hence the lore that you get put on a wall of fame at STW (or MBR) HQ if you can prove you did!

your not aloud to put a foot down either apparently or it doesnt count that you've completed the ride ? as if... 👿 😆

oh ps any pics Diane ?

No sorry Elaine - probably wouldn't have shown in correct light though

Climbing Jacobs is doing it the wrong way on a bike anyway 😉 Photo from the top:

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One of our group has done it....he's a proper irritant,but he can ride a bike better than most. The swine!

You know how roadies have the annual National Hill Climb competition at the end of the season..well MTBers should do the same thing kicking off with Jacobs Ladder

well MTBers should do the same thing kicking off with Jacobs Ladder

You know how roadies have the annual National Hill Climb competition at the end of the season..well MTBers should do the same thing kicking off with Jacobs Ladder

No can do - racing on a bridleway is illegal...

i went down Jacobs Ladder several months ago and thought it was a real blast.

however i dont believe anyone could get up it without having to put a foot down. it looked as if some of the steps would have been impossible to get up.

I did it last night

....unfortunately I was asleep at the time

Nick craig?

Most times I'm there I meet someone who reckons they know someone who knows someone who has done it.
Often the name Tim Gould is mentioned.

Zulu-Eleven - Member
No can do - racing on a bridleway is illegal...

True, but a timed challenge is not a race.

You'd need someone ahead holding both the gates open though wouldn't you?

Better coming down it IMO- the walkers always give you nice comments 😀

A couple of years back either MBR or WMB did an article on riding up it - Nick Craig, a guy from Hope, a Journo, and my mate Martin (rides for yeti). I think they all cleared it a couple of times, and Martin was going for a middle ring attempt - think he got within a couple of feet of the top.

It's doable. You just have to be [u]GOOD[/u]

As others have said - I prefer riding up the other side, which is longer but not as steep, then hammering down the Ladder.

A couple of years back either MBR or WMB did an article on riding up it - Nick Craig, a guy from Hope, a Journo, and my mate Martin (rides for yeti). I think they all cleared it a couple of times

In the article no-one cleared it dab free. They sessioned each bit, and cleared each individual bit, but no one actually cleared it (thats what the article said anyway)

It's a 'tick' I'd like to collect, but it'd mean going out specifically to (dare I say it)train on it...which would be a tad boring ang against that freedom thing of 'let's ride,....man' 🙂

It has been done by a local lad Scott Rowland on two occasions, the second with the gates held open for him. The following month there was a feature in one of the mags which suggested Nick Craig had done it. Few years ago now mind and its dug out a bit in places since.

I did push up it (via the path) recently as part of an anit-clockwise Hayfield Mega-Orbital. It was over quickly and sets you up for the descent to Kinder res. and crossing of Middle Moor :))))))))

at what point does it actually start?? some one show me the start point of the jacobs ladder climb, as when ive ridden down it, i thought it looked absolutley impossible to get up riding 🙁

hats off to any one that has done it from the point where im on about though (if that is the where it starts)

[i]A couple of years back either MBR or WMB did an article on riding up it - Nick Craig, a guy from Hope, a Journo, and my mate Martin (rides for yeti). I think they all cleared it a couple of times, and Martin was going for a middle ring attempt - think he got within a couple of feet of the top.[/i]

I was there at that photoshoot. The rules were set out - no dabs, no holding onto walls etc. Trackstanding was allowed to check out lines/rest etc. Gates were held open. The riders were observed at all parts of the climb.
Martin cleared it on his Felt hardtail - I have to say he's one of the best and smoothest riders I've ever seen.
Nick Craig cleared it but it took a couple of attempts. He was on a Scott Spark. Paul Oldham didn't make it (although he did far better than most folk ever do).

Afer the challenge bit was done, they spent the rest of the time shooting different sections for the article.

It's worth pointing out that Nick hadn't cleared it in one go for the last 10 years and he hasn't done it since. Conditions on the day were perfect. Jacob's Ladder is one of the few proper legendary climbs in MTBing and it can be done by the very best, the problem is that lots of people claim to have done it or "know someone who has". Anyone claiming to have done it without a healthy racing history at Elite level is probably lying!

Jacobs Ladder itself is the footpath, though that magazine article appeared to be on the Bridleway. I don't believe anyone has cleared the bridleway, I'm sure there are better riders than me that have tried, but I'm pretty decent yet a million miles off being able to get up quite a few bits of it. The idea that the mag completed it in bits but rode it all doesn't stack up as there aren't many places where you can easily start pedalling again once you've stopped.

That's my opinion, so don't have a go like.

[url= http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=408852&y=386170&z=120&sv=408852,386170&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=701&ax=408852&ay=386170&lm=0 ]Start point[/url]
Track climbs off to the left then doubles back on itself up to a gate. Turns left at the gate and climbs to a crest which is the acknowledged end point of the climb proper.

thats where i thought it may have started - wow! is all i can say.....starting at that little bridge at the bottom of the pennine bridleway....jeez that first section is super steep and super rocky, its hard enough getting down it, let alone getting up it 😆

i can honestly say id never in a million years be able to get up that in one swoop, probably not in 100 stop/starts let alone 1 🙂

the very start of jacobs ladder (going down) is also super super steep, how on earth can you ride up it, its almost vertical at the very start (highest point) 😆

crazy stuff, but whoever's done it (and im sure it will be under the number 10) deserve medals 🙂

cant imagine what level of fitness is required to do that, let alone skill.

I'd love to see somebody clean it!
As for the start i class after the first gate off the little bridge? There are sections which are just impossible to ride 😆

I have seen someone ride all of it, however he did dab several times, each time he dabbed ha went back five yards or so and retried. Had to use some trials skills at some points.

do you get alot of grumbling walkers shouting the odds ? never been to Jacobs ladder...i must walk it sometime then see how far my little legs will cycle on it....lol 😉

after watching this random video... i want a go !!!!!

They are absolutely mincing down it... This guys shows how it should be done

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Got to agree with general view it is impossible other than for gods. The first bit after the bridge is pretty hardcore with loads of loose rocks and stuff. Just to get to the 1st corner is pretty good going. But psychologically its a killer. You know at that point there is loads more to do, without thinking about the final 20 yards or so which is steep v technical, and when you're going to be completely wiped out.

Stopping and re-doing bits is worthy but doesn't count as clearing It. You've got to do the whole thing without dabbing.

is he hell, he's got too much travel and it looks hump! its well smooth down there, certainly aint no garburn or wrynoes, I was all excited about going there to ride this till I saw that video 🙁

I'm a shit rider yet even I could shift down Jacobs Ladder if you gave me a DH bike with Fox40 forks 😆

Remember the Pootle we did in the snow and ice down Jacobs? That was fun

Agree with Snowslave- you've got to manual your wheel (I bet as theres **** all chance of me doing it) a fair few times and keep spinning atthe sametime.

i've got to the first corner before without dabbing. the whole thing is not impossible, you just need lungs of steel. the bottom section is loose, but not loose enough that it's unrideable - it just means that you really have to keep spinning in a reasonably low gear to get over stuff. it's this that knackers you out. i think i've ridden the top section from the gate with only a couple of dabs (the stupid ones where you know that you could have done it and when you re-try you clear it with ease); the rock up there is a much firmer, although there are a couple of step ups that need to be negotiated. only ever tried to go up the ladder a couple of times though, usually going the other way. maybe i need a trip there again soon...

ps - 6" FS bike for the win. no way i'd get the traction i needed from a HT.

alexxx - Member

is he hell, he's got too much travel and it looks hump! its well smooth down there, certainly aint no garburn or wrynoes, I was all excited about going there to ride this till I saw that video

Not ridden wrynose but have ridden Jacob's ladder and garburn, Jacob's is far hard as both climb and descent - I've ridden up most of garburn but gat less than 10 yards last time I tried Jacob's (and ripped my mech off nearer the top, so I'm reluctant to try it again! )

Bloody ell. I haven't got a chance in hell of riding up Gaburn the descent-side.

hora - Member

Bloody ell. I haven't got a chance in hell of riding up Gaburn the descent-side.

tell us something we don;t know 😆

I think NBT means riding up the Troutbeck side...

Problem with the video and photos is it flattens it all out. Jacobs is very rocky, very loose and the top part of packed stone steps is at least 25-35% gradient.

The climb can be broken down into 3. Bridge to RH hairpin is very loose baby head rocks, almost impossible to get going again if you stop. Hairpin bend to gate is the easiest bit, it's a lot smoother, more dirt than rock. Gate to summit starts off with a bitch of a climb but there's an "easy" line up one side, still very steep but at least it's smoothish. The track then levels out, just a shale stone surface and anyone can spin along that. Then it kicks up sharphly, the surface getting rockier but much more packed and steppy with a couple of steep bends and then right near the top a couple of hop-ups.

No one part is impossible but stringing the whole thing together into one continuous dab-free climb is one for seasoned Elite riders only. Makes a great challenge though, seeing how far you get, competing with your mates as to who can do which bit etc.

I've NEVER met any angry walkers on Jacobs- Why? Almost all have been vocal in support.

I think when the conditions are right and you're in tip-top fitness with honed skills (and blessed with a great deal of luck) it can be done.
The conditions under wheel vary so much though and can make it impossible.
I remember riding most of it back in the '90s, but last time I tried (2008) I never came even remotely close to cleaning it.

crazy-legs - Member

I think NBT means riding up the Troutbeck side...

No, I meant from Kentmere. I haven;t ridden all of it, and it's been in sections with breathers (i'm not a riding god) but I've ridden a damn sight more of the garburn pass than jacob's ladder

Anyone got pics of the hardest bits?

Respect to anybody that can climb the ladder. I found it hard enough coming down, came off twice!

Every walker I've ever met on t'Ladder (going down, mind!) has been friendly and chatty, if a little incredulous ("you're going to ride down it? On a bike?"). Some have even cheered as I minced down the steppy bit at the top.

Hmmm think we should have a meet up at some stage - those who want to ride up and those who want to ride down 🙂

I'd like to have a punt at it!

I remember that mag article, Martyn Brookes is a very good rider, not only strong, but good technically too, I reckon he's a very likely person to have succeeded. I know I wouldn't have chosen an alu hardtail to try it though!

I feel like having a go at this now.

EDIT: njee, didn't you say you'd not ridden much outside the SE?

i want to ride up it and down... all in one go 😈 😆 is it that hellish steep.....

I've got the steps at the top, but by then I'm seriously red lined. One look at those, and that's pretty much it for me. Any one that can get up those is seriously talented and fit.

EDIT: njee, didn't you say you'd not ridden much outside the SE?

Sort of, I've done most of the Welsh trail centres, and raced all over the country, but I've not actually done much normal [i]riding[/i], Drumlanrig and Dunkeld are the only places in Scotland I've ridden! Never been to the Peaks either, and Grizedale is my only Lakes experience!

i dont think i would like to ride up it as it would mean getting off the bike here and there in places but id defo have ago at that going down 🙂

Well then you definitely should get up to the Peaks 🙂 You have to do at least a few big hill/mountain rides... And those kinds of rocky climbs are a great challenge.

Well whether we get round to organising something or not you must come back to this post to report your efforts 🙂

Jacobs is certainly harder than Garburn. It's only the top rocky part I cannot do on Garburn (Kentmere side) yet I've got nowhere near clearing Jacobs. I always mess up the first bit, even though it's quite possible. The second part, up to the gate relatively easy and then it kicks up which is a killer when your lungs are inside out but it's still do able. It's the steep part after that which I just cannot imagine getting anywhere close to cleaning. Even with the flat bit before hand which gives you a good breather.

As for the person that mentioned a race on Bridleways is illegal, you are right. But who needs to time such an event? The challenge is to get to the top, or at least as far as possible, and thus I believe such an event might be considered legal?