Snake Pass closed to vehicles June 1-14

[NorvernRob]

We did it today, Sheffield-Glossop and back to the Ladybower, then Hathersage/Surprise climb and home. I felt pretty good after 3 weeks off the bike (partially due to a horrible bout of flu).

We stopped at the top to wait for the others, and the wind was definitely stronger than forecast today too. It was actually pretty cold up there. We had a headwind the entire way to Glossop, but at least it helped us home!

Loads and loads of cyclists were taking advantage of the closures, though there were a few knobbers - I went around a blind corner on the descent to find a large group of riders, half of which were over the double whites on the wrong side of the road! It's a good job I wasn't a works lorry.

 

[nickyboy]

Well I've been over the Snake three times in the past week and I've seen some unusual sights:

1) A recumbent

2) A family cycling with the dad riding one of those bikes with a "tow-along" attachment and youngster behind

3) A lady on a horse riding down towards Glossop

4) A jogger, having run to the top, also running back down to Glossop

All the above are first time observations in all my rides over the Snake. Noticeable lack of roadkill too. Based on strava stats, about 140 cyclists climbed the Snake yesterday. Usually its about 15

 

[Gatters]

I saw all of those things yesterday too...apart from the recumbent

 

[BRounsley]

I went over on Saturday morning. I didn’t see much on the climb, a couple of cyclist. Once I passed the closure it busied up.

I left the house at 6:30am in attempt to miss the worse of the wind.

I loved the ride but the wind was wearing. It also meant I curtailed my already “epic” descending speeds!!!

The last 20 ish miles was a stinker headwind back to Manchester. The A6 is never fun at the best of times.

Only plus point of the wind was it was slightly behind me on the Mam Tor Hill climb. I’ve never done the Mam Tor before, I think this is going to get more attention over the coming summer.

 

[ColinJ]

I loved the ride but the wind was wearing. It also meant I curtailed my already “epic” descending speeds!!!

Same here - I only have a lowish top gear (48/13) so fast descents rely on gravity acting on me and the bike. I was on a lightish bike and I have lost a lot of weight so gravity was only giving me about 60% of the oomph that it used to. The wind slowed me down so I maxed out at 67 kph (42 mph) despite barely touching my brakes for much of the descent to Glossop.

 

[nickyboy]

I went over on Saturday morning. I didn’t see much on the climb, a couple of cyclist. Once I passed the closure it busied up.

I left the house at 6:30am in attempt to miss the worse of the wind.

I loved the ride but the wind was wearing. It also meant I curtailed my already “epic” descending speeds!!!

The last 20 ish miles was a stinker headwind back to Manchester. The A6 is never fun at the best of times.

Only plus point of the wind was it was slightly behind me on the Mam Tor Hill climb. I’ve never done the Mam Tor before, I think this is going to get more attention over the coming summer.

Wind was a perfect NW yesterday so it was a very fast SE descent to Ladybower

Mam Tor is a great climb. From your location there are a few good ways to get to the top of Winnats Pass; for the masochists, either the climb out of Wash or try Peaslows. The full Rushop Edge climb out of Chapel is very similar to the Snake and, for the "heftier" cyclist such as myself is the route of choice

 

[I like Skol]

....It also meant I curtailed my already “epic” descending speeds!!!

I can imagine!
Unfortunately IME dropping off the Snake towards Glossop is nearly always met with a headwind to spoil the fun. Mam Tor dropping towards the Edale side is much more fun than the climb, some great bends to carve into.....

 

[NorvernRob]

I saw all of those things yesterday too...apart from the recumbent

I saw a guy on a recumbent, he wasn't actually on the Snake at the time but heading towards it. Saw a couple of joggers too but no horses!

The wind was really blasting towards us descending into Glossop and made it pretty difficult, I didn't touch the brakes until the last left hander, and even had to pedal most of the way down to hit 35mph! I'm not very heavy though at 68kg so that doesn't help. I managed 43mph heading back towards the Ladybower though, those first few tight bends were brilliant fun with good sight lines and no cars!

 

[nickyboy]

I can imagine!
Unfortunately IME dropping off the Snake towards Glossop is nearly always met with a headwind to spoil the fun. Mam Tor dropping towards the Edale side is much more fun than the climb, some great bends to carve into.....

Rest of this week is forecast tailwind back down to Glossop so I can probably get close to 50mph. Unfortunately that means heard work going up but you can't have everything

 

[Twinks]

The lady on the horse was probably my friend Diana, she's been up and down the Snake every day since the closure! Personally I wouldn't want to plod a horse up and down 3 miles of tarmac despite the lovely views but she's loving it. Watch out for the poo on those fast descents

 

[KneesUp]

I've not had chance to do this at all until last night - but I didn't get to Ladybower until after 9pm. It was very quiet - I saw three cars and perhaps four cyclists, all heading back towards Sheffield, so basically I had the whole road to myself. I was in no hurry because I knew I didn't have time (or energy!) to go to Glossop and back, so I just ambled along to the Inn and came back. It was magical at that time of night, especially as it was almost completely deserted - it was a little eerie to be honest, perhaps because I'm used to it being so busy. A very enjoyable hour though.

 

[KneesUp]

Does anyone know when it will re-open? Was hoping to do the whole closed bit tomorrow evening, but I guess it will be open again then?

Slow day at the Derbyshire Times on the 10th btw: http://webcache.googleusercontent.c...-road-is-closed-1-7301940&hl=en&gl=uk&strip=1

Cyclists have sparked concerns after they have been making the most of riding on the A57 Snake Pass which has been temporarily closed to traffic.

The A57 Snake Pass was closed to traffic from Monday, June 1, and is not due to re-open until Sunday, June 14, so that major repairs can be made to the retaining wall in four different places.

Derbyshire County Council, who have overseen the closure, stated this is currently a no-through route from Glossop to Sheffield for any vehicle while the work is taking place.

However, the notoriously busy and dangerous road has become a traffic-free zone for cyclists who have been seen ignoring the closure to ride the route between Ladybower and Glossop.

The road has been closed from the junction of the A57 with the A6013 Ashopton Road to its junction with Hurst Road in Glossop. A signed diversion route, running both ways, is in place along the A6013 − A6187 − B6049 − A623 − A6 − A615 − A624 − A57.

The council apologised for any inconvenience while the Snake Pass is closed but previously stressed the temporary closure to all traffic has been necessary to carry out essential work. People wanting to visit the Snake Pass Inn can drive to the pub from the Bamford side.

The A57 in Dinting Vale, near Glossop, will also be affected at the end of June by the demolition of a mill with traffic lights at the junction of the A57 with Shaw Lane from 7pm, June 26, over that weekend and possibly the following weekend. Motorists have been warned to allow for delays. The council declined to comment on the closed route’s use by cyclists.

 

[400bhp]

Does anyone know when it will re-open? Was hoping to do the whole closed bit tomorrow evening, but I guess it will be open again then?

I was thinking similar. May be able to get over there tomorrow afternoon.

 

[nickyboy]

I understand that it is closed 1-14 June inclusive ie. it is still closed tomorrow (Sunday)

Sloppy reporting from Derbyshire Times re the dates methinks. I'm gonna have another ride over tomorrow

Edit: I can see the Snake Pass from my house and there's definitely no vehicle traffic this morning (Sunday) on it

 

[nickyboy]

Snake has reopened to traffic this afternoon

It was closed when I went W-E this morning but was open when came back E-W about an hour ago