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There 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.
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http://www.amazon.co.uk/100-Greatest-Cycling-Climbs-Cyclists/dp/0711231206
The pages look like this, so they have a few top-trumps-style stats and a nice little commentary.
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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
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[b]Cut Gate[/b] - from the Langsett side all the way to the Cairn.
Peak District National Park
Rather 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.
[url= https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2608/3959348081_eb1c379cfd_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2608/3959348081_eb1c379cfd_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/72SGf6 ]DSCF2206[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/30286100@N00/ ]dirtywahoo[/url], on Flickr
Link to Strava Segment:
http://www.strava.com/segments/3281241
Stats from Strava:
[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8630/16274979598_6fe52ca103_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8630/16274979598_6fe52ca103_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/qNawqw ]cut-gate[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/77539246@N00/ ]thingswelike[/url], on Flickr
If you want to add one, it might be worth 'reserving' it with a post, so that you don't spend half an hour duplicating a climb someone else is also working on 🙂
Could make a nice blog if it gets traction (pun intended).
🙂
My 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)
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jekkyl - would this is a be a suitable Strava link for it - 17% average grade!!!?
http://www.strava.com/segments/2575014
3.5 mph avg for the KOM, blimey.
Nice idea this.
17% avg grade! jesus, yup that'll do.
Would put the climb thats part of the Doethie loop in there, brutally steep and loose rocks for the first half.
[/url][url= https://www.strava.com/segments/728052 ]https://www.strava.com/segments/728052[/url]
My effort on Keppel Cove, 42:44 . Must try harder ! 😯
http://app.strava.com/segments/5256289 — Brinmore tramway all the way up
Great climb into the heart of the Brecon Beacons..
Carn Ban Mor is a good old fireroad slog. Good height gain - must be in the region of 2000 ft?
My effort on Keppel Cove, 42:44 . Must try harder !
You are a couple of minutes quicker than me.
I was a bit ill though, honest.
Kepple Cove looks more like a hard walk than a ride to me 😯
The zig zags up Helvelyn are NFM - Not for Mortals IMHO.
You would also be a damn good rider to keep traction never mind fit as can be.
No idea of the time up but we rode from the lake
San Marino is the only good one near me and I dont do strava...not an epic but as tough as it gets locally
The 2 climbs to Bwlch Trumau on the Westen side of the Black Mountains deserve a mention. Both long grassy climbs on Bridleway that ride best when frozen solid or bone dry.
The Eastern approach is a long relatively easy pull with just a short brutal pull around a final switchback before the summit.
https://app.strava.com/segments/3266369
The Southwestern approach is shorter and steeper and is pretty relentless, though completely rideable if you have the gears and legs. Not a nice climb without a granny ring!
https://app.strava.com/segments/3992290
Whichever approach you take you will be rewarded by a choice of 4 different possible descents or some beautiful (cheeky) high level continuations.
Best done on sunny summer days where you can reward yourself for the climb by laying back in the heather on the summit and listened to the skylarks and the bees. Pure heaven.
It would make a great book , i too got the 100 climbs for my Birthday last year and have done a few . An off road one would sell plenty .
San Marino is the only good one near me and I dont do strava...not an epic but as tough as it gets locally
Yeah, it's a great climb as it's just about do-able in the right conditions. Not too damp and not too dry.
The slog up from bottom of Wilderswood to George's Lane (left turn halfway up) is another real good test - but not of national standard.
Never done it up all the way - not tried that is
The tarmac version[ turn left descending after the rocks or on exiting the woods past cottages then point up] is named bastard tarmac very steep mercifully short painful on the SS
San marion is ok I once rode it after about 25 miles,
DONK of this parish rode up and met me half way up and then "encouraged" me to the top
IIRC he is about 12 mins and can SS San marino 😯
Never even tried as what would be the point.
Porter Clough, Sheffield.
really not *that* hard in the grand scheme of things, but conquering P-C is surely a right of passage for every mtb-ing resident of the green city.
I'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 - MemberCarn Ban Mor is a good old fireroad slog. Good height gain - must be in the region of 2000 ft?
Is this it?
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That's the descent
Cullardoch (spelling...).
A long, springy grass and moss unrelenting upwards death spiral...
They don't all have to be near-impossible! Although I was going to write-up Jacob's Ladder 🙂
Garburn
Walna Scar
High Cup Nick
Skiddaw from Keswick
One that could make road and mountain?
The Col de Killin
The Brinore Tramroad out of Talybont on Usk. 5 miles of rocky double track with some challenging sections and some of the best views in Welsh mountain biking when you get near the top.
There's a climb from brig-o-turk to the top of Ben Ledi. Technically not to challenging but enough to break a lesser man's Soul.
Dumyat for a good technical challenge.
Mackenzie River for a non-uk technical orgy.
Landy track up the back of Ben Rinnes is an absolute beast. Steep and loose but annoyingly just do-able.
Dreghorn climb into the Pentlands.
Up the zig-zags to Cairngorm (from Glenmore for bonus points)
Glen Clova to the pony hut.
To the bridge is doable....not by me, three fails in dry conditions. A carry for a bit and then back on the bike for the final bit. It wrecks me every time.
Stunning scenery when you look up.
AndrewJ - is this a decent description of Brinore Tramroad:
http://teamabthreepeaks.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/brinore-tramway-and-trefil-quarry.html
Hairscary - are these photos of the same climb you mean - looks beautiful!
http://www.trailscotland.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=4368
One of them:
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Garburn
Which side?
From Troutbeck it's a long slog but almost enjoyable.
From Kentmere - I doff my cap if you're cleaned it!
Are we talking about climbs that you've a reasonable chance of climbing clean without prior knowledge or ones that you have to work at? (In climbing terms: on-sight vs redpoint)
I'll add:
Fremington Edge in Swaledale
Barden Moor from Rylstone
Dammit Welshfarmer, I was going to post that one.
Only all the way from the bottom, it's a good 500m of ascent. Known to us as Tal y Maes or the Hermitage. Your segment doesn't cover it all though.
whitestone - MemberAre we talking about climbs that you've a reasonable chance of climbing clean without prior knowledge or ones that you have to work at? (In climbing terms: on-sight vs redpoint)
I'll add:
Fremington Edge in Swaledale
Barden Moor from Rylstone
Just 'greatest' for whatever reason. Challenge, views, epicness, length, fame, etc, etc.
I used to do Barden Moor every week for years in the late 80s. End up at Bolton Abbey for a dip in the river in Summer. I used to love the top in summer, but then I think they resurfaced it just after I left ('91ish). Is it still good? The first bit was just a fire-road/double-track around a tricky hairpin iirc.
If I bought the book I'd be looking for the climbs to be "reasonably" climable. If not it would be 100 best of road descents !
The only bit that got resurfaced (well in recent years - post 2000) was on the moor top just before it joins the estate track. It used to have a "duck board" section made out of railway sleepers that ended halfway across the boggy bit! From the fell gate to there (heading east) is fine moorland singletrack. The main climb is fine, I used to go up to Rylstone crag climbing in the 1980s and don't remember it being any different. The first steep section has been partly washed out but it's still rideable.
Mastiles Lane's another obvious Dales one. As much because of the look of it as the riding:
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Maybe also the from Hawkswick over Old Cote Moor?
I really enjoyed my climb from [b]Loch Torridon up to Locg an Eoin[/b], but I'm not familiar enough with the other options in the area to know if it qualifies as 'greatest'.
http://app.strava.com/activities/135485723
Anyone from that area or with more experience?
I also really enjoyed another climb there, but it doesn't seem half as well-ridden: http://app.strava.com/segments/1517216
[b]lemonysam[/b] - that's a great photo of Mastiles. Does look good.
[b]whitestone[/b] - cheers for the info - I'll have to revisit
Thing with the "100 best road climbs" is, all you need are stronger legs and better functioning lungs. If you can't ride no 87 now give it 2 or 3 weeks solid practice and you'll get it sorted. You could spend years of your life practising jacobs ladder or skiddaw and still never get a clean run.
Garburn from Dubbs is a good shout as a climb since it was surfaced (and no doubt ruined a damn good descent - I never tried it myself) not too tech but a long long climb, lungbuster - worth a go, descent into kentmere is none to shabby too 🙂
Longsleddale to top of gatesgarth is another "not for mortals" but [i]in sections[/i] is fairly climbable up till brownhowe bottom then it's just silly steep - like the keppel cove zigzags
<edit> Did mastilles years ago, think I made it ninety odd percent of the way up, doubt I'd do aswell today, been meaning to go back for a rematch but lakes is easier to get to 😕
Fremmy edge seems tantalisingly doable aswell
hing with the "100 best road climbs" is, all you need are stronger legs and better functioning lungs. If you can't ride no 87 now give it 2 or 3 weeks solid practice and you'll get it sorted. You could spend years of your life practising jacobs ladder or skiddaw and still never get a clean run.
Yes, and one person's idea of a good climb is another's hell. Still - It's not like I'm actually making a book or setting an actual 100 limit, so just fire away (as you have).
Re: Jacobs, I'll probably post it properly later today, but I've only ever heard of one person cleaning it - Nick Craig. The bottom section is getting trickier. I've cleaned all but the last 10 yards a few times (several years ago). I've even tried to stop, rest and then do the last 10 yards and still can't.
Doesn't matter if you don't clean it - can still be a great experience.
Can I nominate a slightly off beat one - which would definitely be a 1/10 difficulty rating but I think merits a place for its length (plus I haven't thought of any good NE ones yet). Blaydon to Collier Law is nigh on 40km of continuous (and completely beautiful) climbing, albeit at less than a 1% gradient.
Ahh, Mastiles. It's a ramp test - slowly gets steeper and steeper though never outrageously steep. Get the right line and it's a decent surface, get it wrong and you are in to sections of loose rubble.
Another Dales one is Gilbert Lane which is the track leading from the top of Kidstones over to Semer water. Mostly straightforward, there's one short technical section that will probably be unrideable uphill for most.
As with descents, the best climbs are those you feel you could always do slightly better on, whether that's faster or to clean it.
Ahh, Mastiles. It's a ramp test - slowly gets steeper and steeper though never outrageously steep. Get the right line and it's a decent surface, get it wrong and you are in to sections of loose rubble.
Yup, it's always surprisingly easy right up to the point where you have to put a foot down! I think I've only cleaned it twice out of probably a dozen goes. 😳
[b]lemonysam[/b] - Blaydon to Collier Law sounds great. I can't find Collier Law - can you find it on a map for me?
It's the hill above Stanhope - at the top of Crawleyside ([url= http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=401650&y=541750&z=0&sv=NZ016417&st=5&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf ]NZ016417[/url]). You can ride on the estate track virtually to the trig point as I remember.
Op, I think this is a great idea. You could do a book, I'm sure a few of us on here could help with the write up. At the very least you could do a webpage devoted to the topic. Also, have you considered emailing Mark. A regular section in the mag, a one or 2 page write up per issue would be would be worth considering. It's certainly something I would read.
chuckles, you're funnyDoesn't matter if you don't clean it
but yes agreedcan still be a great experience.
[b]jekkyl[/b] - That sounds great. But really you'd/I'd have to ride it, take your/my own photos, etc before you could publish it. That's fine for the ones local to me, and the 5 or so away rides I might do over a year, but it would be a proper undertaking to try and do 100.
Then there's the fact that if I stop to take photos, I can't clean it 😉
I suppose one idea would be to do it 'sponsored by strava' and make some 'official' segments.
[b]lemonysam[/b] - I'm intrigued by this one. So how much of that 40km is off-road? Looking at Bing - have I got the correct places (zoom out to see Newcastle)?
http://binged.it/1DWszR6
Hmmm... Nope, it's further north than that.
It's virtually all off road on an old railway path which varies from tarmac to mud to gravel with a bit of scrappy path through Consett- it does have some small dips in it but nothing longer than say 50m which in context I still think of as a climb.
A child could ride all of it quite happily but by the time you've gone there and back you've done 80 km and made one of the odder looking strava rides you'll ever see. Most people will know it as the long descent into Newcastle at the end of the C2C.
This is pretty much it: https://app.strava.com/segments/4227883?filter=overall
edit: (it was a bit of a silly suggestion to make the list more than just unridable 17% drags)
whitestone - Member
Are we talking about climbs that you've a reasonable chance of climbing clean without prior knowledge or ones that you have to work at? (In climbing terms: on-sight vs redpoint)I'll add:
Fremington Edge in Swaledale
Barden Moor from Rylstone
Here's a Strava link for the Fremington Edge climb: https://www.strava.com/segments/833800
1.8 km at an average gradient of 12%. Cleaning it would require getting lucky with the gate or having a friend go ahead to open it.
I've done Fremington Edge once - first ride on new bike. Apart from the gate I got to about 100 metres from the top before running out of oomph 😳 It was just at the section where there's curious ribbed bedrock that you ride over. The bike has 1x10 so I was getting used to that (my excuse anyway)
Be interesting to go back and have another go - the upper section looked a bit snowy on Saturday.
I avoid riding straight up Fremington Edge, since going SS; I go round on the road to Hurst instead... 😳
Minch Moor - yes its trail centre but it's 1300 feet and has a couple of techy bits. Has a cairn at the top and everything!
https://www.strava.com/segments/939027
Golspie Black
Not massive but some of it is really tricky, I didn't clean it that's for sure
https://www.strava.com/segments/959734
Glen Finglas
Not technical at all but a soul crushing grind up a never ending fireroad. Stunning views on a nice day though
https://www.strava.com/activities/50975204/segments/1217234743
[b]richmtb[/b] - Yes, done the first two of those - both pretty memorable for trail centre climbs.
I was trying to think of the best trail centre climbs I've done - those are probably them. (haven't done the South Wales ones).
The 100 road climbs books are not just about the biggest or toughest - so it seems to be worth mentioning "fun" trail centre climbs.
Like the first singletrack climb on TNF trail at Grizedale.
Or Whites Level at Afan.
Like the first singletrack climb on TNF trail at Grizedale.
I've only done it once (because the rest of it was a disappointment), but I really enjoyed this too.
We use it as a means to access the bridleways, never done the full TNF trail myself.
I think someone was telling me it was used in reverse in an enduro race - and was really hard.
Quite like this one, much more sensible 1mile @ 10%, normally done as the first climb of the day, steep lungbuster tarmac start under trees but eases off to climb up and open out to some gorgeous views.
[url= https://www.strava.com/segments/1041224 ]loughrigg[/url]
Think SFB said the boggies have done it as a night rideI think someone was telling me it was used in reverse in an enduro race - and was really hard.
Was going to suggest the TNF climb. Did it for the first time the other week (I rarely do trail centres), was in behind a mate who got to the switchbacks about halfway up and said "I can never get these right" and stopped! Since I was right in behind him I had to stop as well though I'm not sure I'd have got the second turn.
That loughrigg climb sorts the men out from the boys alright!
Embarrassingly (and it's something I'm going to put right this year), I'm ashamed to say the only riding I've done in the Lakes is Grizedale (classic 25m natural route and TNF).
So I'm really looking at these Lakes suggestions closely.
I've only done on of those mentioned 🙁
However, I quite pleased that on Cutgate I'm 90th out of 1775, which is just over 6 minutes slower than the KOM.
Unfortunately, other than the Peaks and the Long Mynd (there must be one there surely), I've not done loads of natural riding.
Trail centre wise, the TNF climb from memory was really good, but I also like the Cwmcarn opening climb, all doable but pretty tricky.
Got to agree with the sentiment that unlike road climbs which are mostly doble by anyone fit (it's just a matter of fitness and suffering Vs speed), MTB climbs are far more subjective.
A roadie who'd never ridden off road could go up 95% of Skiddaw even if it is 20% higher than the Belach na Bar road, but hate it becasue of the rocky bit mid way. Likewise an avid MTB'er would love the challenge of those bits, but hate the other 95% of mostly featureless but very steap climbing.
Alex, that route up the Brinore Tramroad is correct until it gets to the junction to Dyffryn Crawnon. I would normally keep on heading up to the top then head right across Bryniau Gleision and descend to Dolygaer and Pontsticill Reservoir.
https://app.strava.com/activities/27514970
Strava segment
https://app.strava.com/segments/5256289?filter=overall
Mastiles was my first proper off roading back in 1988, before then we messed around in woodlands and moors above Kildwick. Mastiles rules it is still a great ride from kilnsey to malham out and back finishing with an awesome desent
Have managed the Dregorn ascent in Peatlands. Once. I thought I was going to die at the top!!
Mastiles Lane - tick. The photo - from the bottom - even made it into the Singletrack wallpaper section 🙂
https://www.strava.com/segments/2171932 . Way harder then Fremington edge or Mastilles lane . Half a dozen beasts around Buckden as well .
@peepingtom Did that years ago, seem to remember a bit of pushing up steep grass near the top.
Yeah, one or two round Buckden 😀
https://www.strava.com/segments/8884125 Buckden Pike anti clockwise , possibly the Dales hardest ?
Cadair Idris worth adding. 820m elevation difference.
[url] https://www.strava.com/segments/2105083 [/url]
Certainly Buckden Rake is is a decent little climb, steep in places. So Buckden Rake, the steep bit of Kidstones on the road, then Gilbert Lane....
Ingleborough from the Ingleton side? That's quite an effort.
How about the Calf from Sedbergh? Cleanable but tough and long...
Or Cam High Road from Bainbridge. Straight as an arrow, long as hell but nowhere particularly desperate.
Looks good [b]mtbmatt[/b]. Don't really know why I haven't done that.
Agree that Porter Clough (aka the bastard) is a Sheffield rite of passage[url= https://app.strava.com/segments/2129947?filter=overall ]Link[/url] - it's not as rocky as it used to be, but just as steep.
I like to think of it as the first part of a three part exam
Part 2 is [url= https://app.strava.com/segments/1358752 ]Jumble Lane[/url] on Houndkirk - rocky, but not too steep or two long
Once you've mastered that go for [url= https://app.strava.com/segments/3759264 ]Lenny Henry Hill[/url]. Again the bottom half isn't as technical as it once was, thanks to SCCC, but it serves it's purpose to wear you out before the rocky section. And just when you think you're almost there, the gate not far away, the lungs bursting, there's a couple of nasty rocks to catch you out.
I was chatting to someone about the Ingleborough BW last night - one of those silly ones really, the last two hundred metres would be challenging to say the least whether on bike or horseback.
Cam High road: I've been down it but not up. Seem to remember some rather loose sections which might be interesting in ascent.
The Calf: The hard bit of that is getting on to Calders - I pushed for about 200 metres from about halfway up the left slanting path round the bend and about 50 metres more. Loose and with a few water bars thrown in for good measure.
Climbing to the summit of Winder from the high point of Howgill Lane is definitely doable if it's been dry for a while.
AlexSimon - Member
Hairscary - are these photos of the same climb you mean - looks beautiful!
http://www.trailscotland.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=4368
That's the one.
Has it all, just doable to the bridge, a hike-a-bike after that, then back on the bike to the hut, with stunning scenery all around.