Le Col de Moss

paul_or

I have long thought of this as one of the ultimate climbs in British cycling, ever since watching the Tour of Britain pass by on the summit about 17 years ago. Has anybody ridden up and down? I'd love to give ot a go next year, but would welcome any thoughts and experiences - I assume triple chainring etc, and how hard people found it?

Cheers

iain_j

I've ridden it once each way, not for years though, but I remember it was bloody hard and went on for bloody ages. But saying that, the first time I climbed it ( to Holmfirth) I'd only been cycling a few months and was on a heavy clunker, and second time (other way) it was towards the end of a 70-mile circuit of the Peak District so I was rightfully knackered.

It's certainly do-able, in fact it's one of my favourite types of climbs, get in a low gear and churn it over and over until you get there.

The descents are fantastic too - esp. down to Woodhead - get round the first corner, tuck in, and watch the speedo :twisted:

FJS

Holme Moss is a great climb, together with Snake Pass the only climb I know in the Peaks that has something of an Alpine feel. Still, it's over remarkable quickly, considering in distance and average gradient it's about half an Alpe d'Huez. Tough enough though, my 42x26 did not feel comfortable; what gear you'll need of course depends on your level of fitness; the north side has no extremely steep section in it though, it's more in the length. The south side is great as a descent, you can get over 80km/h if there's no cars.

a_n_t

went up from woodhead a couple of weeks ago, no biggie!

there's a ride planned over it on cyclechat on 7/12.

paul_or

Thanks for replies all. I think it's going to be after new year before I get a chance to ride it, but it's on the radar for next year!

By the way, if it is of interest, I took some pics of the south side yesterday - see them here:

http://paulmor.wordpress.com/2008/11/24/a-short-note-on-le-col-de-moss/

davidmiller

It is a great climb. As a kid I used to do it from home (Batley) and since I've got back into cycling I've done it twice (after a drive from Cambridge).

Two years ago I drove up to Castleton and cycled over Strines Moor round to holmfirth and up the Moss. On that occassion I had chased a guy on the early slopes and had to stop for a rest near the top (I only have a standard chainsets). It's interesting to read the statement above about how the gradient compares to AdH.

This year I rode the Kirklees sportive in April which also went over it (in heavy rain). Having paced myself I got up it quite easily. that's a good sportie - if they do it again this year it could be fun for you.

I love how the distance to the top is counted down by road markings from the Holmfirth side. All I need now is to find my name written across the road in large white letters!!

Never done it up from woodhead.

Go do it - it's great.

David

singlespeedexplosif

it's practically on my doorstep so I ride it lots. Great fun.
Not too sure about the daft 'Col de Moss' name though Never heard it called that before.


If you're in the area and want a really challenging climb, get yerself Mytholm Steeps bagged...



http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=398430&y=427400&z=120&sv=398430,427400&st=4&ar=Y&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf&ax=398430&ay=427400&lm=0

ColinJ

singlespeedexplosif wrote:

If you're in the area and want a really challenging climb, get yerself Mytholm Steeps bagged...

You can see my photos and slideshow of it via this post !

inseine

I remember many years ago watching the New Zealand team walking up it in the Milk Race. It was a regular climb on our club runs when I lived near Bradford, great climb, but you're over it pretty quickly.

Simon Notley

How did everyone know that we were talking about Holme Moss and not Fleet Moss?? They are both great climbs... I've done Holme at the end of a long day carrying my tent and sleeping bag - it was pretty tough! That may also have something to do with the fact that I'd ridden the White Rose Classic (including the the other Moss) the day before!

ColinJ

Simon Notley wrote:

How did everyone know that we were talking about Holme Moss and not Fleet Moss?? They are both great climbs... I've done Holme at the end of a long day carrying my tent and sleeping bag - it was pretty tough! That may also have something to do with the fact that I'd ridden the White Rose Classic (including the the other Moss) the day before!

Did the Tour of Britain go over Fleet Moss about 17 years ago then ?

I went to watch it with a mate but the police had closed the roads by the time we got there so we couldn't get up to the top of the climb in time. We parked the car and ran to Holme village and got there just as the peloton was riding by. I spotted Robert Millar going past.

To answer the original question - I've ridden up Holme Moss 4 times from the Holmfirth side. 3 times I was unfit and struggled terribly. I had to get off and stretch my back and walk bits of it. In June 2007 I rode from Hebden Bridge to Coventry via Holme Moss and Snake Pass and found it perfectly okay, even though I had panniers on my bike, but I was much fitter that year.

All 4 times, I had crosswinds on the descent which made it dodgy so I kept my speed down to (say) 40 mph. It would be very easy to hit 60 mph going down towards Woodhead if you kept off the brakes :shock: !

davidmiller

singlespeedexplosif wrote:

it's practically on my doorstep so I ride it lots. Great fun.
Not too sure about the daft 'Col de Moss' name though Never heard it called that before.


If you're in the area and want a really challenging climb, get yerself Mytholm Steeps bagged...



http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=398430&y=427400&z=120&sv=398430,427400&st=4&ar=Y&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf&ax=398430&ay=427400&lm=0

PLEASE PLEASE don't mention that place out loud - I'm just about getting over the trauma of the Pain in the Penines sportive last year.

It so steep that in its short span I had to get off and walk TWICE!!!!

Colin J remembers it well.

David

croggy

I prefer to climb it from the Holmfirth side.It takes me about 14 mins using a 34-28 at 6-7 mph.
What p!sses me off is that it doesn't seem that steep but I just can't seem to climb it without grovelling.However the descent makes it all worthwhile as long as there's no cars to slow you down.

iain_j

Are the long-term roadworks still there on the Holmfirth side? Last time I climbed it, a few years ago, there was a short stretch where the uphill-side of the road was closed off. I was suffering on the climb that day, but I think I would have made it without having to stop for a slump over the handlebars, if it wasn't for having to adjust my pace to get through that bit with a convenient gap in the traffic - I was really crawling, and didn't enjoy being on the wrong side of the road for this bit with cars and HGV's coming down towards me at some speed!

Chip \'oyler

I used to live near Penistone, and a regular ride that me and my brother did was to ride to Holmfirth, over Holme Moss, right at the bottom, then over the Devils Elbow to Glossop then up Snakes Pass. Down the descent, if we felt good we'd go over the Strines, otherwise it was down the Rivelin and back home through Sheffield. Great ride.
Mind you that was 22 years ago when I was a junior, and I weighed 3 stones less :?

As somebody mentioned, Holme Moss (Holmfirth side) and Snake Pass (Glossop side) are the nearest things round here to Continental climbs.

a_n_t

singlespeedexplosif wrote:

get yerself Mytholm Steeps bagged...

thats on my hitlist!


Here's another toughie that's not too far in broadbottom

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/905669

27% about .6 of a mile, and it hurts!

STEFANOS4784

http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12596274


How about this?

singlespeedexplosif

DavidMiller wrote:

singlespeedexplosif wrote:

it's practically on my doorstep so I ride it lots. Great fun.
Not too sure about the daft 'Col de Moss' name though Never heard it called that before.


If you're in the area and want a really challenging climb, get yerself Mytholm Steeps bagged...



http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=398430&y=427400&z=120&sv=398430,427400&st=4&ar=Y&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf&ax=398430&ay=427400&lm=0

PLEASE PLEASE don't mention that place out loud - I'm just about getting over the trauma of the Pain in the Penines sportive last year.

It so steep that in its short span I had to get off and walk TWICE!!!!

Colin J remembers it well.

David

tell you what, that's a cracking sportive isn't it?! Loved it despite being unable to move for most of the evening

singlespeedexplosif

my other favourite - the climb up from Hawes towards Kettlewell

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=386240&y=485520&z=130&sv=386240,485520&st=4&ar=Y&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf&lm=0

A nice long grind, most of it, but you can just see the 25% ramp coming for miles. The fear sets in long in advance
Ridden it quite a few times but managed it on a tour in May, fully panniered-up with a bottom of 39-25. I don't think I've ever come so close to death by vomiting..

nasahapley

singlespeedexplosif wrote:

my other favourite - the climb up from Hawes towards Kettlewell

That's Fleet Moss that Simon N mentioned earlier in the thread (I also originally thought that's what this thread would be about) - it's one of my 'favourite' climbs too!

I'm yet to go to the Peaks on the bike; would anybody be able to direct me to a route on Bikely that takes in some of the famous climbs I keep hearing about? Definitely want to give Holme Moss a go (preferably in the direction that allows the super-fast descent, and also Winnats, thats got a reputation to live up to as well!

FJS

nasahapley wrote:

I'm yet to go to the Peaks on the bike; would anybody be able to direct me to a route on Bikely that takes in some of the famous climbs I keep hearing about? Definitely want to give Holme Moss a go (preferably in the direction that allows the super-fast descent, and also Winnats, thats got a reputation to live up to as well!

This should do: http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Ho ... -Pass-Hope
Especially if you add a small loop at the end, from Hope to Castleton-Winnats Pass-Edale-Hope.... Should be a good ride .

The fast descent is the south side down towards Woodhead Reservoir; the long hard climb is the north side from Holmfirth.


With respect to posts about other tough, steep climbs in the area; of course there are plenty of very steep climbs, very hard; but the special thing about Holme Moss (and to some degree Snake Pass from Glossop) is that it is long (5 km) with average gradient like the big cols in the Alps. The height geined from Holmfith to the top is almost 400 meter.

Does anyone know of climbs with a similar or larger height difference in the UK?

nasahapley

That's cracking FJS, I think I'll arrange a weekend in the Peaks to get that done! As for other climbs with big elevation changes, the one that springs to mind is Kirkstone Pass from either Ambleside (AKA the Struggle) or Windermere - both about 400m, although from Ambleside you do it in half the distance! I believe the biggest are Bealach na Ba and Great Dun Fell which both have a bit over 600m climb, but I haven't done those yet (hope to do GDF at Christmas if the road's passable).

paul_or

It may be of no interest, but I have finally found the photos which prompted me to write this post in the first place. If you're interested, they are posted on my blog, link shown below. Let's hope 09 is the year I get back up there!!!

a_n_t

done it both ways recently........................not so bad tbh

croggy

Really nice this afternoon.More like a Spring day than Winter.