It looks like a small innocuous squiggly line on a map. The 3 dimensional version however poses some serious questions about fitness. Myself and the Clarkster decided it was time that the Horseshoe was shown who was boss. Just to make it more difficult we planned a 45 mile route with the Pass as the prize at the end. What we didn't realise was just how hilly the rest of our route was. 45 miles is a doddle I told him! 45 miles over some big hills in the pouring rain wasn't such a doddle.
Actually we had a great time despite the rain. We chose to climb the steep side from Ruthin. The idea was we could get the pain over in a short, sharp shock. It wasn't as hard as we had expected although I won't claim for a second it was easy. Ric is as fit as a butcher's dog with legs like pistons from years of weight training and, more recently, rowing. I therefore didn't feel guilty about using him as a windbreak when we were on the top of the hills! He was riding his old Raleigh which is almost 20 years old and despite some disagreements with his front chain ring it munched up the miles with ease. The carbon geeks of today would probably run away in fear if they saw a 15 stone bloke on a bike made of iron girders flying down the horseshoe at speeds over 50mph (according to our computers!!!!) For my own part I had put a chain ring with one less tooth on the front than standard. Actually the smallest I can get on a 130bcd chain ring (if that means anything to anyone) It helped and I never struggled with any climbs all day.
We both agreed it was a good measure of fitness and we will most definitely go for it again.
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