Friday 24 December 2010

DAY 2 Rapha Festive 500

I would like to tell you all that it was a little warmer today but it wasn't. I actually felt colder as it wasn't just the hands today but also the feet. I had planned to get a 4hour+ ride in but the girlfriend had other ideas so i only had time to do 3hours.
I thought after yesterday's trip up the HSW hill climb that today i would try Holme Valley Wheelers open event hill climb course which is Holme Moss. This is a climb which has featured in just about every major tour that has happened in england. Milk Race, Kellogg's Tour and other's. It has been closed a lot over the last few weeks but i thought i would give it ago anyway.
My route took me from Gomersal into Huddersfield then out to Honley on into Holmfirth then into Holme then onto the climb itself and once done it was the same route back.
The water bottle froze after about 30mins but had thawed out for the last 30mins but by that time the water was bloody freezing.
When i got to the bottom of Holme Moss the road closed sign was up and the barrier was in place but looking at the road ahead i thought that i might be able to make it to the top. The gritter had been out as the road was covered in grit about 1cm deep so i thought i should be ok as long as i didn't suffer any punctures. It was a glorious sunny day so it was a pleasant ride up but i could see lots of ice still on the road so i knew i wouldn't be hitting the normal descending speeds of 70km/h that you can hit on Holme Moss on the way back down.It must be the first time that i have climbed it without seeing another car or lorry and the ice cream van that is normally parked at the topped had decided not to bother today. The decent was a little tricky but as there was no traffic on the climb i could pick my line easier and most of the way down i had to ride on the wrong side as this was the least icy path.

So my figures for the day are
Average HR 145bpm Max 182bpm
Kcal 2331
Distance 64.1km
Ave Speed 21.2km/h
Ride Time 3hr 51sec

Total Distance so for 138.4km
Photo's above are taken from my ride today with the majority at Holme Moss.

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