Stage 2 of TDF 2014...Strines from Mortimer Road to Ladybowe

vinnymarsden

Has anyone ridden this and charted it in the direction the TDF will go? Thats from Stocksbridge end up M/Rd all way across the Strines. Just wondered what Strava and the other fancy gradient checking stuff says about it.
I did it Saturday. I was born/brought up round there, but I don't recall the hills being so severe!!!
Or maybe I finally have to accept I may be getting old!!
Joking aside, I read Malcolm Elliott saying he thought some of the "big names" could suffer here!! So early in the race?? Seems a bit of a thing to say...but Malcolm should know......there is one thing tho..I DEFFO suffered!! and i don't have a big name, it's just normal!!!!!!
And as for painting names on the road??!!! Forget it...just get it resurfaced to some standard before the race ....the names are a luxury! resurfacing will be a necessity!!
This section will, I truly believe become a legendary route once it's been on TV...get out there...do it now...it's hard, but you will have been there, like me BEFORE them!!!!!!!

gloomyandy

Doesn't the tdf route turn off before you get to the really steep part of the Strines?
http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/zuvvi/ ... tage_2.jpg
It looks from the above that it goes via Bradfield rather than continuing on to Ladybower. I've ridden the main Strines route but not the section out to Bradfield so no idea what that is like.

vinnymarsden

Yes I think you are right Andy!!!


Just looked at the route and I think they veer off at the top of the first big descent onto the Strines proper, mind you it is Sheffield so they won,t be finding flat ground that is a fact!!!
I remember as a 10 year old " doing" the Strines on a fixed gear Elswick Hopper, and NOT walking!!!
I live in Sheff and can,t for the life of me decide best vantage point, I,m sure I will have it sorted by 2014!!!!!
Maybe with the over commercialisation of EVERY sport we might have to pay to watch!!!
There's a thought!!!!!

native son

Looks to me like the route goes through high Bradfield. Down kirk edge road into outibridge then up jaw bone hill.
Ive not cycled from midhopestones to strines yet but plan to do it in the spring to toughen up in preparation for the peak 100.
I was brought up in dungworth and rode all around that area many years ago but with the help of an engine

matt@theforce

I cycled the route from Langsett/Mustard Pot to Low Bradfield via Mortimer Road a few weeks ago. The hills are awesome although I was on an MTB as I was heading down to ride around Ladybower and back over Margery Hill 8)

Sadly I forgot to turn my GPS on but I certainly agree with the OP, the hills seem to be getting bigger

I'd like to find somewhere around Ewden to watch the race, alot of skill (and balls) to carry speed down there in a race situation

pride4ever

Do the Strines weekly in the summer, absolutely epic road. Cant see the organisers allowing crowds onto it during the race, too narrow and very dangerous. The hills/descents are 20% in places. From my base in Wakefield we regularly ride 100 milers over to Penistone, down the Strines over to Ladybower, on to Castleton, up the Winnats pass, 1 lap of the Hope circuit and back via either the old Edale to Glossop rd or back up the Snakes pass, over Holme Moss and then home. Its as epic as any ride this country offers and Im totally stocked that the Tour organisers have chosen some of these very roads. God I'm glad I'm a Yorkshireman lol.

philwint

If tomorrows forecast is accurate I'm planning on riding out to Keighley and doing the section up and over to Mytholmroyd tomorrow. But won't be continuing on to the Strines bit

smidsy

There seems to be far too many trucks and traffic in general on the Snake for my liking.

pride4ever

smidsy wrote:

There seems to be far too many trucks and traffic in general on the Snake for my liking.

Are you sure you dont mean the Woodhead pass, I find the Snake pretty good for traffic, the Woodhead, well thats just plain dangerous.

ugo.santalucia

VinnyMarsden wrote:

Has anyone ridden this and charted it in the direction the TDF will go? Thats from Stocksbridge end up M/Rd all way across the Strines. Just wondered what Strava and the other fancy gradient checking stuff says about it.
I did it Saturday. I was born/brought up round there, but I don't recall the hills being so severe!!!
Or maybe I finally have to accept I may be getting old!!
Joking aside, I read Malcolm Elliott saying he thought some of the "big names" could suffer here!! So early in the race?? Seems a bit of a thing to say...but Malcolm should know......there is one thing tho..I DEFFO suffered!! and i don't have a big name, it's just normal!!!!!!
And as for painting names on the road??!!! Forget it...just get it resurfaced to some standard before the race ....the names are a luxury! resurfacing will be a necessity!!
This section will, I truly believe become a legendary route once it's been on TV...get out there...do it now...it's hard, but you will have been there, like me BEFORE them!!!!!!!

Yeah locals always think much of these north England climbs... but seriously, they don't do any serious selection at PRO level. A Top PRO can lose 10-20 seconds on top of one of these moors and Tors, but he will be on the leaders in no time. To make some real selection, you need a long climb... there are no long climbs in England, end of the story. Just look at who wins the stages of the Tour of Britain...

smidsy

pride4ever wrote:

smidsy wrote:

There seems to be far too many trucks and traffic in general on the Snake for my liking.

Are you sure you dont mean the Woodhead pass, I find the Snake pretty good for traffic, the Woodhead, well thats just plain dangerous.

Both. The Snake is also much more closed in (for parts) so visibilty of said truck drivers is limited making it even worse as they come round the bend and oh shit a cyclist, bang!.

nevman

Cant see the Strines circuit featuring towards the end of the second day...but if it does it will blow the race apart.We occasionally do it from Derby,as a special treat to be savoured (its that hard) but the race has to get all the cars and caravan through not to mention heli coverage through the trees.Proper riding there.
Cant agree that it wont split the Pro Peloton-ride it and see what you think.

ugo.santalucia

nevman wrote:

Cant see the Strines circuit featuring towards the end of the second day...but if it does it will blow the race apart.We occasionally do it from Derby,as a special treat to be savoured (its that hard) but the race has to get all the cars and caravan through not to mention heli coverage through the trees.Proper riding there.
Cant agree that it wont split the Pro Peloton-ride it and see what you think.

You will be surprised by how little the GC will be shaken by these English stages... there will be breakaways and they might end up being really nice stages, but none of the GC contenders will move a finger. The Tour is a predictable race... the contenders know 9 months in advance where and when they will try an attack and it won't be in England...

Not Another Hill

The Strines is best tackled with a full Susser. The road is shocking, especially at the harpin sections. However the TDF route turns off quite early so they won't have to endure the potholed, gravel and mud- strewn delight that is the Strines. I regularly do it on the motor bike but not done on the push bike for a couple of years. Best tackled in the summer.

nevman

ugo.santalucia wrote:

nevman wrote:

Cant see the Strines circuit featuring towards the end of the second day...but if it does it will blow the race apart.We occasionally do it from Derby,as a special treat to be savoured (its that hard) but the race has to get all the cars and caravan through not to mention heli coverage through the trees.Proper riding there.
Cant agree that it wont split the Pro Peloton-ride it and see what you think.

Agree on the GC front.But there will be blood.

You will be surprised by how little the GC will be shaken by these English stages... there will be breakaways and they might end up being really nice stages, but none of the GC contenders will move a finger. The Tour is a predictable race... the contenders know 9 months in advance where and when they will try an attack and it won't be in England...