My 20 minute Cragg Vale hill climb challenge

[Mattonsea]

I can tell you my handicap right now

I think its the same as mine

 

[coffeejo]

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!

I look forward to the photos

 

[totallyfixed]

Would you all cease! The hill climb season is finished and so far I have managed to hide this thread from dr_pink who has some unfinished business with Cragg Vale, but NOT until next year, mind you if I tell her potsy is going to be there...........................and as coffee jo says, got to be worth a photo

 

[400bhp]

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!

I did read colin, just thoght it might be fun to have some known handicapping before the event. Going up twice on the same ride will be interesting....and who will be timing the 1st run? Probably safer if robert and dr_pink don't do the ride -they will get an awful chill waiting at the top for the rest of us ;-)

 

[nickyboy]

I reckon with all our strava data swimming around we could set up a decent handicapping system without all that "twice up the hill" malarkey. Anyway I don't trust any of you to make an honest effort on the first go cos I certainly wouldn't. Too much at stake :-)

 

[nickyboy]

Nice gentle northerly atm which I presume is a tailwind.

If I can get a pass out I might give it a go on Sunday. Did Long Hill today which I think is the most similar climb to Cragg Vale and I was rubbish.

If I make it I'll be coming up via Huddersfield and back via Littleborough. Any café recommendations?

 

[ColinJ]

Nice gentle northerly atm which I presume is a tailwind.

If I can get a pass out I might give it a go on Sunday. Did Long Hill today which I think is the most similar climb to Cragg Vale and I was rubbish.

If I make it I'll be coming up via Huddersfield and back via Littleborough. Any café recommendations?

Yes, it looks like a gentle tailwind up the climb on Sunday. It's unusual, so make the most of it!

I suppose you will want a cafe in Littleborough rather than stop before tackling the climb. Maybe @DiddlyDodds can suggest a cafe since he lives over there?

 

[classic33]

Will you be allowing for the planned improvements in the road surface & straightening of the road into account?

 

[DiddlyDodds]

Yes, it looks like a gentle tailwind up the climb on Sunday. It's unusual, so make the most of it!

I suppose you will want a cafe in Littleborough rather than stop before tackling the climb. Maybe @DiddlyDodds can suggest a cafe since he lives over there?

I would go to Demetris - café in the old coach house , they are right behind the church at the foot of Blackstonedge (A58) -
http://www.demetris-taverna.co.uk/

Or if you like poncy chips try
https://plus.google.com/100513671820626964832/about?gl=uk&hl=en

Other than them go into the centre and turn up Harehill Road ,
https://www.facebook.com/Rebeccascoffeeshop

All three are within 100yrds of each other

 

[ColinJ]

Will you be allowing for the planned improvements in the road surface & straightening of the road into account?

They have already started improving the surface. I haven't read anybody other than you talking about straightening the road and I think that is a very odd idea. Why spend a lot of money doing that when the bends are gentle and only serve to check the speed of drivers who would otherwise probably be flying up and down, way in excess of the 50 mph limit?

I have never felt that my speed has been limited by potholes and the rough road surface on the climb, but certainly have when coming back down!

 

[classic33]

Question asked at a council budget meeting following your piece on Lee Road.
Council supplied that answer. I think I put in that thread the amount they'd set aside for bringing the roads upto required conditions. Can't work out how or where they intend to straighten it though, they are non too certain either!

 

[classic33]

I'll try and find out Tuesday and let you know. I'm aware the road is down to be resurfaced, top to bottom, or should that be bottom to top?

 

[Svendo]

Question asked at a council budget meeting following your piece on Lee Road.
Council supplied that answer. I think I put in that thread the amount they'd set aside for bringing the roads upto required conditions. Can't work out how or where they intend to straighten it though, they are non too certain either!

I remember you posting this in the Lee Wood Road thread, and I think I posted at the time I can't think of a bendy bit where buildings or terrain leave much scope for straightening. I can't think of any dangerous bends, and they reduced the speed limit in the last few years so I'd have thought bends were desirable, as straights encourage speed. Thinking about descending, there's only really one bend where I always need to brake,then the couple of bends near the bus turn around at the steep section halfway where I might brake a bit just to be safe and maybe the other odd one if there's cars or it's wet. Unless there's some other need like possible slippage on the higher sections? The TdF certainly doesn't need the road straightening.

I've noticed the traffic calming feature in Mytholmroyd seems to be installed so it's easy to remove on the big day in July, kerbstones on top of the tarmac rather than fully cemented in.

I had another go at pushing on a bit on Cragg Vale but the wind was at least as bad as on the hillclimb day and I only managed 24.28 mins for the full 8.83kms and 23 dead for the hill climb course. Must have had heavy water bottles and the training wheels are very heavy and my water proof was flapping a lot... .

 

[classic33]

My point was that if, as has been said by the council, that the road is going to be resurfaced, would that not improve your time?

 

[Svendo]

Sorry, i think we're both wondering the same thing for the same reason. BTW managed 20:11 on the hillclimb course today, nice and sunny, gentle SW wind, so reckon sub 20 with a bit of a tailwind &/or lightweight trim. Probably a bit quicker but i fudged pressing the lap button in order to avoid walkers and dogs.
I presume it's not going to get a full resurface until after TdF or the recent patching would have been a bit silly. It doesn't seem that long ago it got surface dressed, but it's probably over 5 years!