A Low-Gear Outing

I've always wondered if it would be possible to cycle from The Cottage and up the reservoir access road to Marchlyn Mawr. I suppose I've always known that it would be possible, but not known how easy or difficult it would be. Today we decided to find out. 

There's not much in the way of a warm-up, as the journey is relentlessly uphill from the word go, but we steadily gained height on the quiet back roads upto and around Mynydd Llandegai. On reaching the access road that leads up into the mountains, we had to lift our bikes over the big metal gate before continuing traffic free. Here, upon the hillside, the wind was stronger but was at least mostly behind us as we inched on upwards.

It was a leg-pumping affair and we had to stop halfway for a rest and a snack. I would have liked to have rested longer, but it was too cold to hang around!

When the tarmac ended, we left the bikes and continued on foot up Carnedd y Filiast. As we started hiking, the weather began to worsen and the summit was soon lost in the cloud. As such, we opted to go to the northern top which is slightly lower to get a quick view before it was lost in the mists.

Behind the shelter of the summit cairn, as the views disappeared, we put on all our spare clothes in anticipation of some serious windchill on the way home. And also because it had now started raining!

Now heading into the wind, we scampered back down to the bikes, catching a brief glimpse of the reservoir as we went.

My fingers were numb by the time we got back to the bikes, but all I had to do from here was cling to the brakes as we coasted back down the hill.

It's definitely getting time for a new bike when you've got the brakes fully applied and are still travelling at over 35km/h. The road downhill was fantastic and made the uphill peddling all worth it. I was very cautious with my speed and rarely ventured over 40km/h. Partly due to the wet tarmac and partly due to me not being completely sure that my old bike might not just fall apart at any moment. 

Two hours of uphill travel was despatched in just over 30 minutes as we arrived exhilarated back at The Cottage and only slightly damp from the rain. A good adventure and curiosity about the ride now satisfied.