Gospel Pass Audax

Just got back from Chepstow having completed my first 100 mile ride of the year, the brilliant Gospel Pass Audax. For anyone living in the South West of England/South Wales I strongly recommend giving this 150km Audax a go, it is tough but stunning both in terms of scenery and cafe stops.

So, a short review of the ride:

Having been suffering form a heavy cold all week, i wasn't relishing an 8.00 am start and the best part of 10 hours on the bike but hey ho! A 8.00 am precisely, about a hundred intrepid cyclists leave the car park at Chepstow castle and almost immediately begin then first climb of the day. This sets the tone for the ride really, gain a 1000ft, lose a 1000ft, gain a 1000ft etc. At around 9.30, we pull into the first control at Henry's Cafe in Monmouth, a lovely cafe in a lovely setting. One egg and bacon muffin and a latte and we're good to go!





Henry's cafe, Monmouth

The next leg takes us over undulating countryside and then down the golden valley to Hay-on-Wye and a stop at the Granary Cafe. This leg is around 50km and is very tiring, several MDF bars are needed (sorry but so called energy bars really do taste like industrial waste!) to get us to the control. Again an idyllic spot but no food this time, the climb of the Gospel Pass awaits. Last time I did this ride, there was snow on top, the time before, I ate a huge plate of beans on toast at Hay and regretted it dearly, no such mistake this time!





The Granary Cafe, Hay-on-Wye

The climb of the Gospel Pass from this side is truly epic and well worth the effort, its steep but not as long as the climb from Abergavenny. The long run down through Llanthony (past the priory) to Abergavenny is a blast (but you need to keep your wits about you, the road is rutted and single track) and the control point at the Chatterbox Cafe is a good choice.





The awesome Gosple Pass, respect!

Card stamped and Steak and Kidney pie surgery performed and we're off on the last leg, out of Abergavenny, along the valley to Usk (thankfully, a mainly flat run of around 10 miles) to the last climb of the day. A six mile slog out of Usk Brings us up the last climb of the day before a nice 5 mile descent back into Chepstow and a welcome pint (of orange juice and lemonade) and a chance to warm up. Temperatures rarely got above 5 degrees all day so the open fire in the Three Tuns was more than welcome. Another stunning ride, well organised by Nik Pergrine and a good tester for my forthcoming 200km Audax (the superb Barry's Bristol Ball Buster by LVIS). A day well spent, now all thats left to do is consume the contents of the fridge and find some CSI's to watch.

Route map and profile below courtesy of Garmin 705 and MapMyRide:




Equipment used:

Thorn Brevet (my trusty steel long distance bike)
Carradice Barley saddle bag (made by Christine, apparently. A British classic)
Crane sport (ALDI) thermal long sleeved base layer
North wave long sleeved top
Altura ergo fit waterproof
Exhustar Stelvio shoes (see previous posts)
Gamin edge 705
Planet X gloves (free with a top I bought last year)
Various energy bars

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