Rise Above, the first official sportive of sprint legend Mark Cavendish, promised a tough route starting from Chester city centre and straddling the scenic hills of North Wales before heading back to the flatlands. Although, having never ridden a sportive before, any route was likely to be a challenge...
After close to two years of discussion and deliberation, I recently finally gave in to the desire and peer pressure to get a road bike. Normally a road runner, and occasionally a mountain biker, it seemed logical: good friends were out having a great time tearing up the tarmac, whilst I wasn't.
This little sportive adventure started out with a message from those friends: "We're heading for a little ride on Sunday, why don't you join?" (You know who you are!)
I soon discovered that places on the Rise Above sportive had sold out, providing me with an ironclad excuse - that is, until the next day when a post found its way to my Facebook page advertising a place in Rise Above, with the chance to ride either 80km, 120km or 185km. The catch? You would need to write an account of the day.
No problem, thought I, sounds like fun - and here it is!
Saturday came, and I faced the mild panic of a novice having realised I had no spare tubes and perhaps the oldest, flat "bear trap" pedals on the bike known to man!
I managed to cram in a quick trip to the local cycle shop for tubes and changed said Stone Age pedals for a more modern flat platform pinched from the MTB. Having only ever previously ridden 15 miles I was not about to clip in on this first occasion! However, with hindsight, I will be in future...
17:00 Saturday rolled around and I met the gang at a very busy registration with a queue the size and shape of "Nessy" winding its way around Chester Town Hall. Everyone had had the same idea, and the queue time was ultimately north of one hour.
I joined the line and got in touch with my designated contact on the organisation team. It turned out he was out recce'ing the course at the time, so we agreed that 8am Sunday morning was a better time to register; no big shakes as I am central to town, and it turned out to be a great idea. Sunday morning was much calmer at the registration and I breezed in. Again under the influence of peer pressure I signed up for the 120km route and was dealt with promptly by the staff!
I cannot comment on the parking, as I am located in town so did not need the facility, however the majority of us did park in the racecourse and I heard nothing negative about the experience.
8:30am and I am scared. Tucking into a banana mini Soreen to console myself, I joined the anxious gang amongst an ocean of upbeat cyclists and we headed towards the start.
As a runner, it felt strange to me ambling up on a bicycle. Normally I am pacing up and down shaking my legs and getting ready to break into a trot.
We spotted the man himself, Cav, signing autographs and featuring in the selfies of some rather giddy cyclists all looking happy outside the Grosvenor Hotel where the start was located, right in the heart of town. We took our place right at the front of the pack. What a great place to start. The weather was good and the cobble streets looked exciting for a bumpy little start.
The route would take us over the cobbles for a few hundred metres and out of Chester towards Eccleston. It's a road I know well and had only run the day before. We enjoyed a nice flat start down towards Rossett, where the roads were quiet and not too packed due to the staggered start.
Just out of Rossett we embarked on the first of many hills. This is where I realised for sure that clip-in pedals are required: people were humming past, I locked in, slow, steady and cracked on. The resulting descent was a well-known local hill, and I was well reminded by a friend to take it easy as the ultimate right hand bend goes under a stone railway bridge and the surface is wet! Thankfully I took this advice, fighting my urge to hammer it down, and survived - I am not yet entirely aware of the cornering capability of a road bike, and certainly not in the wet!
Beyond this we headed towards Hope and Caergwlre. I know this area so the reality of what is about to come sinks in: it's all up and down from here until the run back into Chester in about 60 miles time! Before long we are at the point of no return: a sharp, well-manned left hander separates the 80km route from the two longer choices!
I stopped here and waited for the others, as I had sped ahead down the hills. As I had a quick natter with the friendly marshals, a blue flash passed! It was Mr Cavendish, and I had totally missed him; I know now where the nickname comes from!
We set off in pursuit and the route is stunning as we amble and climb over to Coedpoeth. The roads are decent and the descents are to die for, fast and smooth! We stop for a quick sandwich, some foolery and take a little time to soak up the scenery.
Knowing now that the first of the big ones is about to come up - the Horseshoe Pass - we are deliberating where the route will take us: will we descend into Llangollen or hover around it? Pressing on down a great section of smooth descent with gravel on the centre of the road the sporadic conversation has drifted towards food, and the pie shop in Llangollen!
We drop into the centre of Llangollen from the Trevor road onto the A5, ready for the long climb up to the top of the Horseshoe Pass. Needless to say, we stop for a pie and a brew! Couldn't resist, and it was worth it. Despite being hotter than the sun, the cheese and onion pie is world class and, I am hoping, good cycling fodder.
Back in the saddle the A5 awaits. Head down, and into the climb. It's a long and pretty steady climp up, until the section prior to the final right hand bend where it turns that little bit steeper, enough to make the legs burn like fire.
A poised camera man waits at the top to get some rather unflattering shots, before the food stop at the Ponderosa Café comes into view. Good job we stopped for a pie, as there was barely any grub left aside from a few Doritos! There was however the chance to fill up with fluids, grab a few free tubes and check the tyre pressures.
A fast and long, well-earned descent cements my newly found love of road biking, it really is fast. Thankfully the cornering force holds up and I make it safely to the bottom. From here we wind our way over towards Ruthin, up and down more challenging hills buried in the countryside. On the flatter, cruising sections it is possible to appreciate the beauty of the place: seldom a minute goes by without a rewarding view.
As Ruthin approaches the top of Moel Famau comes into sight, and therefore the second of the big climbs awaits. And climb it is! Pulling off the main route back towards Mold, a left turn takes you up behind Moel Famau and Moel Y Fenli: a beautiful route, but seriously steep.
Unfortunately a motorist has stalled and is cooking the clutch on the KOM section as we are caught in a rabble of confusion. This is a shame as most cyclists have had to dismount due to the volume of people, but fortunately it's only a two car affair so a swift hop back onto the saddle was possible. It's a tough climb, the legs are hurting, and despite the focus of everyone getting up, people are still very courteous in making way for faster riders.
Another fast descent drops in the direction of Mold and to the final food stop, which I am glad to say is well stocked with Jaffa Cakes and crisps, bananas, etc... a big improvement on the first!
Cutting up right, back towards Hope etc, we come across yet more uncrowded and scenic roads before we head back onto the relative flat, and into Chester for the finish.
Coming over the Hand bridge to the finish roads are still closed, and the final few hundred metres feels great. We are greeted with a nice medal and a bag for a few goodies. Most of all, the BBQ smells are overwhelming (in a good way) and the free Peroni makes it all worthwhile!
What a great day, and credit to the organisers of Rise Above: the event was overall well organised, friendly, and very challenging. Being a novice it was fantastic to be able to take it all in under good weather without the pressure of the clock. For those serious cyclists hoping to blast through with few stops, I imagine it was very tough and even more rewarding.
Who knows, if I can pick up a pair of clipless pedals then next year I might be one of them...
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