Our trip to Llandudno approached and as usual I packed the bike ready for a long ride to wherever. Unfortunately this time, in the run up to the weekend, I was suffering (and still am to some degree) with a chest infection. Why unfortunate? Because of this:
The first bit – the flat bit -was the run up to Old Road in Llandudno – a challenge set by a friend at work… Basically, Kings Road is the road that the tram runs up to the top of the Orme. I nearly cried when my Garmin stated 34% gradient at one stage. I also had to walk twice as it was just too steep. I’ve tried the Mow Cop, and it was a twat… This is much fucking harder. Much much harder.
This was the first part of the hill – at the bottom is no entry to vehicles, but as it was 6am in the morning, I didn’t think much of it as I pressed up. You can see the beach in the background – which is where I made my way from not 10 minutes previous (the flat bit of the elevation).
This is what was facing me the other way. Doesn’t look much on the photographs, but it was a pain in the arse.
This was the view down from the next part of my journey up the hill.
Half way up – with the half way tram station in the background.
More views down…
And the final look back down towards the beach before you are greeted with the following:
As a side note, just to the left of my bike you can see Sychnant Pass in the distance – it is not advisable to ride this hill pass at 6am in the morning over winter when its pitch black, as there are no street lights and its bendy and steep. I am speaking from experience, and there’s a post on here somewhere with pictures of what you see as you hit the bottom of the climb.
I also forgot to add that the climb up Kings Road happens in less than 1/2 a mile so, with a chest infection, you can imagine its rather a killer.
Just to show you that I aint being a wuss – can you spot Kings Road in this picture?
And for those blind people:
Anyway – by the time I had got to the top, I was crying in pain with my chest, so had to cut the ride short. I didn’t fancy riding down Kings Road as its STEEP AS FUCK, so went round the top and ended up having to go round the Orme to get home.
Total Distance: 10.11 miles
Total Time: 52m 12s
Max Speed: 34.1mph
Avg Speed: 11.6mph
Elevation: 990ft
On my way back home I noticed the swimming baths was open, so I asked what time they opened for a general swim. I was pleased to hear that they opened at 7am, and off I trundled with a master plan.
Y’see. I’m not very good at swimming. I totally lack confidence in swimming, and just generally don’t like being in the water. My plan was to swim as far as I could… I managed a whole mile – 64 laps and was pleased as punch with myself as that was the furthest I had ever swam by some 44 laps 
To top off my swimming capabilities, the day after I went for a swim again and managed another 64 laps! 2 miles in 2 days – something I would have never been able to do 12 months ago!
Am a bit gutted about the cycling, but am going to have to give it a miss for another week. Thankfully with my daughter starting big school on Thursday, I would only have been cycling in twice this week – but my body needs a bloody good rest and my chest needs to recover ASAP.
Still, I climbed that fucker in the pictures above
Oh, and I forgot… Today we walked up the Orme and came across this sign:
) and drawn some caricatures, and left it at that.
