Gareth and I explored the Brecon Beacons on Sunday (the favourite playground of the SAS) when we joined the other certifiable cyclists that were tackling the Devil Ride. My nephew, Neil, from the Sheffield Tri Club, was attempting his first long ride. At 6'4" and 15 stone, he went on to show a truly staggering ability to suffer acute pain. Coupled with a determination to finish the event.

A dampish start at 8.30 gave way to a decent afternoon. The route turned out to be 108 miles, and the damaging sections were between 40 and 70 miles. A strange decision on the part of the organisers sited the first feed 3 miles before the steepest climb: the Devil's Staircase (not too much cake then!). And what a devil it was. A 25% sign at the bottom of the climb was surely an underestimate. Two spectators welcomed us to the road to heaven (it felt more like the other place). Bottom gear, levering the pedals round, too narrow to zig-zag, just about staying upright. Two fellow climbers standing by the roadside with broken chains. A bit of a pig. Neil walked it.

The descent was a nightmare. Recently gritted, the road had heaps of loose gravel that brought at least one rider down. Along some fantastic rolling roads around vast reservoirs with the odd red kite soaring above, and then off into the single track hinterland for more vertical challenges. After the last feed at 70 miles the route did let up a bit. Gareth quite rightly went ahead at about 45 miles and clocked a good time of 7.08.15. Neil and I rolled in at 7.59.34. A long day in the saddle. For Neil it was the hardest thing he'd ever done: including the London Marathon and several mid-distance triathlons. The Leek Leg Breaker it ain't, but it's one tough ride. I think it's being run again in the autumn if anyone would like a few hours of suffering...........maybe next year then?

One or two pics attached.

Justin

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