A Little Cobbled Yorkshire climb!

[ColinJ]

I've mentioned The Buttress in Hebden Bridge quite a few times on the forum. It is a stupidly steep cobbled path up towards the village of Heptonstall which some genius decided would be perfect as part of NCN 68 - the Pennine Cycleway. The fact that it is almost impossibly hard to ride up, and almost lethally dangerous to ride down didn't seem to deter the route's planners ...

You will probably have seen some of my photos of the climb before, but in case you haven't, here are a few ...

Anyway - I have a new phone which is supposed to have a decent video camera in it. Yesterday was a lovely sunny day, and I was feeling more chirpy than of late so I decided to stroll up The Buttress and make a little video of it for you. Unfortunately, when I got home I discovered that the video file was corrupted. It is the second time that this has happened - I think the phone's memory card is either faulty or not seated properly. Much disappointment ...

However, a search on t'interweb revealed a video clip of some poor soul trying to ride up it while being tormented by a very loud videographer who Just-Would-Not-Shut-Up. I would have jumped off and stuffed the camera down his wretched throat!

The rider almost made it. Watch the clip, and suffer with him!

 

[tyred]

Ah, perfect fixed wheel terrain

 

[fossyant]

Walk of shame. MTB as well If you can't pedal faster than walking, it's time to walk !

 

[Hacienda71]

It even has its own Strava segment CC QOM

 

[Shaun]

My legs (and lungs) are aching just watching him, poor fella - looks like a devilishly punishing climb!!

Makes me sort of glad I live in flat-as-a-pancake-Hull ...

 

[SquareDaff]

Rookie mistake - set off too fast at the bottom!

 

[ColinJ]

Walk of shame. MTB as well If you can't pedal faster than walking, it's time to walk !

Svendo has had a few goes at it on his road bike and AFAIK the first section has always defeated him. He's a fit lad, so if he can't make it, a lot of people won't be able to.

I've never tried riding up it because I didn't think of it when I was fit, and the rest of the time my only chance would have been on my MTB. I'm not sure that I am ever going to be well enough again to put in that level of effort, but if I am, then I will have a go!

It even has its own Strava segment CC QOM

I like it! I suspect that the fastest woman might be our trio25?

My legs (and lungs) are aching just watching him, poor fella - looks like a devilishly punishing climb!!

Makes me sort of glad I live in flat-as-a-pancake-Hull ...

Mine too, and my heart rate was also well up!

I think I could do with moving somewhere flat for a year until my body starts working properly again.

Rookie mistake - set off too fast at the bottom!

I thought so too. It is insanely steep at the bottom and there is a drainage channel to get over which you'd probably stall on if you hit it too going slowly, but I think he overdid it.

 

[Beebo]

A bit of googling has revealed that it's the "Up the Buttress Hill Climb", it has only been going 2 years, cant find any dates set for 2013, but it was on 10th Sept 2012.

 

[ColinJ]

A bit of googling has revealed that it's the "Up the Buttress Hill Climb", it has only been going 2 years, cant find any dates set for 2013, but it was on 10th Sept 2012.

Yes, that's the one. I somehow didn't hear about the first event until after it had finished. I was just out of hospital and still bed-ridden during last September's edition.

Riders will be going up it on the informal Ronde van Oost Lancashire ride on Saturday.

 

[dan_bo]

Why is there not an event up that hill? as in a timed hill climb?

 

[BigonaBianchi]

Thats on a national cycle route???!!!
Looks nice though.

 

[ianrauk]

Thats on a national cycle route???!!!
Looks nice though.

It's no surprise to me.
Tried following NCN 21 Route from Greenwich to Eastbourne.
It's just plain silly and ridiculous in parts.

 

[ColinJ]

Why is there not an event up that hill? as in a timed hill climb?

See posts #9 and #10!

Thats on a national cycle route???!!!
Looks nice though.

I tried riding down it once but soon chickened out. The cobbles can be very slippery when wet or covered with old leaves and you have to commit yourself to the descent. Any panic braking and you'd be over the handlebars. It is a fine line between doing an 'endo' and building up a dangerous amount of speed. I managed to break my fall when I stopped, by getting hold of the handrail.

 

[ColinJ]

Up The Buttress 2013!

(I'm still amazed that nobody has made the obvious remark yet ... )

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

Just put a schlumpf mountain drive on my Brompton, gives me a 16" bottom gear.....I may give it a go next week.