Mow Cop - Is it all it's cracked up to be?

I've seen all the hype for Mow Cop on the website for the Cheshire Cat. I've seen that it's apparently a beast, and was wondering if it's going to be worth me fitting a compact rather than my 39x26 current bottom gear.
However, I have just looked at it on mapmyride.com, and it suggested that the gradient was only around 20% at the steepest point, and then only for a few metres. The average gradient seemed closer to about 12-15%, and around 2km long. If so, it's not the monster I was expecting...
Anyone who's ridden it: Just how tough is it? I intend to head up and recce it before the event, but forewarned is forearmed...
However, I have just looked at it on mapmyride.com, and it suggested that the gradient was only around 20% at the steepest point, and then only for a few metres. The average gradient seemed closer to about 12-15%, and around 2km long. If so, it's not the monster I was expecting...
Anyone who's ridden it: Just how tough is it? I intend to head up and recce it before the event, but forewarned is forearmed...
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it's a hard life if you don't weaken.
Sounds like it should be fine for me then. Thanks.
Think I'll give it a go soon - let us know what you think.
It's not easy either though. The worst bit is just seeing the 25% bit up ahead because it's arrow straight.
i've not been back since, but i've ridden up tougher climbs since then.
the cat and fiddle is similarly not as bad as non-locals make out, even if you go up the old road.
as far as the cat goes, i'd be more concerned about tackling the cloud having just done mow cop after nearly 100 miles…
It's massively over-hyped by Kilotogo ("the UK's foremost cyclosportive organiser" according to their website, although interestingly they have toned-down the hyperbole on there a lot since they published a new website a couple of weeks ago - I laughed out loud when I first read it, it was so over the top
The 'killer mile' term comes from a running race up the hill, run since the 1970's
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7367327.stm : some decent footage of the hill, you can see what you'll be cycling up
Running up it fast would be hard : I think the current record is 6:12 - think on that when you're cycling up it...
Yes it is about a mile from the level crossing at the bottom to the top.
At the bottom you can't see what's coming, it goes round a bend under trees fairly steeply - if you attack this hard and blow up, you'll regret it...
Instead, pace yourself up this bit until you come out from the trees and you can see what's coming - it eases off a lot and runs up between fields, then gets to some houses and then there's the final 100-150yds which is the 1:4 bit - yes, this bit is steep, but it's straight, it's a good surface and easy enough to power up because it's so short...assuming you've paced yourself up the lower stages.
There were a few people walking up it on the Cheshire Cat last year, but I think because you can see it coming they'd out-psyched themselves and decided they couldn't do it.
I think you mean last year's route Alex ?
- down into Congleton, up past the Bridestones ?
Kilotogo also hyped the Bridestones as being tough last year, but to me the tough one is just after Congleton, through the lights and zoom downhill under the viaduct then there's that climb up the other side, eventually finishing at that farm with the wooden giraffes, lions, zebr, etc :shock:
Different route this year : goes over the top of Mow Cop and down past Biddulph, up and over to Rudyard, through Wincle and Danebridge, up through Macc Forest to Lamaload, down through Bolly
- yes, I'm not bothered by Mow Cop, I'm more concerned about Wincle & Danebridge. Macc Forest isn't so bad but then there's that climb out of Wildboarclough upto the Cat&Fiddle road which I hate, just seems to go on&on and my thighs burn...
Yes, much tougher stuff on the Cat than Mow Cop
- whyamihere, yes, I'll be doing it on a compact...
thats because they've gone the easy way! cheshire cats? pussies more like!!
PB's
10m 20:21 2014
25m 53:18 20:13
50m 1:57:12 2013
100m Yeah right.
I've found the photos from it as well http://suejones.fotopic.net/c1598095.html (i'm in blue and white stone kit) I hadn'e even seen the climb until that morning only heard the stories like people on here have but ended up with Juv+Jun prize 8)
The record was broken last time by Jim henderson in a time of 4.36 on his 12pound climbing bike :twisted:
I'm relieved now as I used to live in Cheltenham and had to go up Cleeve Hill plenty of times.
Is it as bad as the Old Bwlch to Penbarras and Moel Famau though? I know I struggle on this having not managed to climb it without getting off once yet.
Cleeve Hill aka Bushcombe Lane is the first climb (after less than 2 miles) in the
Cotswold Corker (105km) audax (14 Feb this year).
I've done it in the Circuit of the Cotswolds too, after several miles in the legs and it's just
as difficult.
Oooops, don't want to lull you into a false sense of security. It's the Bushcome Lane route up Cleeve Hill I'm referring to...
Oooops, don't want to lull you into a false sense of security. It's the Bushcombe Lane route up Cleeve Hill I'm referring to...
I haven't lived down there in almost 5 years. Is that the one going up through Woodmancote past the pub?
edit: just checked on streetmap. I know the one now. I figure if I can make it up the Old Bwlch (eventually), I'll make it up Mow Cop.
What do I ride? Now that's an Enigma!
Has anyone who's ridden the likes of Winterfold or White Down in the Surrey Hills ridden this one as well? Any idea if it's better or worse?
I'd be more worried about the cat and fiddle over Mow Cop lol.
With easy gearing and/or fresh legs you'll be fine - with 50 fast rolling/hilly miles and a double it'll be more testing (for example) - just depends on what your circumstances are - you'll probably be fine on a compact. The last bit is like being on a leg press machine at the gym - just take it slow/steady, out of the saddle, "one push at a time" - you'll be fine.
These steep hills are not really a test of climbing ability but more a suffer fest where power and the ability to take the pain for a short time is paramount. We saw this with Contador in FW, he is the best climber in the peleton by some margin but Cadel Evans was able to power past which will not (probably) happen in the tour.
Awesome view from the top. I drove the missus up on the way home today and discovered there's an equally stunning view over the other side from the ruin if you make the effort to get up there.
Well worth ticking off the list if you ever get a chance.
Im from Stoke and that run past the wooden zebras etc is part of our normal training run
from there we drop down to the Macc road and then into Rudyard back to the top of Biddulph Moor
One of my favourite runs
Simon
I'll likely be up there again later this year, I've heard that Mac forest is pretty good so that's already one I'll be having a look at.