Steve H
Large Member
- Location
- Brighouse in West Yorkshire
...and that was just him climbing on and off the bikeYep, 76 feet of climbing today in 11+ miles, bring it on
My 20 minute Cragg Vale hill climb challenge
- Thread starter ColinJ
- Start date
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400bhp
Guru
No-one (180 odd riders) on Strava has beaten 20 minutes this month
http://app.strava.com/segments/1187651
http://app.strava.com/segments/1187651
Rob3rt
Man or Moose!
- Location
- Manchester
Climbs in the UK are VERY different to the sort of climbs you get on the continent.
Cragg Vale is only "legendary" because it is the longest continuous gradient in England, it is not challenging nor is it that pleasant.
400bhp
Guru
And Simon Yates had a go too - must be his slowest ride ever:
http://app.strava.com/activities/95638031#
Clearly a recovery ride.
http://app.strava.com/activities/95638031#
Clearly a recovery ride.
nickyboy
Norven Mankey
- Location
- You want hills? We got hills
http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/your-ride-today.8938/page-646
Did it today. GPS nightmare so estimated from photos I took at start and a bit after the finish. 26-27 minutes. Not particularly fast but it is what I would expect as me+bike = 97kg
Edit: that time is for the full course, not the HC course
Did it today. GPS nightmare so estimated from photos I took at start and a bit after the finish. 26-27 minutes. Not particularly fast but it is what I would expect as me+bike = 97kg
Edit: that time is for the full course, not the HC course
Last edited:
nickyboy
Norven Mankey
- Location
- You want hills? We got hills
Just got back from doing the Cragg on my fixed gear,
way overgeared at 80 inches (46/15 )so the mid section was a real grunt.
I managed 26:30,have done it in 24 mins with the assistance of 2 roadies who
let me draft them all the way up,cant see me ever getting anywhere near 20 mins
without a howling north wind for assistance
Having just done it today it doesn't really lend itself to fixed does it? I was in 50/21 on the lower section, 34/19 on the steeper middle bit then 50/17 for the final couple of kms. Our times are very similar so I think you'd be significantly quicker than me on a geared bike
Hacienda71
Mancunian in self imposed exile in leafy Cheshire
- Location
- Wilmslow, Cheshire
How does it compare to the Cat and Fiddle, Snake Pass and Long Hill?
nickyboy
Norven Mankey
- Location
- You want hills? We got hills
It is most like Long Hill. Overall the length is similar (Cragg Vale is about 1km longer) and the gradient is about the same. Cragg Vale has more variation in gradient. Cat and Fiddle is not dissimilar also. Snake is quite different, much steeper.
I found Cragg Vale today to be a nice, friendly climb which I could do in the big ring for most of it. Into a headwind I can imagine it being awful.
Hacienda71
Mancunian in self imposed exile in leafy Cheshire
- Location
- Wilmslow, Cheshire
. @
OP
OP
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
Well, despite saying that I might not time myself again for a while ... I felt good riding up the climb today and the wind conditions were much better than usual, so I thought I'd have a go as far as the bus turning area on the steeper section. If it looked like I could beat my current PB then I would persist with my effort. So ... I looked at the GPS when I got to the bus stop and it looked like I was on to take maybe 1.5 minutes off my last time!
I continued to push on, but my pulse rate was getting too high so I backed off before it caused any problems. (My recent heart rhythm problems seem to be triggered by excessive effort, so it is better to not take any chances!) I still managed to knock a minute off my time, and I was happy with that.
A mate was riding up behind me on his singlespeed bike and he said that it was the first time in years that he didn't feel like he was having to hang about for me, so that was good to hear.
Update on my Cragg Vale HC times:
I continued to push on, but my pulse rate was getting too high so I backed off before it caused any problems. (My recent heart rhythm problems seem to be triggered by excessive effort, so it is better to not take any chances!) I still managed to knock a minute off my time, and I was happy with that.
A mate was riding up behind me on his singlespeed bike and he said that it was the first time in years that he didn't feel like he was having to hang about for me, so that was good to hear.
Update on my Cragg Vale HC times:
- 19/05/13: 39:15 [Finished first Warfarin treatment regime but already reclotting!]
- 25/10/13: 35:15 [8-10 kph cross/headwind]
- 04/11/13: 34:26 [ ditto ]
- 10/11/13: 32:19 [ ditto ]
- 25/11/13: 31:19 [5-7 kph cross/headwind]
nickyboy
Norven Mankey
- Location
- You want hills? We got hills
Great effort. I started the climb at 11.30am, don't think I saw you? The wind, such as there was a wind, felt like crosswind on the top section but not really anything. Did you get stopped by the temp traffic lights on the way up. I did, most frustrating when you've come 30 miles to climb the hill
DiddlyDodds
Random Resident
- Location
- Littleborough
All this excitement on peddling up a hill ,,, I will have a crack tomorrow morning for a good time as its on my weekly morning circuit before work.
OP
OP
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
No, it was about 1:30 when I rode up.
The wind was the same for me - it just produced gentle ripples on the surface of the reservoir at the top. Normally, there are small waves rolling diagonally across it. On a bad day, there are large waves breaking on the side of the reservoir next to the road. On the very worst days, I have seen waves actually reaching halfway up the wall and breaking over the road!
I was lucky with the lights - they changed to green at the perfect time for me so I just rolled on through.
It looks like the wind has picked up again today, so it will be tougher up there.
I'm pleased at people's reaction to this thread. It is only a bit of fun really, but it is certainly encouraging me to get out more and see what I can do. It is great that others are having a go too.
You do realise where this will end up, though ...? We will have to join Rob3rt, dr_pink et al and have a go at the official Cragg Vale HC next October!
Perhaps those of us who are not members of existing clubs could enter as members of team CycleChat aka CCCC (Cycle Chat Cycling Club), if @Shaun didn't mind us borrowing the name for that purpose? I don't know what the rules are for club membership - could @Rob3rt, @dr_pink, @totallyfixed or someone else explain how the system works?
My times are still slow, but a year ago I could only manage to walk 350 metres to the local shops so I am not complaining!
