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Anyone on here able to do this? I pushed up on Saturday - cant even imagine getting to the first switchback.
Why on earth would you want to?
Yeah, pimpsy.
18 years ago I did on my full-suss with Panaracer Fire XC 2.1 tyres on.
I've heard it's a lot harder nowadays.
Man points
A challenge?
One of the magazines had an article on this a few years ago - they basically sessioned each part then started stringing each part together until they got the whole lot in one.
I've done it in bits: to the first switchback, then to the gate, then to the top but this was ten years ago or more and if it's got harder/looser then it might not be a goer these days.
You'd have to be bloody good to do it now.
Years ago. (must have been 2002, 2003 ish) I made it up to the gate in a oner. Once I'd reswallowed breakfast, I got as far as the steep slabby section near the top before stalling. There were a couple of my riding mates (Paul, now of Cotic, being one) who managed similar. Wouldn't even bother trying now. Anyway - its much more fun to ride down, and Oaken Clough (the other side of JL) is a more approachable climb.
That article that Whitestone references (MBR?) was gatecrashed by an occasional mate of mine Martin Brookes who now races Enduro for Whyte. He, Nick Craig and a 3rd guy (journo?) all made it up in one, and Mart nearly managed it in the middle ring. Martin was XC race fit at the time and a long term trials rider, so if he got stalled he could just trackstand or hop around to recover.
The first stretch just kills the interest for me - seems unrideable. Like if it was super-hard but you could see how you got that would be one thing, but when you can barely get started over a mini boulder field it's not very engaging.
Recollect there was an article on here with someone putting a dent in it on a fat bike, or big tyres at least. Perhaps that is the way to tackle it? The second main corner looks like an absolute monster to get round in any case, the part just before the footpath joins up - would need big power and the skill to lay it down smooth to negotiate that.
From 8 years ago (was the grand hack even longer ago than that?)
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/mbr-jacobs-ladder/
Up the grass on the right surely 😊
As above, the first section is much harder now than when those articles were published.
I got to the gate once. No way I'd get half way to the first corner now.
As with Jon above - 2006 I managed the first section to the gate and whilst i didn't technically put my feet down, if I'd have continued another inch, my heart would've exploded. I then managed up to the steep slabby section with a rut/pedal assist which would otherwise have been a dab. I tried for about an hour to do the slabby bit, but never got more than 5-6m. from my start point. I walked around it in the end.
Also ridden down it in a thunderstorm which was fun. It was like strobelighting with people going off everywhere.
Ages ago when I was much fitter, managed to get to slabs before I actually though I might die from death.
We had a good go yesterday. We were already 40km in though, so fatigue was a factor.
3 dabs/move-bike-over-obstacle to the gate. Then clear to the middle of the cobbles.
All doable in isolation.
A few years ago I managed clear all the way to the last 20m (where the cobbles become a switchback) with someone holding the middle gate. I've never managed that top bit of the cobbles.
Interesting article in Singletrack last year with a fat bike vs a e-bike trying to get up there. Long story short - power is the big factor - it makes the technical bits easy.
Ha! I can't even get down it, let alone up it!
Fat bike might help?
Having had a few attempts at riding up loose and/or stepped rocky tracks at the weekend (but on nothing like as steep as Jacob's Ladder) I think the following helps.
You need to be using a gear ratio that gives you enough power on one or maybe two pedal strokes from effectively a standing start to give you momentum get the front wheel over the next obstacle. At the same time you don't want to be putting in so much power that the back wheel spins. Balance these two conflicting aims is key.
Fitness wise you need to be able to put out a lot of power in that couple of pedal strokes but then recover before the next obstacle which might only be a couple of seconds ahead. It's this that makes steep, loose climbs hard. One or two aren't so bad but with a continuous section you slowly begin to red line and basically give up.
In a way it's a bit like white water kayaking: you need to spot and link areas of calm in amongst the maelstrom of rocks and boulders where you can recover better before the next section.
20 years ago on a 23lbs hardtail with a 135mm stem. I've changed, bike has changed and the trail has changed, so these days, no chance.
If someone posed me that challenge, I'd just rude up the other Jacobs ladder instead.
The first climb up the Twrch trail at Cwmcarn is enough for me, apparently the two don't even compare!
No and nor do I want to go the wrong way.
Huey Lewis managed it.
Hats off to anybody that can, but riding up the fun downhill bits is just plain wrong.
funkmasterp
Hats off to anybody that can, but riding up the fun downhill bits is just plain wrong.
Sometimes it's the best way when looking at the overall ride, although we only tend to do that way on point-to-point rides like yesterday (Started in Langsett, heading back home to Bollington)
I was there when Nick and Martin rode it, conditions were as good as they were ever likely to be. Dry but not so dusty that you spun out. Warm but not so hot that you were sweating. Slight breeze up it but not so gusty that it unbalanced you.
Even Nick had only managed it in complete clean runs once or twice before that and he's ridden it hundreds of times.
I've managed it all in various parts but never quite managed to string it together into one clean run. The photoshoot with Nick & Mart, I got beyond the gate but then lost it in the trench. It's far worse now than it was back then, massively eroded and loose rockfill. I used to quite like it as a really challenging climb but now it's just shit.
Yes, I can remember when the bottom section was trivial! You only had to concentrate to get around the bend and then it was fairly straightforward to the gate.
That bottom bit is probably the hardest now.
I was there the other week with a mate who is a very good climber. On a 29er+ full sus, which was a pretty good tool for the job in the current conditions. And although he had a good crack at various sections, didn't really come close to cleaning it. I can barely be bothered to even try, it just seems futile these days. Oh hang on, I did try, but toppled over sideways and hurt my hand when my cleats disagreed with the borrowed pedals.
I think you'd have to be very, very good to manage it these days. The rubble on the first section makes it a bit of a lottery. The stuff right at the top is brutal and the very top step was starting to deconstruct itself as a sort of special bonus.
Saw a couple of blokes on e-bikes doing it the wrong way round. Asked why they weren't going down it - too scared...
...*in no way does this post belittle the herculean feat of strength that those two fat ebikers were undertaking. They keep you just as fit. Totes.
Riding down isn’t so much fun anymore either, it’s totally smashed to pieces
Nope wont even try id rather shoulder the bike and take the steps up im down to 12 minutes
Nope wont even try id rather shoulder the bike and take the steps up im down to 12 minutes
I had the KOM on the proper ladder bit (from the bottom, round the hairpin to the gate) for a while by running up it with the bike on my shoulder. Three Peaks CX training.
Riding down isn’t so much fun anymore either, it’s totally smashed to pieces
Eh? What do you want a nice smooth tarmaced decent.
It's still a very good technical decent.
It’s still a very good technical decent.
Agreed - and it still has 'that feeling' as you roll over the top. Like you're about to do something significant 🙂
If you had to name someone on the planet who could ride it, who would it be?
Are we looking at pro xc or a trials rider?
Well we know Nick Craig has done it, so the Pro XC class is definitely a goer, but I reckon Chris Akrigg would be in with a shout too.
On the basis that I've not been on Jacob's Ladder for many years so don't know the exact state ...
If you can keep momentum going then the Pro XC rider otherwise someone with very good trials skills to trackstand/bunny hop their way up it 🙂
jonjones262
Riding down isn’t so much fun anymore either, it’s totally smashed to pieces
It's in my top 3 Peak descents, the view from fence where the footpath splits off is also one of my favorites.
Ace descent. There's some nice drop-offs forming now, too. Wouldn't actually say its that technical. Mostly just point, brake as little as possible and hang on. (like most Peaks descents)
and it still has ‘that feeling’ as you roll over the top. Like you’re about to do something significant
This.
All the top worldcup XC riders have got damn good handling skills these days, so trialsy stuff will be no issue. I'd imagine the likes of Nino would be barely out of breath at the top.
It’s in my top 3 Peak descents, the view from fence where the footpath splits off is also one of my favorites.
Me too, plus, while they get in the way, the walkers all look at you like you're a bit mad for going down it. Had a DofE group shrieking 'OHMYGOD' at me the other day as I went down, which always makes you feel rugged and manly *swoons* /sarcasm (no smileys on my PC).
If you had to name someone on the planet who could ride it, who would it be?
Are we looking at pro xc or a trials rider?
I've not been up it myself for ages, but the last cobbled climb just in isolation looks really hard [although the surface is good, nothing loose]. It would be a result clearing this on its own if you walked up to it and tried it fresh, so the full hit definitely needs the lungs of a strong XC racer.