TORPANTAU

ABERCYNAFON, BRECON

You could argue that this climb starts from the B4558 in Talybont-on-Usk, but to discount a long, flat section, I‘ve chosen the spot just past Abercynafon at the bottom of a small descent as the base. From here, the only way is up, even though the slope initially appears pretty flat. Your legs will be soon be telling you otherwise, and you’ll be searching for a smaller gear to lessen the effort. Up ahead the interlocking hills appear to form an impenetrable wall, a cul-de-sac of rock. You know there’s a route out, but where is it? Across a stone bridge and the gradient immediately ramps up – now you’re beginning to break free. It’s steep up through the forest and then once out from the cover of trees there’s a brace of brilliant bends for you to tackle, the second of which is an absolute killer. Once round this 25% corner, and with legs throbbing, it’s the final push to the summit. Just another few hundred metres before you can relax.