Brings some memories back :o) I've ridden it twice - years ago when there was an 8 in the decade. The first time was on a 28 X 32 with full camping kit - Ouch! The second time on my road bike with a slightly knee snapping 42 X 23. Watching this video is inspiring me to go and visit the place again - Thanks :o)
My lord was it was a bad gear choice for me.A nasty head wind caught me on the hardest part and I nearly just stopped dead and I'd already more or less gone through the meltdown moment in leg burning pain.You made it look more pleasant than my own recording.It's locked in a vault never to be watched again!!
Last week I finally tackled this beast on 39x25 and it is just insane.It's like our version of Kitzbuheler horn.Gradient that basically doesn't stop ramping up higher and higher till that awful section before the Vyrnwy turn.
I’m not sure about being any ‘harder’ - more a case of the recollections of the pain of the 28 X 32 fading - like the memories of child birth. Also helped that at the time I lived in North West Kent so my ‘territory’ included the slopes of the North downs, Sussex Weald and South Downs - Chunks of geology that are rarely flat. Having watched your vid’ I’ve definitely got to revisit North Wales.
respect to 39x25 - I was on 34x25 and just before the turn I was thinking about throwing my helmet, gloves, water bottles, camera, arm/leg warmers to the side just to try and lighten myself enough to get up. Hard, hard, hard climb....
Did it in the mid 1980s on a 32 to 28. Did it in the mid 2000s on a 26 to 32. My low gear is now 22 to 34 but going is very slow and getting a bit unstable with this and not suitable for out of the saddle to bring more weight over the front wheel, it's to low for that. Once met a block who had put an 18 on the front, his own concoction but a good job. Doubt if I'll ever do it again, I'm getting too old.
Sounds like you are sawing through a big log ... Been up it after 80% of the "Wild Wales" 80 miler Ride.. The Film does not do justice how steep it is when you do it in practise :).
Yeah - one of the perils of a head cam - its too close to the breathing apparatus! On another hill, someone has accused me of being the most unfit person she has ever heard!
Chapeau! Mega effort!
Brings some memories back :o)
I've ridden it twice - years ago when there was an 8 in the decade. The first time was on a 28 X 32 with full camping kit - Ouch! The second time on my road bike with a slightly knee snapping 42 X 23.
Watching this video is inspiring me to go and visit the place again - Thanks :o)
My lord was it was a bad gear choice for me.A nasty head wind caught me on the hardest part and I nearly just stopped dead and I'd already more or less gone through the meltdown moment in leg burning pain.You made it look more pleasant than my own recording.It's locked in a vault never to be watched again!!
Last week I finally tackled this beast on 39x25 and it is just insane.It's like our version of Kitzbuheler horn.Gradient that basically doesn't stop ramping up higher and higher till that awful section before the Vyrnwy turn.
I’m not sure about being any ‘harder’ - more a case of the recollections of the pain of the 28 X 32 fading - like the memories of child birth.
Also helped that at the time I lived in North West Kent so my ‘territory’ included the slopes of the North downs, Sussex Weald and South Downs - Chunks of geology that are rarely flat.
Having watched your vid’ I’ve definitely got to revisit North Wales.
respect to 39x25 - I was on 34x25 and just before the turn I was thinking about throwing my helmet, gloves, water bottles, camera, arm/leg warmers to the side just to try and lighten myself enough to get up. Hard, hard, hard climb....
Did it in the mid 1980s on a 32 to 28.
Did it in the mid 2000s on a 26 to 32.
My low gear is now 22 to 34 but going is very slow and getting a bit unstable with this and not suitable for out of the saddle to bring more weight over the front wheel, it's to low for that. Once met a block who had put an 18 on the front, his own concoction but a good job. Doubt if I'll ever do it again, I'm getting too old.
this has inspired me to tackle this climb. I'm seriously unfit at the moment, but it looks a real challenge. Was this from Vyrnwy direction or Bala?
That looks horrendous! Have you done Rhiw Mawr outside Machynlleth? I did
it this Summer and I thought that was bad but this looks worse by a mile.
42x23?!
Its true - riders were harder in the "old days"!
42 23 no way....i did it on 42 28 after 110 miles and did it, in the 80's, lie you do
These climbs are hard but by god the scenery is a great bit of payback
Sounds like you are sawing through a big log ... Been up it after 80% of the "Wild Wales" 80 miler Ride.. The Film does not do justice how steep it is when you do it in practise :).
Yeah - one of the perils of a head cam - its too close to the breathing apparatus! On another hill, someone has accused me of being the most unfit person she has ever heard!
did this for the first time today. ouch!