wet weather gear.  Journey's end was near Slimbridge in Glos where for some reason there was still some gas left in my tank.

Starting at 4am, I reached Exeter without seeing people.  Haldon Hill which I dread was passed early on.  I did not see the sun rise because of dense clouds but I did see lots of wildlife taking advantage of  the early morning with rabbits scampering everywhere, deer grazing in the fields and birds overhead.

I needed a break in Cullompton and looked for a bus shelter, always a good place for a cyclist to rest in the rain.  I joined a National Cycle Route at Taunton and this took me beside a canal to Bridgwater.  Lots of people were out walking.  This stretch was very scenic as I was now heading into the Somerset Levels.

At Portishead, I had cycled 125 miles.  It was raining hard and gravel had got into my gears making them hard to operate.  My map was soaked and falling apart.  Bristol is complicated to navigate on a bike and for some reason the council had taken down all the Cycle Route signs and substituted them with different ones that did not tie up with my new soggy wet map.  I was at my lowest ebb.  I took a break in the dry under a motorway bridge and somehow it lifted my spirits.  I set off and found the mighty Avonmouth Bridge despite the almost complete absense of signs. 

Once over the bridge, the signs were all in place and it proved to be fairly easy navigating through Avonmouth and onwards into Gloucestershire.

I have cycled the little lanes beside the River Severn north of Bristol earlier this year and they are a good ride.  My energy had unaccountably come back and it was with much enjoyment I peddled up to the 150 mile mark accompanied for the last 6 miles by my wife.  If the weather was better, I would like to have carried on until it was dark but the thought of a hot bath and dry clothes was a better option.

 

MY 150 MILE IN A DAY CYCLE CHALLENGE

It is only one week to go before I attempt my longest one day cycle challenge. The date is set at 10 June 2012.

I have done lots of cycling and been to many places on my bike but never before have I tried 150 miles in a day.  I am finding that this is a daunting but very exciting challenge that I must do.

The journey starts in Ivybridge, Devon with a 15% hill outside my house so there is no time for a gentle warm up.  The end, legs permitting, is close to Slimbridge in Gloucestershire.

Using minor roads unless major roads are unavoidable, the route will often follow the National Cycle Network (NCN).  I will cycle the southern fringes of Dartmoor through Ashburton to Exeter which includes a long climb across Haldon Hill.  At Tiverton, I join the NCN and head to Taunton.  This also looks hilly in places but after Taunton there could be a good length of easier cycling to Bridgwater, Axton and Clevedon.  Entering Bristol, there is a cycle path alongside the M5 across the Avonmouth Bridge.  This is very high and windy on a bike.  There is continuous NCN from the bridge to Slimbridge as the last section winds its way north close to the River Severn.  Apart from the industrial parts of Bristol that I will go through, I have high hopes of a delightful scenic journey............... unless my legs give out or I collapse from exhaustion thus never seeing it.

The bike is my Trek X0.  This is my trusty cyclocross converted to touring.  It is no lightweight racer but it is strong and rugged.  It has now done 15,000 miles and never let me down on important rides.  I will carry food and drink with me making stops on route to replenish.

Am I prepared?................  I am doing all my training and have taken tips on food and drink.  My bike and legs do not permit high speeds.  Like this morning when I was out and overtaken by two navy guys going twice my speed, I get frustrated when I see others who I feel are much better than me.  I just believe that it is always important to challenge yourself.

If you would like to support my challenge, please go to http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/GrahamWilson150  . 

HEART OF DARTMOOR CYCLE CHALLENGE

40 Cyclists took part in the first Heart of Dartmoor Cycle Challenge organised by Devon Wildlife Trust on 12 May.  At 50 miles, the route attracted riders with a wide range of abilities with many coming from all over the country. 

Many were skilled racing cyclists attracted to a new route while for others it would stretch their abilities.  The common theme was that all wanted to experience the wildness of Dartmoor.

I lead a group of 10 cyclists on a route that included an off-road section.  Another group followed the fully on-road route while others had to use their map reading skills as they set out on their own.

Starting and finishing in Ivybridge, we started by following Dartmoor's rugged southern boundary via Shipley Bridge.  We rode through woods, alongside rushing rivers and past remote farms.  At Buckfast, we turned north to climb up on to the high moors with Princetown being the highest point.  We had managed to spread out here and most needed to recharge energy levels with a mixture of cream teas, pasties and chocolate bars.  We twice crossed the upper reaches of the River Dart.

The scenery via the off-road route from Princetown was breathtaking with unspoilt open moorland and Dartmoor's famous torrs all around us.

The Trust laid on refreshments at Holne and cycle repair facilities were provided on route by Big Peaks of Ashburton

It is hoped that the event will be repeated in 2013.

LON CAMBRIA

Fresh mountain air, red kites, forest trails and secret river valleys greeted me on my cycling tour of Wales at the end of April.

My trip started at Gloucester.  I rode north following the Malvern Hills and River Severn until just outside Shrewsbury where I turned west and my route crossed into Wales.  My destination was Fishguard on the Pembrokeshire coast.  I planned to follow Sustrans cycle routes nos 81 and 82 known as "Lon Cambria".

Cycling in Wales always feels like a mini adventure and I come alive on these trips.  I started on little tiny roads.  Sometimes they changed to woodland tracks more suited to mountain bikes.  Much of my journey was little visited and felt remote.  I pedalled into Welshpool and on to Llanidloes pearing at hill farms plentiful with sheep and lambs.  It was early Spring.  The rivers were slightly coloured and leaves were starting to form on the trees.  Daffodils were still out and primroses were plentiful on the lower slopes.

I crashed out for the night at a pub in Llanidloes just seen in the distance in this picture.  It was not before having 2 pints of local ale, a big meal and a long chat with a hill walker.  Shortly after leaving Llanidloes, I met a local couple at the top of a hill who were marvelling at the view.  They told me that it still snows here long after it clears elsewhere in Britain.

A tiny lane took me to Rhayader where there is a bike shop.  Parked outside was an expedition bike with a trailer.  These are huge rigs for long journeys.  The last one I saw was in Sweden being ridden by an Australian cycling north.  I changed direction on to a stony trail that headed up the Elan Valley well away from the cars.  My highest point was amidst open moorland and the air was clear, fresh and cool, absolutely brilliant.  The onward journey to Fishguard took me down a steep windy road, passing a redundant slate quarry and towards the head waters of the River Tiefi.

A deep woodland trail followed and 3.30pm I found a small shop for lunch.  Outside with the sun shining were two hill walkers taking a mid point break.  The shop served me what it called an oggin and looked like easily the biggest pasty I have ever seen.  We swopped tales of hill walking and cycling then shook hands as we left.

I now followed the River Tiefi for its entire length.  It is a beautiful river.  The valley looked to be a haven for wildlife with a mixture of water meadows, forests, hills and occasional bogs.  The final stretch of the journey involved a loop into the Preselli Hills only to find more crags, woodlands and river valleys.

My total journey was 268 miles over 5 days and there are train connections at each end.  The map can be bought from Sustrans Shop.

SUPPORTING THE ENVIRONMENT

A great way to support a healthy lifestyle is to look after the environment. This is why Devon Wildlife Trust is my charity of choice for my next challenge.  My cycle ride last week through the Cambrian Mountains of Wales reminded me, as if I need reminding, how important wild places are and that we must protect them.

This charity is modern, healthy and green.  Not only does it look after 45 nature reserves in Devon, it promotes good practice at sea to preserve our marine environment for the benefit of fish stocks. It understands the effects of renewable energy with wildlife and it assists our regional water company to provide clean fresh drinking water without harming the environment. As if this is not all, our wildlife habitats absorb carbon emissions from the atmosphere.

For me, looking after our environment helps us with our lifestyles. Devon Wildlife Trust, having reached its 50th birthday, is innovative, green and understands modern life.  To find out how to support the Trust and this challenge, please go to http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/GrahamWilson150

MY NEXT CHALLENGE

I have set myself a new challenge.  Every 2 years I need to challenge myself to do something new that I have never done before.  It is usually on a bike but not always so.  In 2010, I cycled 3,762 miles on The North Sea Cycle Route.  In 2008, it was Le Jog.  Previously I cycled in Mongolia, trekked across the Andes and there have been others.

For 2012, it is to beat my biggest one day cycle ride.  My current best is 122 miles across Snowdonia made three years ago.  I have set myself two targets and these are:

        127 Miles on 7 July from Stafford to Llandudno with Stafford Balti Bike Club, and

         150 Miles on 10 June from Ivybridge (Devon) to as far north of Bristol as possible.

These journeys will all be on minor roads and I prefer to use the National Cycle Network where possible.  This means great scenery and little traffic but many hills. 

I want to raise money for a special charity and have already been given £100 to it even though I have not told anyone about the challenge yet!  I support charities that promote healthy lifestyles because for me they contribute so much to society. 

Keep pedalling.

THE COBBLY WAY

I discovered the Cobbly Way while out in the beautiful South Hams of Devon.  It is an ancient cobble track beside the River Avon near South Brent.  It is so bumpy that cycling it requires much care, especially when wet.  The river flows fast between deep pools while mature trees span over it.  I peered into its pools and imagined giant salmon just waiting to be caught.  Hanging from a branch was a rope obviously used by children in the summer to swing into these pools. 

South Hams is rich farmland south of Dartmoor spanning to the sea.  The fields are filled with dairy cattle known for producing high quality milk and clotted cream.  Field boundaries have high banks with wild hedges and trees.   Several rivers run fast off Dartmoor and cross this landscape on their way to the sea.  As a consequence wildlife and food production seem to be in harmony.  I followed a figure of eight loop to the sea and back on little lanes and on route discovered a few hidden gems.  My next was a pub which required only a short detour at Slapton and well worth checking for a longer visit at another time.

Just two miles further on, I arrive at Slapton Lea, well known to local people and easier to find for visitors.  This freshwater lake just a stone's throw from the sea is a magnificent nature reserve where hoards of birds, many of which are unusual happily feed from crumbs thrown to them by children. 

East Prawle is the Devon's most southerly village.  I pedal here then follow a loop back to my home.