Challenge the Dragon - Lon Las Cymru

We're back faithful readers, stymied by lack of internet and flooding for a while, we've emerged out of the electronic darkness and into the light. We've also challenged the dragon and won.

The major cycle route down the spine of Wales is called Challenge the Dragon - depending on exactly where you go it's about 300 miles. We've just arrived in Abergavenny which marks the last of the climbs (I'll include a couple of recent profiles for the bike nerds to enjoy).



Cwrt to Rhayader - This was without a doubt the hardest day in Wales, the major climb is 13km and just gets steeper and steeper as you go up. For us it also started raining at the bottom and just got heavier and heavier before it set in for the rest of the day. The last section of the big climb on the profile above is sort of deceptive, the reality is it's lumpier and steeper, so there are short 200 or 300m sections at 13 and 15% with shallower climbs between. Very hard on the legs and difficult to keep a rhythm.

From there it was a long undulating descent to our lunch stop at the 30 mile mark (49km), I don't think I've ever been so happy to see a hippy cafe. REAL FOOD, I had one of the best baked potatoes I've ever had in my life, and everything there (like all good hippy cafes) was CHEAP. We still can't quite get over just how expensive food is here, and normally good food is really expensive.

Onwards; as usual, if we've enjoyed a big lunch there is a large climb just to help it settle, today was no exception. We arrived pretty wet and tired after our 45 miles (72.5km).

Rhayader to Hay-on-Wye (Book Town) - A flat(ish) 40 miles (64.5km) down the river Wye to the town of Hay and we arrived in Book town. I think I'll let Alex write about that in another post lest this one become a book itself. Highlight for me though, seeing 1 day old duckling at the place we stayed on the river.



Hay-on-Wye to Abergavenny - Perhaps my favorite of the Welsh hilly days, only 23 miles (37 km) and most of that downhill. After leaving Hay the road turns upwards straight away for a steady 6 mile climb to the highest point in the Welsh part of the National Cycling Network at something over 500m high. It does get pretty steep in the middle, but then eases off again, so just when you think you might pop the road shows some mercy and up you go. The descent down the other side is a little hairy, for 25km it's a one lane road with 10 foot hedges on either side. I think quite a few people thought they would take the 'pretty' road to the Welsh Royal Show because we passed loads of cars coming at us, and only got passed perhaps once or twice all day. Now here we are, in Abergavenny which is a super little town having challenged the dragon and won. A rest day here and then we're off to England again.