'I was going to need that extra toast': Tackling every major pass in the Brecon Beacons
Having hatched a customarily screwball plan to bag every major pass theWelsh National Park has to offer in a single ride, Simon Warren suffers the consequences
As I scanned the breakfast options at Abergavenny's Angel Hotel, my ride partner, Chris Moores, expressed concern about his limited mileage. Despite his complaints, I assured him that muscle memory would see him through. We began the ride, stopping at Abergavenny's Tumble, where we tackled one of the kingdom's most notorious ascents.
The gradients were steep, demanding our full effort. We then moved on to Llangynidr Mountain, enjoying the hairpin turns and faster descents compared to the Yorkshire Dales or Lake District. As we approached the westernmost point of the ride, we stopped at Dwy Afon Cafe for a well-deserved meal. Chris' condition worsened, but we pushed on, tackling three major passes and their associated elevation gains.
The final challenge was Black Mountain, a 7.2km climb with breathtaking views and a challenging hairpin turn. Despite the hardships, the scenery made the journey worthwhile.
Written by urgent.news from Cycling Weekly's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
