Which is tougher; Crowcombe or Draycott Steep?

Around our neck of the woods there are two climbs that seem to bring cyclists out into a cold sweat at the mention of their names. I am lucky enough to live within 5 minutes ride of the foot of one, where the other lurks about as far away from my house as I care to go in a day.

That day turned out to be today, so I was delighted that a selection of my usual road riding buddies were around to keep me company as we embarked on the Full Crowcombe ride.

Thanks to judicious use of CHO and the sight of two of mes amis du route disappearing up the final slope, I was able to record a PR on Crowcombe.  For the sake of comparison I rode The Steep a few hours later, before finally bringing my day in the saddle to a welcome halt.

Now it's certainly the case that I was slow up the Steep today. 6.30hrs of riding had taken their toll. I have ridden the Steep nearly 50 times according to Strava, yet have struggled up Crowcombe on only a handfulI of occasions. The sheer lack of familiarity plays into the impression that the marquee Quantock climb is the harder of the two. My pitiful performance on my doorstep however was every bit as challenging thanks to the days travails. I found myself stumped as I tried to decide which hill was harder.

Numbers don't seem to help.

Crowcombe 1.2km 185m gain 14.8%
Steep 1.9km 220m gain 11.4%

The Steep is longer so has a slight lighter average gradient, primarily thanks to the gradual ascent to the summit after the glider club.  I'm fairly sure that the front wheel lift is worse on Crowcombe's steepest slope, but I'm sure that the toughest part of the Steep goes on for longer, and as it comes earlier in the ascent, leaves a lasting burn that messes with the head for the remainder of the effort.

Thankfully, however, I have come up with a number that allows a more ready comparison. My power meter allows calculation of TSS, which is similar to Strava suffer score.

The Steep clocks at 23.2, Crowcombe at 22.1. Plainly therefore, the Steep is very nearly 5% harder, which means I may never again have to ride Crowcombe again.

Sandwich Course

One of my daily duties is coming to an end. My son is nearing the conclusion of his school days, and so his sandwiches will soon be his own concern. Whilst I might appreciate regaining the time that this takes, I'll miss the thought processes of trying to mix his diet and trying to please him with healthy options. The feedback has been a great boost too.

As I wonder what he'll eat for lunch for the rest of his life, I'm struck by the sheer volume of tasks my wife does for him. How many times melancholy will she feel?

Nadir

Magic Doors

I can’t deny what I’ve become.

I’m just emotionally undone.

I can’t deny.

I can’t be someone else.

When I have tried to find the words to describe this sense, absurd.

Try to resist my thoughts, but I can’t lie:

I’m losing myself. My desire I can’t hide; no reason am I for.

I can’t divide, or hide from me.

I don’t know who I’m supposed to be.

I guess it’s just the person that I am?

Often I’ve dreamt that I don’t wake;

Enjoy the gift of my mistake;

But yet again I’m wrong and I confess,

I’m losing myself. My desire I can’t hide; no reason am I for.

Slags Slates and Tapes

..You're weak on Twitter .

z) Inflammation terminates; man runs to station, resumes role as lead generator for arms sales.  
Conflagration ensues.

• Inflammation subsiding; side glance blows rep off top rung. Protests: "I've got a wife and family to feed."

5mg prognost with meals

3) Inflammation griping. Timely administration of arnica reveals extent of insult. Consider analgesia. Selective amnesia.

• Inflamed indignation! Slap-cheeked reeling step back; set up for a fall. Blameless sclerotic impediment on A+E $tati$tic$.

A) Initial Inflammation? 

Imbibing, careless comments cause

town-like malice, 

drawing blow. Just desserts for precedent pride.