Not only is this an area of outstanding natural beauty with rivers, lakes and mountains in abundance, but is has fantastic climbs on which to challenge yourself, and all on virtually traffic free lanes........it is truly awesome..........Pendragon Sports have teamed up with CC Abergavenny and Welsh Cycling to bring a week long series of events that you can immerse yourself in. Starting with The Tour of the Black Mountains and culminating with the Premier Calendar Grand Prix of Wales..... For you sportive nuts you must also do the Iron Mountain Sportive the following week on Saturday 4th August. Do yourself a favour and take a week off to explore this wonderful corner of the British Isles! Only an hour from Bristol or Birmingham and 2hrs 30 from London it means loads of us can reach it with relative ease, even with an early start.....who can sleep the morning of an event anyway???? Having done loads of sportives ourselves we look for interesting and scenic routes to take our minds off the pain we undoubtedly all suffer, good roads which are wide and traffic free so we can push the speed. While we think our other event the Tour of Wessex is unmatched in the variety of terrain it covers and in its abundance of historic sites, we think the Tour of the Black Mountains could just be the most pure one day cyclosportive route around. The longest route is  182 km (114 miles) in length and features 3,793 meters (12,393 ft) of climbing making this one the hardest sportives in the UK. It  will test not only your mental and physical strength, but also your ability to judge effort expended in both the peloton and as solo rider on a break or while climbing.......I could go on but you probably get the picture already..... We also though it might be nice to hold the event on a Saturday for a change so those of you that don't have to rush off can stay and enjoy a few beers with us and the other riders at The Skirrid Mountain Inn, the oldest pub in Wales......it's a chance to trade stories, old and new and tell us what you really think about us, the routes or anything else you want to get off your chest...... We have chosen a fantastic location at Pen-y-dre Farm owned by Idris & Gwenllian Jones where you can camp or stay in their Cottages. There are loads of other B&B's in the area, just have a look on the Where to Stay Page. Single day 114 mile & 85 mile routes 28th July 2007 Fully signed and marshalled routes. 3 Feeding zones. Post-race refreshments. Transponder timing. Medical assistance. Historically sinificant and varied routes. Official Photographs taken at the start and along the route. Restricted entry to 400 entrants. Gold, Silver or Bronze medal awarded according to time & classification  Certificate of completion for 50 mile course participants. Parking at the event area £1 (to cover the cost of any damage to the ground)