A57 Snake Pass Closure February and March 2022

[fossyant]

It's a bit bloody boring just going up, and then back down the same way, unless it's a quick training spin if you are local.

Some people have way more time worrying about petty road closures than the rest of us ! Got more shoot going on in real life and WORK than to actually worry about where I'm enjoying my hobby. I can see where the general public get the steriotype of most cyclists are self entitled peanuts - far too many are.

Personally, if there are 'roadworks', I'd avoid as it's a pain in the ass. Three sets on today's ride - I had time for a quick 20 mile spin whilst WFH today, between meetings. Back to riding to the office tomorrow.

 

[Sister Jeanne]

It's not the only closure notice on that section of road. There's multiple issues along the closed section, and there's a diversion in place, from either end

The problems are for about 1 mile out of 13 miles. Glossop to Snake Inn is fine and there was no heavy traffic today as they cannot start the works yet. Some small works may have been scheduled but that is contra-flow rather than closure.

 

[fossyant]

The problems are for about 1 mile out of 13 miles. Glossop to Snake Inn is fine and there was no heavy traffic today as they cannot start the works yet. Some small works may have been scheduled but that is contra-flow rather than closure.

But you do know the boy racers have been up at night, cyclists have all been stood taking selfies on the bit slipping, and general sightseeing - the PITA that is the internet. If it hadn't been publicised by all and sundry, those local, like me and others on here, could have quite happily used it without pissing off workers/police/council. It's now a mass trespass at the weekend, and get this, the guy organising it is getting on the train to Glossop from Manchester, to ride it - he's not a real cyclist if he can't ride the 10 miles or so.

Carry on, the work is only going to take longer, and we're all going to piddle off more drivers as we've caused delays. News stories, rightly or wrongly project a bad image of cyclists.

 

[classic33]

The problems are for about 1 mile out of 13 miles. Glossop to Snake Inn is fine and there was no heavy traffic today as they cannot start the works yet. Some small works may have been scheduled but that is contra-flow rather than closure.

Some but not all, and if the whole length is closed at the same time the other works may well get finished sooner.

 

[fossyant]

Having looked at the photos, the road has 'moved' away from the 'hill side', by an inch or two, there is a big crack in the middle, and there are other sections where the valley side has gone.

It's currently dry, but hill water run off still continues. The council/highways are monitoring the movement. It will only take another few wet days for that to cause real concern. I'd say the substrate of the road is seriously compromised in these areas. I'd expect delays for a year or more.

 

[Sister Jeanne]

Some but not all, and if the whole length is closed at the same time the other works may well get finished sooner.

There were no other works today and Snake Hill perfectly usable. There was a helicopter dropping bags on Bleaklow but that is moorland a mile North of Snake Summit.

I doubt the road will be open any time soon. I seem to remember the concrete on the Alport bends was done in the 1980s and it took a hell of a time to fix.

 

[fossyant]

There were no other works today and Snake Hill perfectly usable. There was a helicopter dropping bags on Bleaklow but that is moorland a mile North of Snake Summit.

It's Snake Pass.

 

[fossyant]

Or 'you goin up Snake' for the locals... like me..

 

[I like Skol]

It's now a mass trespass at the weekend, and get this, the guy organising it is getting on the train to Glossop from Manchester, to ride it - he's not a real cyclist if he can't ride the 10 miles or so.

Now that is a poor show, but not entirely surprising. Is he originally from down south by any chance?

All these non-locals portray the Snake as a monster iconic hill when in reality it is just a mediocre lump between one valley and the next and just part of a route that provides one of a few access points into the Derbyshire Peak District.

 

[fossyant]

It's no monster hill. It's a OK climb when the weather is OK and the wind not too bad. Get a gale coming over (and I've done it loads) not fun. the views are shoot from the top too. It's OK on a great Peaks route though...

The organiser is a city dweller I think, hipster...

 

[I like Skol]

It's no monster hill. It's a OK climb when the weather is OK and the wind not too bad. Get a gale coming over (and I've done it loads) not fun. the views are shoot from the top too. It's OK on a great Peaks route though...

The organiser is a city dweller I think, hipster...

But when the East wind blows....

I got my Snake ride in early after the closure began and had a moderate East wind. I set a PB down into Glossop and maxed out my speed at 56mph.

Seems no matter how hard I try I am destined to reach the same top speed as that is the best I have managed at previous attempts even with stronger winds.

It was a glorious day though

 

[fossyant]

56 on the Snake - nope - may have been 50... Done crazy speed on Woodhead going over Sheffield side, and 60 in Wales... Too flippin windy....

 

[fossyant]

Chunal is good into Glossop, but remember the side road near the bottom on the left to Nicky's village.... speed off...

 

[ColinJ]

I got my Snake ride in early after the closure began and had a moderate East wind. I set a PB down into Glossop and maxed out my speed at 56mph.

Seems no matter how hard I try I am destined to reach the same top speed as that is the best I have managed at previous attempts even with stronger winds.

That was nearly my terminal velocity...

(#1) When riding a bicycle down a steep hill on the outskirts of Burnley, do not become obsessed with hitting 60 mph.

(#2) If you ignore #1 and you get your chin down on your handlebar stem to reduce drag, do not become hypnotised by the reading on your bike computer as it rises to 50... 51... 52... 53... 54... 55 mph!

(#3) If you also ignore #2, be sure to use a gum shield so that when you reach 56 mph, hit a raised manhole cover, take off, fly through the air for 50 yards, land hard, bounce, take off again, land hard again, slew across the road and almost drop the bike in front of oncoming traffic... you don't bite the end of your tongue off !

Ok, my tongue tip actually stayed on, but there were some painful bite marks in it!

 

[Sister Jeanne]

A53 Buxton to Leek is fast but you need a rare north-easterly Brrrrr.
I'd say 4mph faster than Chunal or Snake.