dovestones

chris_phillips

Anyone online know what the average gradient over dovestones is and the climbs heading towards huddersfield from the Manchester side
cheers.

Simon1890

The hill out of Greenfield, past Dovestones resevoir and up to the Isle of Skye is one of my favourite climbs in the area.

It's 5.2km, with an elevation gain of 321m, therefore an average gradient of 6.2%.

At the bottom the first 500m or so is about 9% average (12% maximum) before it settles down to a good 3km of about 7% average, then lessens off for the final 1.7km to about 5%.

Best time for the climb? 21:41

Love it.

chris_phillips

Thanx Simon. so its probably similar in distance to the snake pass. Would the Greenfield Dovestones route be the safest mid week ride out to Huddersfield in your opininion.Oh and that appears to be a pretty impressive p/b. Wont be anywhere near them figures.
thanx again
Chris

Simon1890

Chris Phillips wrote:

Thanx Simon. so its probably similar in distance to the snake pass. Would the Greenfield Dovestones route be the safest mid week ride out to Huddersfield in your opininion.

It's generally ok, the first mile is fairly open so cars should see you early. Just be careful for the next half mile (past the car park/lay by half way up), the road swings left to right, then left right again and the corners are a little blind if travelling at speed in a car, so as your at this bit you'll find some cars come flying past fairly close.....i know some people do upwards of 60mph up there so be prepared.

I've never had any issues though, just stay aware of what's coming (you can normallly hear them coming!!)

Once you go past the mile and a half point the roadside opens up to wonderful views so cars have no excuse.

chris_phillips

Thanx once again Simon. One final question, is there a slightly less taxing route home to Manchester? I appreciate it will be lumpy regardless of whatever route i take, still fairly new to cycling after a 25 year lay off.
regards chris.
Been doing plenty of gym work over the years but it has made me bulky up top especially. I used to be a mountain goat years ago and really enjoyed climbing.

Chris James

You have to get over the Pennines either way! I would say that the A62 Marsden - Diggle road is steady and never that steep though.

McBoom

^Agree. A62 is lower than the other routes as well.

hmbadger

It's a great climb. I failed miserably on this one early on in the year. Have done a lot more riding since and returned to it a couple of weeks ago, and found it fine. Then did Holme Moss which I thought looked easy enough, but was much harder than it looked!

On my way back to Stalybridge starting point I then tried Gorsey Brow in Broadbottom. Failed - but not by much, and reckon could do it OK without the 2 climbs in my legs.

Anyway, that's a good loop I think, though good bit harder than back via Marsden-Diggle.

schweiz

Just beware of milk collection lorries early in the morning, they didn't leave me much room!

In 1992 (IIRC) as a 14 year old I decided to go and watch the Tour of Britain which was going up Holme Moss. I set off from Royton through Lees, Lydgate and Greenfield up to Holmfirth. It was pouring with rain but that was my first 'proper' bike ride.

I was back in the UK the other weekend and drove back from Huddersfield to Oldham on the A62 wishing I was on my bike all the way. Then I got into Oldham and thanked my lucky stars that I don't have to ride on roads that are in such bad condition!