Will's quest for 100 climbs, Stage 1 and Stage 2

[Jack Hughes]

Where: South Pennines, Bronte Country, Calder Valley
When: 26-27 July 2013
Organiser: Me
Course details: Hills, Descents, Hills, Descents, Hills
Distance(s): Day 1: 25.3km, 663m; Day 2: 61.9km, 1,308m

Marshalling: None
Facilities: Abuse, Embarassing Photos on Facebook, Sunshine.
Technical: Garmin 500 with Barometric Altimeter, and Strava
Freebies: Great Views and Empty Legs

Background

Will is attempting to do all the climbs in the 2 100 climbs book. According to Heather, doing them means not stopping, falling off etc.
Somehow Will had the great idea, and was allowed, to break up his Holiday trip with an Overnight stay at the Travelodge in Dean Clough Mills, Halifax.

This meant that we could go out to play on Friday evening and Saturday Morning.

Friday

A quick route to take us directly to Thwaites Brow and Hainworth Lane, both from the second edition of 100 climbs. This are both on the same hill, one on the North side, the other on the West. This hill is above Haworth on one side, and Bingley on the other, Keighley to the North.

The route was a figure of 8. Drop down from my house towards bingley, Climb up Rycroft Road (a nice Cat 4), drop down from the summit into the outskirts of Keighley, then up Thwaites Brow. This a nice little cobbled climb, cobbles deteriorating a bit, with some Alpe D'Huez style hairpins. I persuaded Will to start a bit slower than he usually does, and things were going great until he saw the hair pin and got off. Oh dear. I waited for Will at the top.

Drop back down from the summit, and along, and then tack Hainworth Lane. This isn't quite as savage as Thwaites Brow, but still quite steep in places. The setts under the trees were a bit slippy too.
Again, we were nearly at the top when Will saw the last hair pin. He was behind me, breathing like a train, and was chuntering too himself as he rode up. His looks words were "I can't do that". I waited for Will at the top and took some photos.

Back down from the summit and into Haworth. Then up a little steep hill. It's about 30% at the top. And a give way. Which is awkward. Will rode it all this time, but we were both hindered by cars which was annoying.

Back across the moors.

Hills 2, Will 0

The weather was fantastic and we were rewarded with some great views.

Day 2

We had to be back before 11, so set off early at 7am.

First job was to attack a Strava Cat 4 segment that I created for the Hell of the Worth and no one else knows about. Will was determined to wrest the KoM back from me. So I let him charge up. We were lucky with the traffic lights (I had been held up there).

I got to the top in about 11:30 - Will needed to beat 10:21. He must have been about a minute ahead of me, so may well have done it. But it will be close.

This climb took us up the the north side of the Calder Valley towards Luddenden. This valley has a whole network of ridiculously crazy climbs out of it. They are all stupidly steep and long. I took Will down one of them - thinking that if we made good time, we could go back up it. I waited at the bottom for him.

The next climb from the book was Cragg Vale. This is famous for being the longest continuous ascent in England. It's nearly 6 miles long. It's also on the route of stage 2 of the TDF 2014, and they have placed KM markers in the road all the way up, which adds an extra dimension of fun.

We stopped to take some photos by the sign which announces it as the longest climb. And a largeish guy went past. We started the climb. Got to the top in 28 minutes. It starts off reasonable steeply for the first 4km, then levels off a bit for the last 4km. From km 2 to km 4 it is steepest. We started to reel the largeish guy back in, and went past him at 4km. I cheerfully and helpfully told him he was "nearly half way" because I am helpful like that. It was quite clear he had been pushing it, and was obviously about to blow up. He didn't have the strength to answer. When Will went past, he finally did blow, as there was no sign of him at the top.

Next comes the fantastic descent into Littleborough done Blackstone Edge. It's a quiet A road, with gently swooping bends, so you don't have to touch the brakes. Just keep an eye out for sheep - the visibility is good, and, without pedalling, or getting into an Aero tuck, you can just trundle along at around 60-65kph for a few miles (depending on weight). With a 53x11 you could get up some real speed.

I waited at the bottom for Will. And waited. Which eventually allowed the large man to catch us back up. He was obviously pleased to catch us, and was determined to stay on our back wheels.

The road is what I call flat, following the Rochdale canal back round to Todmorden and then Hebden Bridge. But there is a bit of a slope where the canal goes through a tunnel, and the road goes over the top. As the road climb, large guy began to loose contact, dropping back about 30m. He was still trying hard. Too hard. I didn't see it, but Will was close enough to hear it. As BANG! he road straight into the back of a park car. He got back on and crawled up the road to a bench that was nearby. We had stopped, a bit concerned that he might have hurt himself, or whatever. So I went back to dole out some more kindly words. To be honest, he was just in a bit of Tritansesque anger mood... only seemed to have a badly banged knee. And wasn't wanting any help from us. So I said we'd leave him alone and get on our way. He had a nice specialised Carbon Fibre bike though.

Back towards Hebden and the highlight of our ride. Mytholm Steeps. This gets a 10/10 score on the book, and I had never been up it. It's always been on the todo list, but is never in the right place for a good route. It's a cracker. Lots of hairpins as it snakes up through the trees. Until finally you get to a bit that just looks like a vertical wall. A few cars went past us, so I slowed down a bit to listen to the sounds of their engines/clutches etc, to try to gauge how long and steep it was. Will steamed on ahead. He was determined to do this one. But after about 10-15 metres of the wall, he was defeated. Unfortunately he was also committed. No time to even think about unclipping, and over he went, almost in slow motion, trying, but failing, to grab hold of the low stone wall to break is descent. To no avail. It didn't look fatal and it was a bit to steep to break your rhythm, so I carried on past him to the top. After the next hairpin, it started to get a bit more sensible. I waited 5 mins at the top for him.

Round the summit and back down through Heptonstall. This makes for a nice cobbled descent. I insisted that Will would not walk down, like last time, and he really had a good go. Only stopping to make way for a bus coming up. I took a few photos of him. After the cobbled bit finished, I freewheeled down to the bottom of the hill, where I waited for Will.

2 minutes of respite. Then the next hill. This isn't featured in the book, but is on a par with an 8 or 9. I call it Birchcliffe, it's long and steep, with some false flats making it into three or four nasty climbs. Each time you think you have got to the top, when it just starts all over again. Technically, will did a lot better. Although I did see his foot touching the floor at one point.

After the climb, you are rewarded with some fantastic views over the Calder Valley, before dropping down into Luddenden (where I waited for Will), then ascending the last climb from the book Halifax Road. Will finally mastered this one, especially after having a cheeky Porte (Gel inside the last 10km on the final climb). I let him go on ahead, so he was finally able to wait for me at the top.

Dropping back down into Dean Clough, arriving at 11:00:35. Just 35 seconds outside the Deadline. I think Heather was a bit grumpy though, as only the Burnish Kids came down to say hello. Despite there being an inordinately large number, they seem pleasant enough.

Climbs from the books Tackled: 5. Climbs Will managed to do without stopping/falling off: 2. By Heather's rules he will have to come back and do them again.

I think he had a nice time though.

[jonathon.e]

The tale of Robert the Bruce and the spider spring to mind.

Lovely write up, and the excellent organisation leaves some races in the shade.

[King Sad]

Another great report Jack, almost a touch of the 'Wainwright' there, some sketches would be nice.

I can just imagine poor Will cursing you throughout this ...

But after about 10-15 metres of the wall, he was defeated. Unfortunately he was also committed. No time to even think about unclipping, and over he went, almost in slow motion, trying, but failing, to grab hold of the low stone wall to break is descent. To no avail. It didn't look fatal and it was a bit to steep to break your rhythm, so I carried on past him to the top. After the next hairpin, it started to get a bit more sensible. I waited 5 mins at the top for him.

and in particular

It didn't look fatal and it was a bit to steep to break your rhythm, so I carried on past him to the top.

[Jimba]

Great report. The funniest bit for me was "The road is what I call flat....."

[Tritans]

I am beginning to have 2nd thoughts already.

A big up to Will.

On the basis that I doubt the big lad was bigger than me, I would have taken the piss mercilessly had I seen him ride into a parked car.

[Jack Hughes]

Actually, I remarked to will that he wasn't that big

Tritans, you would, at the very least, wet yourself with fear at the sight of
Mytholm steeps. I am cursing myself that I left the helmet cam behind.

I am itching to do it again

[Bendy Ben]

A very very small part of my really wants to whack on a climbing cassette and give this a go ( my 12-23 would make it impossible I think)

Pretty it won't be - no doubt I will cover myself in snot and sweat but its a challenge he and a half

[jonathon.e]

A very very small part of my really wants to whack on a climbing cassette and give this a go ( my 12-23 would make it impossible I think)

Nothing wrong with using. 12-23 cassette, it is allowed under
Rule 5.

However, by doing that I may have contravened
Rule 69.

[Jack Hughes]

A very very small part of my really wants to whack on a climbing cassette and give this a go ( my 12-23 would make it impossible I think)

Pretty it won't be - no doubt I will cover myself in snot and sweat but its a challenge he and a half

You can. But I will have to arrange for a St John's ambulance to follow us round*







*for it will only be the shame and terror of being seen in one of these that will motivate him to get up the climbs

[Tritans]

nice try, but I'm a bit long in the tooth to be goaded into things. Bloody close though.

Good effort.