My 20 minute Cragg Vale hill climb challenge

[ColinJ]

Sounds near identical like an elongated Crawleyside Bank.

I don't time myself on any section but next time I do it I'll see how it goes.
30 minutes for me, just maybe.

That's one area that I have never been to, but it is on the list. (Actually, the entire country is on the list! I want to cycle in every county in Britain at least once.)

 

[DiddlyDodds]

Blimey, that's not a bad time for that route! It makes sense for you, wanting to end up back in Littleborough.

I do the top section the other way round (anticlockwise), dropping down to the former Blue B-A-ll pub and then either emerging back at the farm and descending through Cragg Vale, or taking the more direct route to Mytholmroyd down Scout Road. The latter route is currently closed to traffic, but you can manhandle your bike round/over the concrete blocks blocking the way. It's a bit sketchy on that descent now - without motor vehicles using it, it has become covered by wet, rotting leaves.

I meant 31mins for the straight up Cragg Vale not including the loop ,,, I wish it did .
I have been up Scout Road a few times over the wet leaves , I would not fancy coming down over them.

 

[Peter Armstrong]

Arr good old craig vale, im up there most weekends..........

 

[Peter Armstrong]

Cool my best is 24:55. I mite try this too (next Year goal)

 

[Rob3rt]

Nice progress Colin! See you at the official HC next year Taking a punt at a long 17 or a short 18 mins!

 

[ColinJ]

Nice progress Colin! See you at the official HC next year Taking a punt at a long 17 or a short 18 mins!

Ha ha - I read that as me going for a long 17 or a short 18, and thought "In my dreams" ... then I realised that you meant you! (You did mean you, I hope!)

I worked out that I could knock about 2 minutes off my time merely by losing another stone and riding my Cannondale instead of my Basso. That would get me down to about 30 minutes. A day without that nagging cross/headwind would save at least another couple of minutes. Much beyond that would take me developing some proper fitness!

 

[Rob3rt]

Working on getting lower once you can will save time as well! I rode up there in a wide stance TT position on the hoods pretty much the whole way (only sat up a bit on the few ramps in the village, to get a bit more power out), I reckon that saved a fair chunk of time vs those who tried to wrestle through the headwind. I don't have clip-on aero bars since I have a time trial bike for time trailing, but next year I might follow Helen's lead and get some light clip-ons for the longer climbs like this.

 

[ColinJ]

Working on getting lower once you can will save time as well! I rode up there in a wide stance TT position on the hoods pretty much the whole way (only sat up a bit on the few ramps in the village, to get a bit more power out), I reckon that saved a fair chunk of time vs those who tried to wrestle through the headwind. I don't have clip-on aero bars since I have a time trial bike for time trailing, but next year I might follow Helen's lead and get some light clip-ons for the longer climbs like this.

It is getting easier to spend time in a lower position now that my fat belly is finally disappearing. I do need to work on my flexibility though.

One problem I have is that getting lower puts more pressure on the damaged veins in my inner left thigh. They are not as bad as they were a few months ago - then, when I sat on a hard surface, I could feel the clotted veins getting in the way!

At the low speeds that I will be achieving, power-to-weight ratio will be more significant than aerodynamics (except for when there is a headwind, but I don't expect to do a good time on a windy day).

 

[nickyboy]

I've just checked the mileage and if I took the most direct route there and back it's about 65 miles from Glossop. If I get a really nice day I will give it a try for a laugh.
Already getting my excuses in now...."had 30 miles in the legs", "needed to save something for long ride home"....yadda yadda yadda.....

 

[ColinJ]

I've just checked the mileage and if I took the most direct route there and back it's about 65 miles from Glossop. If I get a really nice day I will give it a try for a laugh.
Already getting my excuses in now...."had 30 miles in the legs", "needed to save something for long ride home"....yadda yadda yadda.....

Go for it!

I have done the reverse a couple of times - ridden down to Glossop and over Snake Pass.

 

[400bhp]

Think I might try and head up that way too over the next few months.

 

[400bhp]

Maybe a CycleChat challenge Colin-set some handicap's before your organised ride ;-)

 

[ColinJ]

Maybe a CycleChat challenge Colin-set some handicap's before your organised ride ;-)

You obviously didn't read what I had planned ...

We would go up the climb twice, the first time being to establish the handicaps, loop around back to the foot of the climb via Blue Ball Lane, then use the handicaps to set off in a HC pursuit. The slowest rider sets off first and tries to stay away, and everybody else tries to catch the rider(s) in front!

Everybody would have to make an honest effort the first time up the hill - no taking 40 minutes the first time, and then blowing everybody away the second time by doing it in 20 minutes!

 

[potsy]

Maybe a CycleChat challenge Colin-set some handicap's before your organised ride ;-)

I can tell you my handicap right now

 

[Hacienda71]

Everybody would have to make an honest effort the first time up the hill - no taking 40 minutes the first time, and then blowing everybody away the second time by doing it in 20 minutes!

Damn