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100 Climbs – Offroad version
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Posted 9 years agoThere is a book called 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs (and a follow-up with another 100 in it).
It’s pretty cool. I got both for Christmas and I’m working my way slowly through the local ones.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/100-Greatest-Cycling-Climbs-Cyclists/dp/0711231206The pages look like this, so they have a few top-trumps-style stats and a nice little commentary.
I thought it might be quite fun to try and piece together something similar for offroad climbs.
Sooooooo
To start the ball rolling, I thought I’d throw in one of my favourite localish ones.
Stats all from Strava——————————–
Cut Gate – from the Langsett side all the way to the Cairn.
Peak District National ParkRather than include the full climb from Langsett, I’ve chosen the trimmed one that is most commonly ridden as part of a North America Loop, or an out-and-back.
This climb is long, very varied and technical. Only a couple of small freewheels on the whole of the 3km.
It’s one of those Peak District climbs that you know is all rideable, but piecing it all together in the one attempt is a big challenge.
We normally ride as a group, so rarely do the full climb without a pause to check that everyone is ok.
Cut Gate is best done after prolonged dry weather as the top section (the last 1km) is mostly a peat bog.
Time it right though (we annually do a hot Summer’s evening loop of it) and the dry soft peat, narrow singletrack and loose rocks combine to make it one of the most memorable places to ride a bike.
The feeling of exposure from the top is unmatched in the Peak District imo. Endless moor. Bleak and stunning.It starts with a long singletrack section with a couple of steep rocky sections to catch you out. Then it transitions onto an expertly reinforced rocky section with a ford and some slabs. After that, it’s a wide sunken peat section. Sandy and loose in Summer, wheel-sucking bog in Winter. Eventually it eases off as you arrive at a cairn, which is a good place to rest before an epic descent down towards Howden Reservoir.
The climb also makes a good descent – One of the few out-and-back rides we do.
Photo: The earlier singletrack section. Looking back down towards Langsett.
DSCF2206 by dirtywahoo[/url], on FlickrLink to Strava Segment:
http://www.strava.com/segments/3281241Stats from Strava:
cut-gate by thingswelike[/url], on Flickr
Posted 9 years agoMy vote is for: Keppel Cove on Helvellyn.
From the start of the track just past the YHA/mine works to the first summit, the cairn at the top of Whiteside. You can see it’s all rideable as you push your bike up it but it takes a better man than I to do it. Espicially as it kicks up at the zig zags. (not pictured)
Posted 9 years agoI’ve no idea where some of these are – any chance of a map link?
A pic from flickr/google images will help us see what type of climb it is too.You don’t have to ‘do strava’ to find an appropriate segment, I don’t think. At least it helps us see which direction you like and where the best start and finish are.
shortbread_fanylion – Member
Carn Ban Mor is a good old fireroad slog. Good height gain – must be in the region of 2000 ft?
Is this it?
Posted 9 years agoHairscary – are these photos of the same climb you mean – looks beautiful!
http://www.trailscotland.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=4368One of them:
Posted 9 years agoMastiles Lane’s another obvious Dales one. As much because of the look of it as the riding:
Maybe also the from Hawkswick over Old Cote Moor?
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