h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Or mountain at least. I have today finally conquered Caerphilly mountain - cyclingwise.

This has been a big goal of mine for some time now as I'm trying to train myself up for a big sportive next June called the Dragon Ride which features 3350 metres (10,000 ft approx) of climbing in South Wales.

To put Caerphilly mountain into perspective - it's about 2.3 miles long distancewise and 700 ft heightwise.

So I have a long way to go - but until today I had a big psychological issue with surmounting this challenge since I couldn't even do the pimple that is Caerphilly mountain (compared to say the Bwlch and Rhigos climbs, the Devil's Elbow and the Black Mountain - all of which feature in the Dragon ride ). I do at least feel now that I stand a chance and I still have seven months to train - and probably more importantly, lose further weight. Weight is a *big* issue when it comes to cycling uphill. Nearly four stone down now and probably another couple realistically to go - and I'll still be *very* heavy for a climber in cycling terms even then.

Wow. I am very very impressed that you've kept this up, and achieved so much! You deserve quite a firm pat on the back.

Have you been following Deke's saga? http://www.h2g2.com/dna/h2g2/brunel/F3011?thread=8292375 Inspiration (if that link doesn't show up, get into a skin other than Pliney?) Just think you two have something in common here.

Sorry, here's a better link maybe http://www.h2g2.com/dna/h2g2/brunel/A87766852

Cheer's VIP

Sadly I can't find the link from either Clare. But I know of Deke so I'll go hunting myself.


When I started there was a hill near my house which I found very daunting and very hard work. The Caerphilly mountain makes it look like a pimple when I create a map which shows elevation profile (www.mapmyride.com works for this amongst others). It is now not so tough of course.
I just created a new map so I can step up to the next level and included the Bwlch climb which is just south of Treorchy in the Rhonndda-Cynon-Taff area of S. Wales. Rather frighteningly it makes Caerphilly mountain look like a pimple. Paaaaiiiin, why do I do this?

Found Deke's journal - yes there are some close parallels there although what he's doing is a tougher challenge than mine by the sound of it.

Six of one, half a dozen of the other? And who can compare apples and oranges?

True but he's trying kayaking from the point of learning to do it from the start. I'm just riding a bike which I have done before and is nowhere near as technically challenging I suspect.

However my challenge will do for me I think

Just looking back a couple of journal entries from me and I seem to have claimed to have climbed Caerphilly mountain before.
I should maybe point out that yes, I've been up it on the bike dozens of times. The difference today is that I didn't stop at any point for a breather. Today was the first time I have done it _in one go_ and that's a major difference

yay