Leeds hills - Otley area, am I a wuss?

addicted to Langbar

Leaving the frankly scary hill climbing speeds of some of you to one side, I was in a similar position to the original poster when I went from an old mountain bike to a second hand road/touring bike at the start of the year.

I am by no stretch of the imagination a natural climber (6'2", 12 and a bit stone) but it is just a case of plugging away at it. I used to struggle to get up from the bottom of the East Chevin up to the turn off for Old Lane in anything less than 10 minutes, but can now get up it a couple of times in a row now without wanting to keel over and die probably a minute or two quicker.

Arthington Bank/Black Hill Road seems to be a lot steeper than the Chevin and I can manage that out of the saddle now which I would have thought impossible not that long ago. I struggled with the hills on my first ever sportive in June (White Rose Classic - short route), but managed far better on the Rydale Rumble and Athur Metcalfe that I have done since. Langbar is another good one if you fancy running out past Ilkley.

I have just kept going up and down the section on the A660 from the health club at the top down to the roundabout at the bottom a few times and trying to do that once a week. I tried it last night and was met with absolute pitch black darkness coming around the corner at Staircase Lane as all of the street lights were off as far as the eye could see down the hill! So I went home as my lights aren't up to that and I'm scared of the dark!

Leedsblue

Cheers for that post addicted. Some good advice there. I do like the A660 Otley to the Dyneley Arms as you can keep a good temp going up there. Never tyried Staircase Lane but I will now.

Creskeld is a good hill as well. A little shorter but a good workout anyway.

lmrt

We've got some great climbs around here. The Black Hill road you mention, that's the one with the quarry at the top on the right?, is absolutely brutal as it gets steeper the nearer you get to the top. Whilst mapping stuff looks alright in theory, it doesn't tell you that just over half of that climb is an easy drag, then, oh my God, who the hell put that steep bit there. It's at least 1:6 and 42 x 21 is definitely too big.

Next along Weardly bank, lovely climb in two part, one steep kick early on the second part.

Creskeld, usually vey nice & quiet. If coming back from beyond Otley on my own, I usually choose to ride to Pool then up Creskeld as the O-P road has less, slower and more couteous traffic than the main Otley to Bramhope drag, in other words I reckon it's a lot safer.

Pool Bank - OK but usually busy with traffic, second part of Pool Bank beyond the lights tougher.

Chevin - Good drag for doing climbing drills as it's a long road with a consistent gradient.

Old Chevin (East Chevin) - As you discuss, steep, traffic too close in my opinion, not a nice climb.

Presumably West Chevin? From Guiseley side - reasonable climb with varaible gradient, I think you can also get to it from the far end of Birdcage walk but the first part of the climb was always bumpy.

Cow and Calf out of llkley - Rode it in the first White Rose after not riding it for probably 15 years. Gets very steep. Honestly nearly came to a complete stop & collapse!

Carr Bank - straight up out of Otley after going over the river. Brilliant climb, one steep bit, rest variable - long.

Norwood Edge - similar description to Carr Bank, not as long, harder at the bottom, very scenic.

Right turn out of Denton just before Black Horse pub. Very scenic but quite steep. Comes out on the moor joining same road to blubberhouses as Carr Bank climb.

Langbar from Iron Bridge - I love Langbar's post - agree, this is one of my favourite climbs, variable gradient, choice to drop into Ilkley or carry on right over the moor.

Langbar from Bolton Abbey side - very tough and steep - manged to get up it ok the last two WR Classics. even when you are fresh it's tough.

Ilkley - Addingham road, left turn about a mile out of Ilkley - haven't climbed it for years but seem to remember a lovely, steep in places rural climb.

Don't forget Almscliffe Crags, (Old) Addingham Bank, the Cringles, Draughton etc.

You could spend a good few hours going up and down these climbs around that part of the Wharfe.

I used to be able to get up anything in 42 X 23 but now, 20 years later I feel like I need a 39 x 28 for the tougher ones (and in fact a 34 x 28 for the White Rose). With the right strength training one could probably use bigger gears. What suits one guy though may be totally inappropriate for another.

Happy riding - hope you like the box!!

micken

Great post Imrt, I'll be out on these in the near future.

ColinJ

How about riding up Wharfedale and over Fleet Moss to Hawes, have a quick cuppa there, then turn round and come back over Fleet Moss in the other direction? When you are coming back through Kettlewell, you might as well do a quick diversion and get Park Rash under your belt too !

addicted to Langbar

Good one Imrt, you have got afew there that I haven't tried . . . . yet. Sounds like I'm not the only one who pours over OS maps looking for chevrons.

Leedsblue I have never been down Staircase Lane either, I just got as far as the turn off for it before deciding to turn back. I'm not sure you can get down to the bottom that way as it seems to run out half way down looking at it on multimap and biketoaster goes a bit mental if you try to plot a route down or up it.

giner1961

Getting me all nostalgic talking of the hills around Otley, Ikley, Leeds, rode the Otley CC road race some years ago went up Norwood edge 4 times i think, plus some others in between. They where the days when i weighied 9-1/2 stone and could go up hills fast.
live in Glouester now, nice cyling roads but the hills are nothing like the ones in Yorkshire not as severe which is just as well for my now 12 stone weight

DavidBelcher

Leedsblue wrote:

Changed my chainset and tried the Chevin tonight (Gay Lane, Otley). Gave up about a third of the way up. 34*21. Not physically beat, more mentally.
Any recommendations for good training climbs in that area appreciated

Until March I actually lived on Gay Lane (the flat bit opposite The Yeoman pub)! I only rode the whole of the East Chevin climb up towards the airport once in the whole time I was there, though - and once was enough (I stopped part way up too)! The West Chevin climb towards Guiseley isn't quite as severe, mind you.
If you want something a bit more manageable, the climbs from Menston village up towards Hawksworth or Burley Woodhead are gentler; the former can also be lengthened a bit by doing a loop around Reva reservoir, or if feeling ambitious, push on towards Keighley via Dick Hudson's.
Heading in the opposite direction from Otley there are some stiffish inclines up from the main A658 to Harrogate which take you to the foot of Almscliff Crag.
The Washburn Valley (Norwood Edge, etc.) is a much tougher prospect, but does look nice and colourful in the autumn - assuming you're not concentrating so hard on your ride that you miss the scenery!
Finally, the climb out of town towards the A59 and Kexgill Moor which passes Prince Henry's and the hospital is pretty tough and lasts a fair while. Not much fun once on the moorland section with a strong wind, though.
Hope these suggestions are of help.

David

DavidBelcher

Leedsblue wrote:

Cheers for that post addicted. Some good advice there. I do like the A660 Otley to the Dyneley Arms as you can keep a good temp going up there.

Seconded - a nice steady climb I always seemed to go really well on. Tended to push on from there via Bramhope for Eccup and Harewood Bridge, then back home via Castley and along the road next to the Wharfe (floods permitting!) to Pool Bridge, etc.

David

P.S. Climb from Harewood Bridge up to the gates of the Hall is also a good one provided the A61 isn't too busy.

DavidBelcher

giner1961 wrote:

Getting me all nostalgic talking of the hills around Otley, Ikley, Leeds

Same here, although I only moved away 7 months ago! The Otley town centre races were always a good night out (provided you could bag a spot to see the racing), helped along by a few pints of Landlord. Thankfully there is the odd pub round here serving Taylor's, so at least I'm not missing out on that!

David

Leedsblue

Well I am really glad I started this thread. Some great routes and those provided by lmrt provide the master list of hill climbs around lower Wharfedale

Thanks to all who contributed.

mattclinton

East Chevin = 42x20 on the fixed...

Which hurt! Had I been geared I'd probably have hit the 23 for most of the climb!

As a guide, it used to take me 6-7minutes to do reps up it!

nasahapley

A few more near Ilkley that I don't think have been mentioned:

Hardings Lane (AKA 'Jesus Hill') from the old bridge in Ilkley to the Langbar road is a good 'un,

Curly Hill up to Middleton (opposite side of the valley from Ilkley) isn't very scenic but is steep and good for hill reps (cycling and running),

a little bit further afield, the road that goes past Barden reservoirs (turn off the Wharfedale road at Barden Scale), has a tremendous climb with brilliant views, and can be descended at full tilt (50+ mph is achievable). One of my regular training loops takes this road in descent, and the climb up the hill from the other side (via Embsay) is no joke either.

nasahapley

ColinJ wrote:

How about riding up Wharfedale and over Fleet Moss to Hawes, have a quick cuppa there, then turn round and come back over Fleet Moss in the other direction? When you are coming back through Kettlewell, you might as well do a quick diversion and get Park Rash under your belt too !

I quite often go over Fleet Moss one way or the other, and can vouch for both ways being cracking climbs (it's also the highest road in Yorkshire at 590m) - well worth a trip out from Otley. Until last weekend I hadn't been out of Wharfedale on the Buckden-Aysgarth road; I always thought it wouldn't be very good as it's the main road, but I was very, very wrong about that. It's a good climb and the views on the way up are as good as any in the Dales with loads of waterfalls. The descent to Bishopsdale is brilliant too.

I then discovered another very good cllimb that I've never heard mentioned; from West Witton in Wensleydale over to Melmerby in Coverdale - really steep (25%+ in parts), and with a view down Wensleydale to the North York Moors at the top that has to be seen. The last climb of the day was Park Rash from Horsehouse, another I'd never done before. Nothing like the madness of the approach from Kettlewell but not easy either.

I realise these are not really that near Otley, but they're well worth a drive out on a weekend.

btw I saw loads of people approaching Park Rash from Kettlewell on Sunday - that wasn't anyone on here was it?

DavidBelcher

celbianchi wrote:

Leedsblue wrote:

Where do you find out the course details, i.e where is V9917

that's the problem with timetrialling. HC's come under the control of the RTTC and insist on maintaining these obscure codes.

Things have improved slightly in the past few years, mainly thanks to the 'net - local clubs will often give course details on their websites as well as the RTTC code for midweek club events. Down here we're pretty fortunate as the local division of the RTTC (South DC) has its own site with a course database.

David

micken

nasahapley thanks for contributions. I'm looking at building up routes in this area and I appreciate your comments.

Leedsblue

lmrt wrote:

Next along Weardley bank, lovely climb in two part, one steep kick early on the second part.

Went up Rawden Hill today from the Arthington Road. Nice climb, very quiet, levels out at the top and you go on down to the T junction and turn right, slightly downhill until you hit a very steep climb (past Bedlam Lane) on the way to the New Inn at Eccup.

Just measured it at 9%, which means it is a toughie,

nasahapley

micken wrote:

nasahapley thanks for contributions. I'm looking at building up routes in this area and I appreciate your comments.

More than happy to help, I could go on about routes round the Dales all day! I've only been in Ilkley (and road biking) for a little over a year but have ventured fairly wide in that time. To be honest you can't really go wrong; any route is going to have superb scenery and lots of hills as even the valley roads are a long way from being flat. A particular favourite is to go to Malham and then over into Littondale and back to Ilkley along Wharfedale - quite a few ways of doing it but all absolutely top routes.

lmrt

giner1961 wrote:

Getting me all nostalgic talking of the hills around Otley, Ikley, Leeds, rode the Otley CC road race some years ago went up Norwood edge 4 times i think, plus some others in between. They where the days when i weighied 9-1/2 stone and could go up hills fast.
live in Glouester now, nice cyling roads but the hills are nothing like the ones in Yorkshire not as severe which is just as well for my now 12 stone weight

Hey up Giner, you still did OK in the White Rose Classic. This is your old mate who rode the first half with you. After several years investing in brewery product sampling, that's the price you pay, but you were too skinny beforehand!

It's a much better envronment down there for you all, plust you're not too far from the Cotswolds. Hope to see you next year for the WRC again, regardless of who's organising it.

Cheers fella

lmrt

lmrt wrote:

We've got some great climbs around here. The Black Hill road you mention, that's the one with the quarry at the top on the right?, is absolutely brutal as it gets steeper the nearer you get to the top. Whilst mapping stuff looks alright in theory, it doesn't tell you that just over half of that climb is an easy drag, then, oh my God, who the hell put that steep bit there. It's at least 1:6 and 42 x 21 is definitely too big.

Just remembered that this is Arthington Bank (obvious really!), a real brute, best avoided!

addicted to Langbar

I am just considering doing the cheshire cat next year and was wondering if anyone knew of any hills around the Leeds/Otley/Ilkley area comparable to the infamous Mow Cop?

ColinJ

addicted to Langbar wrote:

I am just considering doing the cheshire cat next year and was wondering if anyone knew of any hills around the Leeds/Otley/Ilkley area comparable to the infamous Mow Cop?

Well, it's a bit further west than Leeds/Otley/Ilkley and VERY short notice because it is tomorrow (Sunday 12th October) but if you like Yorkshire climbs with chevrons, you could do worse than nipping over here for a new audax event - The Hebden Bridge Star!

It includes at least one double chevron climb - Mytholm Steeps. [Click on options and select Play Backwards - I uploaded the slideshow photos in the wrong order!]

addicted to Langbar

Cheers for that ColinJ, but I am unfortunately tied up tomorrow. I have never done an audax event and it certainly looks challenging to say the least judging by your photos.

Leedsblue

That looks a toughie Colin. Nice set of photos.
Think I will wait until I have a bike with a triple

.Avey

Hi, first post.

May I suggest the hill leading out of East Morton toward Dick Hudsons pub? A right killer.

nasahapley

Did a good new route from Ilkley yesterday which would work just as well from Otley; basically along to Askwith then up over the moor road to Blubberhouses, then up to Thuscross reservoir. Return to Otley via Swinsty, Fewston and Lindley Wood reservoirs and you'll have a route of around 30 miles with plenty of hills, the toughest of which are around Thuscross (there's a double chevron to be had if you do a total loop of that reservoir). According to Bikely.com there's getting on for 100 ft of climbing per mile, which is a fair amount in anyone's book!

yr99jparkin

Black hill is the toughest of the lot, its a good steep tester. Definatly more than 8.3% average!

addicted to Langbar

I saw a guy going up there last week straight after doing a 25 mile time trial. Nutter!