Hebden Bridge.

[ColinJ]

I remember doing that when touring the Pennine cycleway. It'd been a long day, and I had panniers, so that's my excuse for getting off and pushing.

A killer to try and ride up and...

... terrifying to ride down!

That's the easiest part of the descent, on a dry day, when there is no ice, moss or wet leaves to worry about. In the autumn/winter - you don't wanna go there!

I know from the point of view of 'character', that is a stunning section of cycle route but it is almost impossibly hard to climb and very dangerous to descend, especially if you have Look cleats on the bottom of your shoes and have to do a panic dismount. The silly thing is that there is a concrete-surfaced road called Moss Lane about 300 yards away which runs parallel to The Buttress and is rideable. It's tough, but doable. I don't know why the Sustrans people didn't use that (unless it is fear of conflict between residents and cyclists on the hill).

 

[DaveM]

ColinJ can you please let me know where that climb is in HB, where it starts and where it goea to

Thanks

 

[upsidedown]

I'm sure we went past HB when we did the Mary Towneley loop. Looked nice, well, the bit that i could see through the horizontal rain.

 

[ColinJ]

ColinJ can you please let me know where that climb is in HB, where it starts and where it goea to

Thanks

Fancy a challenge, eh!

I haven't tried riding up it yet but will do one day when I'm skinny enough. I might be able to do it on my MTB but the real challenge would be to attempt it on a road bike.

As for coming down... I attempted it once and quickly realised that it was too dangerous. It's really hard to scrub off speed without your wheels slipping or you going over the handlebars. I suppose if you let your saddle right down you might be able to have a go but then you'd have to really commit yourself to it. If you knew that it was clear it would be better but you are quite likely to encounter walkers and their dogs. You come straight out onto the road at the bottom.

Anyway, to answer your question: The bottom of The Buttress is at Royd Terrace next to the Hole in the Wall pub. If you come in on the A646 from Halifax pass through the traffic lights at the crossroads in the centre of Hebden Bridge and 50 yards on turn right up the little one-way street named Old Gate on the west side of the river. 50 yards on as the road bears left at the pub, The Buttress kicks up in front of you. It comes out near the junction of Lee Wood Road and Heptonstall Road.

If you fancy some more challenges while you are here, have a go at Horsehold Road (head towards Todmorden down Market Street (A646), turn left after the Co-op, cross the canal and turn right.) It's a tough road climb up to a few farms. Come back down the same way.

There is a ridiculously steep little close called Highfield Crescent. It's a short stretch of concrete road which I reckon is 30% gradient. I've never tried riding it!

Another local toughie is Mytholm Steeps - lots of 15-20% with a stretch of 25%! (Turn right up Church Lane off the A646 at the bottom of the descent from the Heptonstall Road traffic lights).

There are more, but all you need to do is look on the local map - there are chevrons everywhere!

 

[ColinJ]

I'm sure we went past HB when we did the Mary Towneley loop. Looked nice, well, the bit that i could see through the horizontal rain.

Yes, the MTL crosses the A646 within about 1.5 miles of Hebden Bridge. It's a nice town when it's not raining!

I wouldn't fancy the MTL in those conditions!

 

[Globalti]

On a mountain bike the best descent for miles around is the bridleway, which drops down from opposite the garages at Peckett Well at SD996293 to New Bridge at 989292, keeping to the right at the junction about 100 yards down. It's steep, slippery, rocky and just possible to clean in one go. It will test every riding skill in your repertoire.

 

[ColinJ]

On a mountain bike the best descent for miles around is the bridleway, which drops down from opposite the garages at Peckett Well at SD996293 to New Bridge at 989292, keeping to the right at the junction about 100 yards down. It's steep, slippery, rocky and just possible to clean in one go. It will test every riding skill in your repertoire.

A bit too technical for me! I have ridden down it in the past (almost cleaning it) but as I get older my sense of self-preservation is increasing. I start imagining the sound of snapping collar bones and that kinda puts me off!

 

[DaveM]

Thanks for reply ColinJ like you I'll give it ago when I loose some more weight, did Mytholm Steeps a few years ago before I started getting fat