Ooft!
I think the route goes from the Tornapress side.
On my current gearing the 'worst' hills I have done is the climb to the Cairngorm Ski centre, that wasn't too bad, and Redstone Rigg in East Lothian. Redstone Rigg has a sign at the bottom of it saying 17% (I think) I don't know if that means it is 17% at it's steepest or as an average, what I do know is that I really struggle at the steepest part and if it was any steeper or longer I'm not sure I would make it.
New gearing it is then.
Does anyone know what the rest of the Bealach Mor route is like apart from the Bealach itself - looks pretty lumpy from the profile.
Yeah, you're right, I reckon your gearing would be a bit too high. It's not a macho thing - it would just spoil your fun.
I haven't done the Bealach Mhor, but did the Bealach Beag this year. A mere 43 miles and probably the hardest 43 miles I've ever done. The long climb up the Bealach itself isn't so bad, it's just a long 6 mile grind, although at the steepest bit near the top I'd had enough and had to get off and push for 100m or so. To answer your question, the rest of the route once you're over the top and down the other side is a long series of switchbacks which seem to go on for ever. And it's apparently always windy and its always into your face. So they say, the old hands do say. The thing is - the big climb up the Bealach early on does sap your strength, making the rest of the ride a bit of a trial. I really enjoyed it though, all in all, hard as it was. It was a great ride and stunningly beautiful.
Edit: Just remembered - to put the Bealach in perspective, Alpe D'Huez is 8 miles long and averages 8% with a maximum of 10.6%.
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