My 20 minute Cragg Vale hill climb challenge

[ColinJ]

A shocking observation...

Here is a plot of my speed for the ride. Pay attention to the maximum speed on the rapid descent from Blackstone Edge to Littleborough. I had run out of gears so I just got down on the drops, as aero as I could manage. It felt FAST!

I have just realised that I was only doing 0.7 kmph more than Ganna averaged when he broke the hour record!!!

 

[Ming the Merciless]

A shocking observation...

Here is a plot of my speed for the ride. Pay attention to the maximum speed on the rapid descent from Blackstone Edge to Littleborough. I had run out of gears so I just got down on the drops, as aero as I could manage. It felt FAST!

View attachment 779966
I have just realised that I was only doing 0.7 kmph more than Ganna averaged when he broke the hour record!!!

Plus the flat sprint TDF finishes are faster then you managed down the hill.

 

[ColinJ]

I was just wondering why the speed had suddenly dropped to zero with about 6 km to go. Then I remembered a little problem with Calderbrook Rd... Here's one of my old photos of it (different bike, and facing the other way)!

The local council spent a lot of money repairing the road one time, but then the hillside started slipping again. They stopped throwing money at the problem and just closed the road to motor vehicles. It is a nice detour from the main valley road by bike apart from that spot.

PS If you ever ride that road in the opposite direction, pay attention - you will not see the problem until the last moment! I accidentally rode straight down it on a road bike the first time I went that way. I have no idea how I avoided crashing!!

 

[classic33]

A shocking observation...

Here is a plot of my speed for the ride. Pay attention to the maximum speed on the rapid descent from Blackstone Edge to Littleborough. I had run out of gears so I just got down on the drops, as aero as I could manage. It felt FAST!

View attachment 779966
I have just realised that I was only doing 0.7 kmph more than Ganna averaged when he broke the hour record!!!

Was the top speed reached as you closed on the left-hand curve at the bottom?

 

[ColinJ]

Was the top speed reached as you closed on the left-hand curve at the bottom?

I haven't measured it exactly but it probably was around there. Speed picks up on the descent but there is usually a cross-headwind coming from the Hollingworth Lake direction retarding acceleration. That becomes more of a cross-tailwind after passing Blackstone Edge Old Rd.