This entails driving out 12 miles to the Severn escarpment to Coaley Peak view. From the car park I have bounteous options of inflicting pain on my body with Selsley Hill, Frocester Hill and Uley all within a 3 mile radius.
I picked out a route that starts along Selsley Common and plunges down Selsley Hill over the cattle grates and turns sharply back up hill two thirds down Selsely Hill. So sharply in fact that I could not change gears in time and had the option of hitting the car waiting to turn or rolling over on my side with the cleats still engaged. I went for the latter more humiliating option.
The route winds down into King's Stanley and through Frocester before the winding route up the hill looms into view. Scary to think that this hill is only one tenth of the size of the Tormalet. It is a steeper gradient than the Tormalet though which is one tiny saving grace.
It was not as bad as I anticipated which means that perhaps this training is starting to pay off. At the top I paused for a drink before ploughing on to Uley.
There is a steep descent into Uley and then it is back to grinding away in the highest gear again up Lampern Hill. Parts of this hill reminded me of Tunitas Creek in the Bay Area - bloody steep! Gasping at the top there was no time to take in the scenery as I was in race position heading down to Nailsworth.
The route out of Nailsworth up to the wind turbine via Forest Green is short but steep: a recurring theme on this loop. Once the summit is reached there are about four miles of gentle uphill left before returning back to Coaley Peak.
The loop is about 30K and 800m of climbing. A great ride for the work week when time is limited. I managed some decent middle of the pack times according to strava so things don't look so bleak for July. This Sunday will provide a good marker when I tackle the Castle 100.
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