Capler Cardiac Challenge

Took the new bike out for a little spin down to Fownhope, over the Twmp at Twmp farm and on to Capler Hill. Its reckoned to be about half a mile at 1 in 12 but it goes up to 1 in 3 allegedly. Can't say I've noticed apart from the fact that its steep and tests these new gear ratios to the limit. Why do they sell so-called touring bikes with a minimum gear ratio of 30:26 rather than the 28:32 to which I am accustomed? How many of us can actually get up steep hills with full bags on those ratios at the end of a long day?

Looking up Capler Hill

And the view down

Evidence for the gradient

From Capler Hill through Brockhampton, across the the old road to Ross and out over Woolhope dome. There's a cheeky little incline up to the Crown at Woolhope village followed by a descent to the Butcher's Arms and a long flog from the Nurdens (sic) up to Woolhope Cockshoot. I reckon its about a 1 in 5 though encouragingly brief.

Looking up Woolhope Cockshoot

And looking down

Thence down to Putley Church and across the roman road from Gloucester to Leominster at Little Marcle, into Ledbury past the old Jam factory now converted into an apple juice plant for the new european owners of Bulmers and up to the town from the Leadon over Bridge Street and Bye Street. Left at the old library then over Bank crescent to Cut Throat Lane and the Knapp. I followed the old road to Colwall coming up to Barton Court from Cummins farm and then skirted Colwall Green on to Evendine Lane which is fine until it reaches the top with a 1 in 5 or so up to Jubilee drive and North along the drive to the Wyche cutting. Down the road towards Malvern then cut across to the Lower Wyche primary school for an assault on the Old Wyche, which appears to go up to about 25% at the top.

Lower Wyche Primary School

Getting Steeper

Steeper Still

And even steeper than that

Back down to Colwall, out along Old Church Road where I lived in the sixties, past the Church and  Old Colwall, through Petty France and past Bradlow Knoll to Knapp lane again and reverse the route from Ledbury to Aylton. From Aylton follow the road round to Hall Green Farm to approach the Cockshoot from the South, nip up the cockshoot again to burn more calories before heading back into Hereford through Checkley and Mordiford. Its a fifty-three mile round trip, the new bike and owner survived. Tomorrow Ystradfellte via Hay and Brecon.