Confront your fears........

[Davehateshills]

As my name may suggest hills are not on the top of my Christmas card list however I have learnt that living where I do I have little choice but to ride up them if I want to go anywhere interesting so........

What do you do if you have a fear? Confront it head on, well that was the idea that came to me in a mad moment of insanity. The plot was now hatched and it was for me the hill hater to climb the longest continuous gradient in England!

http://app.strava.com/rides/22485638

So, yes I did it and to be honest it wasn't that bad, I just picked a low gear and took my time. I will be asking the mods to change my name soon if this carries on!

 

[Herr-B]

Davestillhateshillsbutwillcycleupthemnonetheless ?

 

[GrasB]

Am I missing something?... That's what 3.35% for 9km.

Maybe I'm getting too used to Alpine climbing but that doesn't seem that bad...


So Dave when are you changing your nickname to 'DaveLOVEShills'

 

[Rob3rt]

Cragg Vale is the longest continuous climb in the UK but the gradient is not at all severe.

 

[GrasB]

Cragg Vale is the longest continuous climb in the UK but the gradient is not at all severe.

I think it may be the same thing we get with Chapel Hill between Haslingfield & Barrington, it's not much of a challenge but because it's one of the few gradients that's signposted with a gradient around here people treat it like an incline worthy of attempts by cycling gods.

 

[Rob3rt]

Couldn't comment on the difficulty of Cragg Vale as I have never done it. But on paper it seems pretty easy.

I want to give this climb a shot though. Maybe ColinJ can use this climb as part of one of his forum ride routes once he is back on his feet!

 

[Peteaud]

Try polock now

 

[Davehateshills]

I think it may be the same thing we get with Chapel Hill between Haslingfield & Barrington, it's not much of a challenge but because it's one of the few gradients that's signposted with a gradient around here people treat it like an incline worthy of attempts by cycling gods.

Well a cycling God I am certainly not! I am simply a novice who is trying to up his fitness and get rid of phobia of hills. The climb was long, it wasn't a 20% ball breaker but it was a challenge.... for me.

 

[GrasB]

Well a cycling God I am certainly not! I am simply a novice who is trying to up his fitness and get rid of phobia of hills. The climb was long, it wasn't a 20% ball breaker but it was a challenge.... for me.

I'm guessing more of a phycological that physical challenge? Anyway well done for facing your nemesis & giving it the bird

 

[Cyclopathic]

I don't understand the %ages way of referring to gradient. The old 1 in 3 was easy enough. One unit up for three along, unless I've misunderstood that but the % thing I do not get. Can somebody explain it. For instance what would 1 in 3 be in percent?

 

[byegad]

Limber Hill just outside Glaisdale in the NYM is 1 in 3. Not too long but at that gradient if it went on for long you'd be passed by aircraft near the top.

 

[byegad]

I don't understand the %ages way of referring to gradient. The old 1 in 3 was easy enough. One unit up for three along, unless I've misunderstood that but the % thing I do not get. Can somebody explain it. For instance what would 1 in 3 be in percent?

33%

 

[Old Plodder]

In that case, just think of it as 33 in 100.......

 

[jdtate101]

Longest continuos gradient I've done (so far) is Mt.Hamilton in California, it's 20miles long at 6% avg, max 8%.Total ascent is 4300ft. Not hard at all, but quite energy sapping. Gonna do the Ventoux next yr, which should be more of a challenge.

 

[smokeysmoo]

but it was a challenge.... for me.

+1. I did a couple of weeks ago on my tod as part of THIS ride.

I hadn't recce'd the route either TBH so it came as quite a surprise I can tell you

I was amazed to get to the top and see that reservoir, not sure why but it wasn't what I expected to see after a climb like that.

Once it opened up it reminded me a lot of aspects of the Cat & Fiddle Challenge route.

I'll be doing it again this Sunday, (weather permitting ) as part of this years Cat & Fiddle training.

Well done Dave, I feel your pain Pal, others might consider it a mere bump, but it was feckin' hill and half in my book