Cat & Fiddle - is it dangerous?

2

Comments

  • Higs
    Higs Posts: 105
    Paul Lavery wrote:
    The Cat & Fiddle was one of my favourite rides.

    I'd sometimes see the odd biker who'd overcooked it on the bends but nothing too serious! If you ride with cofidence and defend your road space, you'll be fine.

    I live in Macc so often finish down the C&F. Only a couple of weeks ago I had a biker lock up on the outside of me in a big plume of smoke. I think he must've thought I was going to slow down for the corner.
    Higs
  • bobh
    bobh Posts: 163
    Raced over the Cat n Fiddle in a 60 mile two man break with the late great Bill Bradley on his come back in 1973, when we finished 15 minutes up on what was left of the bunch. What a memory that was I'd only just turned senior never raced above 50 miles and I was in there trading it with a legend....and now and I can hardly climb a railway bridge!

    Classic case of the older you get the better you were!
  • Bhima
    Bhima Posts: 2,145
    a_n_t wrote:
    cat.jpg


    cat from macc.

    Thanks mate.

    How would I get hold of such elevation charts for any given road/route?
  • a_n_t
    a_n_t Posts: 2,011
    http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx
    Manchester wheelers

    PB's
    10m 20:21 2014
    25m 53:18 20:13
    50m 1:57:12 2013
    100m Yeah right.
  • iain_j
    iain_j Posts: 1,941
    The thing I love about the C&F is there's so many minor roads around there, criss-crossing the C&F itself and in and out of the valleys. Did a great ride around there a couple of weeks ago:

    Bollington - Pott Shrigley - climb to B5470 down to Kettleshulme - R, climb past Windgather Rocks, L down to Errwood Reservoir, R all the way up the valley to the Cat & Fiddle summit, L down to Bottom-of-the-Oven (great name and great descent :D ), R up to Forest Chapel and down to Langley.

    The only trouble was, the road down from Forest Chapel to Langley was STEEP - must have been around 25% - and it was coated in slippery mulchy leaves. I got off and walked down it :shock: If it wasn't for that I would have bombed down - no corners to worry about and an uphill at the end to catch you!
  • markos1963
    markos1963 Posts: 3,724
    Haven't ridden the C&F on a bicycle yet but used to ride it regularly on the motorbike. I agree it started to get a bit dangerous as its reputation grew. Best time to go is obviously during the week after the rush hour.
    The only danger I ever came across on the C&F was sheep! On day I was taking a back road that took me over the Goyt valley resouvoir(in those days you could still do it) and back out on to the C&F. As I was waiting to pull out onto the road a Renault 5 Turbo2(the original rally car one with square wings) came shooting past towards Buxton so I decided to give chase. What followed next wasn't very responsible, 4 wheel drifts from the Renault, wheelies from me(on a Yamaha RD350LC) and a mutual disrespect for the speed limit. This all came to an end when we both rounded a blind bend and found ourselves in the middle of a flock of sheep. To this day I still don't know how the Renault didn't hit them and how I didn't lock up and fall off! The only injury was to me when a petulant ewe took a bite on my leg!
    Norfolk, who nicked all the hills?

    http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3013/243 ... 8d.jpg?v=0
    http://img362.imageshack.us/my.php?imag ... 076tl5.jpg
    http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/3407 ... e001af.jpg
  • a_n_t
    a_n_t Posts: 2,011
    iain_j wrote:
    The only trouble was, the road down from Forest Chapel to Langley was STEEP - must have been around 25% - and it was coated in slippery mulchy leaves.

    !


    thats the one I almost bailed on a couple of weeks ago but going up!

    snow and wet leaves had my back wheel spinning all over the show!

    the route i did http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/7191739
    Manchester wheelers

    PB's
    10m 20:21 2014
    25m 53:18 20:13
    50m 1:57:12 2013
    100m Yeah right.
  • greg roche
    greg roche Posts: 124
    Sabbath Bicycles HQ is located literally 200 yards from the start of the climb in Macc. As a local rider (lived here for 12 years) i'd say its a staple mid week ride. Local pro Lovatt can do the climb sub 20 mins, when i was riding properly 21 mins was average. Guess thers a tendancy to number crunch sometimes.

    What i would say is that there are several, far more attractive and challenging climbs up to the same cat and fiddle summit - particularly from Sutton - and if anyone is in the area for a morning or weekend and wants a guided tour they can call by at SAbbath and we'll be up for a blitz. Rides from teh office are pretty regular and we're always willing to put the phone on divert!

    Greg
  • spasypaddy
    spasypaddy Posts: 5,180
    meh ive ridden the worlds most dangerous road which is in bolivia. give me a road in manchester any day
    BMC TM01 - FCN 0
    Look 695 (Geared) - FCN 1
    Bowman Palace:R - FCN 1
    Cannondale CAAD 9 - FCN 2
    Premier (CX) - FCN 6
    Premier (fixed/SS) - FCN3
  • Higs
    Higs Posts: 105
    greg roche wrote:
    Sabbath Bicycles HQ is located literally 200 yards from the start of the climb in Macc. ...
    Must be nice to be that close. It's nearly a whole mile for me. Mind you I'm on the road up to Rainow which isn't too shoddy.
    greg roche wrote:
    ...there are several, far more attractive and challenging climbs up to the same cat and fiddle summit - particularly from Sutton ...
    Agreed - I much prefer coming down from the Cat these days. My two favourite ways up are:
    Sutton - Ryles Arms - Wythenshaw Lane - A54
    Bollington - Pott Shrigley - Bakestonedale - Kettleshulme - Windgather - Goyt
    Higs
  • andy_wrx
    andy_wrx Posts: 3,396
    iain_j wrote:
    The thing I love about the C&F is there's so many minor roads around there, criss-crossing the C&F itself and in and out of the valleys. Did a great ride around there a couple of weeks ago:

    Bollington - Pott Shrigley - climb to B5470 down to Kettleshulme - R, climb past Windgather Rocks, L down to Errwood Reservoir, R all the way up the valley to the Cat & Fiddle summit, L down to Bottom-of-the-Oven (great name and great descent :D ), R up to Forest Chapel and down to Langley.

    The only trouble was, the road down from Forest Chapel to Langley was STEEP - must have been around 25% - and it was coated in slippery mulchy leaves. I got off and walked down it :shock: If it wasn't for that I would have bombed down - no corners to worry about and an uphill at the end to catch you!

    Alternatively, don't turn right to Forest Chapel, go down Wildboarclough, turn right after the pub past the farm with the sheepdog which hides then comes out just as you're going past (sod!) and then up the climb to the stone cross, straight across at the crossroads and down to Sutton that way.
    That stone cross climb turns my lungs inside out...
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    I find the hardest climb round there is from Sutton to Standing Stone...
  • iain_j
    iain_j Posts: 1,941
    I like the sound of that :twisted:

    I'll give it a try next time I'm out that way. Only trouble for me is it's a trek out there - I usually start from Warrington train station to ride in that area (don't have a car) and that's 25-30 miles out of the way. That last ride was nearly 80 miles for the sake of 15 miles in the hills :?
  • thetrotter
    thetrotter Posts: 258
    NapoleonD wrote:
    I find the hardest climb round there is from Sutton to Standing Stone...

    Agree it's very hard, not least because it gets steeper near the top (it features in next year's Cheshire Cat Sportive). But IMO not as hard as the climb from Sutton to Forest Chapel. Go straight on at the Leather Smithy pub rather than bearing right round the top of the reservoir. Few people go that way because it is so hard.
  • Bhima
    Bhima Posts: 2,145
    thetrotter wrote:
    NapoleonD wrote:
    I find the hardest climb round there is from Sutton to Standing Stone...
    But IMO not as hard as the climb from Sutton to Forest Chapel. Go straight on at the Leather Smithy pub rather than bearing right round the top of the reservoir. Few people go that way because it is so hard.

    I'm baffled - where's Standing Stone/Forest Chapel?

    Are these anywhere near Hollin Lane? (My favourite Peak District Descent!)

    I just realized the other day how incredibly high the Cat & Fiddle road actually goes - if The Empire State building was in Macclesfield city centre - when you got to the Cat & Fiddle pub, you would be 25m above the roof! :shock:

    I'm pretty sure the only road higher in the P.D. is the Holme Moss climb at 524m... Unless someone knows a higher one...?
  • Slow1972
    Slow1972 Posts: 362
    Napoleon is spot on both Standing Stone and Forest Chapel are real toughies, back in the day I think it was a regular hill climb course.

    Bhima for Forest Chapel, go up through Langley, along Main Road and straight on up towards the forest, you'll pass Bottoms resevoir on your left hand side, up the hill and you get to the Leather's Smithy pub, take the left turn immediately past it (actually straight on) and that's the Forest Chapel climb, it rises, falls and climbs like a b***ch. When I mention going up this hill to my old man, he tells me how the strongest teenager on a bike in the village (Sutton) when he was a kid could ride it whilst giving someone a backy.....!!!! (Just so I'm not too pleased about being able to ride up it....)

    For Standing Stone instead of turning left towards Forest Chapel, follow the road around to the right, you'll pass Ridgegate resevoir on your right, the road bears round to the left and carries on up to Standing Stone at the top.

    Both good climbs for you to spin up at 120 rpm...... ;)
  • a_n_t
    a_n_t Posts: 2,011
    Just come in from doing the climb at jenkins chapel, holy moly! I reckon thats tougher than the 2 in Macc forest, it never bloody ends!
    Manchester wheelers

    PB's
    10m 20:21 2014
    25m 53:18 20:13
    50m 1:57:12 2013
    100m Yeah right.
  • Bhima
    Bhima Posts: 2,145
    Jenkins Chapel? I think i've passed that before...

    Is it on this route? http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=6313

    If so, I know what you mean! Ouch!
  • Bhima
    Bhima Posts: 2,145
    Slow1972 wrote:
    Napoleon is spot on both Standing Stone and Forest Chapel are real toughies, back in the day I think it was a regular hill climb course.

    Both good climbs for you to spin up at 120 rpm...... ;)

    Cheers for the directions - just worked it all out now, using maps.

    ...but 120 RPM is out of the question until I sort my gears out! :lol:
  • a_n_t
    a_n_t Posts: 2,011
    Bhima wrote:
    Jenkins Chapel? I think i've passed that before...

    Is it on this route? http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=6313

    If so, I know what you mean! Ouch!


    yeah, top of hooleyhey lane.

    jc.jpg
    Manchester wheelers

    PB's
    10m 20:21 2014
    25m 53:18 20:13
    50m 1:57:12 2013
    100m Yeah right.
  • a_n_t
    a_n_t Posts: 2,011
    found a pic of me grovelling up it too!
    [the taker had gone up via windgather btw :wink: ]



    jc2.jpg
    Manchester wheelers

    PB's
    10m 20:21 2014
    25m 53:18 20:13
    50m 1:57:12 2013
    100m Yeah right.
  • Bhima
    Bhima Posts: 2,145
    Out-of-the-saddle eh?

    You should get a 11-86 cassette and spin up it at 750 RPM. :lol:
  • a_n_t
    a_n_t Posts: 2,011
    Bhima wrote:
    Out-of-the-saddle eh?

    You should get a 11-86 cassette and spin up it at 750 RPM. :lol:


    I dont sit for 20%'ers! Went up on 34:23, god knows what cadence, the sensor is on the winter bike.
    Manchester wheelers

    PB's
    10m 20:21 2014
    25m 53:18 20:13
    50m 1:57:12 2013
    100m Yeah right.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    A_n_t, I'd hate to see what it's like when you ride uphill!
  • a_n_t
    a_n_t Posts: 2,011
    NapoleonD wrote:
    A_n_t, I'd hate to see what it's like when you ride uphill!

    :D

    I think the chevrons on the OS map are my proof!
    Manchester wheelers

    PB's
    10m 20:21 2014
    25m 53:18 20:13
    50m 1:57:12 2013
    100m Yeah right.
  • Bhima
    Bhima Posts: 2,145
    Come to think of it - that bend is the one which has currently got the record for my highest H-Rate reading. It was a super hot day though. I think the extra pressure from knowing how long the climb is (and how much further you have to go when you look up and realize you're not as far as you thought you were) can sometimes add a few BPM...

    Hills never look like hills in photos. :|

    But I know how steep that one is - the road in the distance is at the top of the photo which should give you an idea of how tilted the camera is. :shock: Take a normal horizontal photo of the horizon and that road probably wouldn't be included - or it would be right at the bottom.
  • snaffledog
    snaffledog Posts: 53
    There's certainly plenty of steep stuff around there to go at if you want it, and without having to cover a big distance.

    Did a 43 mile ride yesterday , setting off from Stockport, climbing starts upto Pott Shrigley (after about 10 flat miles), Bollington , Blaze Hill upto Nab End, Jenkins Chapel/Pym's Chair(really grovelled on that one) , U-turn at the top , up Lamaload and upto top of Standing Stones, descend and turn right at the pub to go up Toot Hill (Forest Chapel), real scary looking gradient as you approach that steep section, had to drop down to 34x27, going at even lower speed than I would up Winnats Pass (walking pace). Go back via Lamaload with final climb of Nab End, then back to Stockport.

    So lots of chevrons covered in a short distance. Fairly quiet roads for the climbs though and superb scenery.
  • Bhima
    Bhima Posts: 2,145
    snaffledog wrote:
    Pym's Chair(really grovelled on that one)

    It's the only climb which has managed to

    - force me to walk a few meters to an easier bit in order to clip back in properly
    - re-trigger my old asthma problem thus:
    - stop me dead in my tracks
    - make me overheat so much that sweat drips down my face
    - feature in one of my bike-nightmares :lol: :roll:
    - make me consider stopping and doing a u-turn (never have done though)

    Done it about 15 times though, usually in 35mph headwinds so it's easy peasy now! The geography of it means that, if you do get a headwind, when you do the descent down to the resevoir, the crosswinds will kill you, but the final stretch when you turn right gives you an amazing tailwind - got 55mph on that stretch and almost scared to death an old age pensioner walking a dog when overtaking a car doing 15.! The speed limit there is 20! :lol:
  • a_n_t
    a_n_t Posts: 2,011
    Bhima wrote:
    Hills never look like hills in photos. :|

    Usually, but I think that one gives quite a good indication of the steepness with the field in the background. It climbs 600ft in about 1 mile btw!
    Manchester wheelers

    PB's
    10m 20:21 2014
    25m 53:18 20:13
    50m 1:57:12 2013
    100m Yeah right.
  • Bhima
    Bhima Posts: 2,145
    530ft you mean?

    http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=7179

    Although, a guy I know has a really good altimeter which said the max is about 23%, so Google Maps can be a bit wrong...

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