Sheep House Lane

cruff

Doing this as part of my ride tomorrow. Heard a rumour from more than one person that it's in pretty poor nick, and very slippery. Having never done it before, I'm naturally more worried about the descent - I could go round and down the other way (through Belmont) but don't know anything about any of the roads round there. Is anyone local who can confirm or deny whether it's as bad as people say?

Also, is the slightly less laborious side in better condition? If it is, I'll probably include that on my ride rather than just going up Sheep House and back down it.

Cheers!

Peterbt

I have the road surface okay! main problem will the Sunday motorbikes using as a race track to and from Rivington Barn. I find it a little scary when they come up behind at speed with the "road legal !!" exhausts! Much better to go up the road during the week if you can!

cruff

Did it today - wasn't anywhere near as bad as people have said. The hill itself is pretty easy too - but the same can't be said for Moor Lane coming up from Anglezarke. Yeeesh, that's a bit of a fooker. Wasn't expecting it to be that steep at all and was in the big ring - then couldn't change at the bottom. Had to stop, then tried to go hard up it before turning the bend and seeing it stretch out away from me at about 18 percent! Think I'll need to approach that with a bit more of a plan! Also, the descents are hairy to say the least. What's the main road like? i.e. if I go through Belmont and turn left on the A675?

Smithster

The A675 is OK as a road, but it is a bit busy. Where you going back too on the route?

morstar

The roads are all perfectly rideable in a pushbike. They're a bit ropey if you're on one of said motorbikes as the potholes are all in the middle. Between the IM road paint and the motorbikers leaving messages where to slow down it's more like a chalk board.
All the hills are easy to ride if you start them all gently. They're all long enough to pull in your mates who attack from the bottom. Descents do get greasy with leaves and seeing as they ALL have bends at the bottom, just take care.
Have ridden the roads hundreds of times and have only been uncomfortably buzzed once by a motorbike but there was a recent bike vs motorbike fatality so it pays to be mindful of others.
Going north on Belmont road is awesome, completely the opposite of a false flat. Despite gaining a fair bit of height, it's possible to maintain a decent speed before comfortably maintaining well over 30mph for several miles down towards Abbey Village. Riding it south is a great workout and a very much underestimated and underused climb.

the_rover

zebulebu wrote:

Did it today - wasn't anywhere near as bad as people have said. The hill itself is pretty easy too - but the same can't be said for Moor Lane coming up from Anglezarke. Yeeesh, that's a bit of a fooker. Wasn't expecting it to be that steep at all and was in the big ring - then couldn't change at the bottom. Had to stop, then tried to go hard up it before turning the bend and seeing it stretch out away from me at about 18 percent! Think I'll need to approach that with a bit more of a plan! Also, the descents are hairy to say the least. What's the main road like? i.e. if I go through Belmont and turn left on the A675?

If you go left on Belmont Rd you'll head towards Abbey village, turn left as soon as you hit the village across from the pub and just keep on the same stretch of road. You'll tackle a few more steep but short hills and you'll end up back on the road towards Chorley/Buckshaw etc.
It's a good ride the other way round as well.

Edit.
Forgot a turn!
When you go up one of the hills you'll see a chippy on the left, post office pub etc on the right. When you get to the top of that hill you'll notice a primary school and cricket club, turn left after the school. That takes you back towards home and is a good climb when you go the opposite way. ( if that makes sense!! )

paulmon

I do this loop quite regularly but not as much through winter as some of the corners around Moor Road/Sheep Houses can be slippy. You can tackle it in either direction as each one offers something different.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/6534319

P

barrie h

Hi Paulmon,
at the end of that ride between 36 m and 37 m turn left on Mill lane then up Foxholes lane to Georges lane, I think you`ll find its a good way to finish :twisted:

Barrie

city_boy

barrie h wrote:

Hi Paulmon,
at the end of that ride between 36 m and 37 m turn left on Mill lane then up Foxholes lane to Georges lane, I think you`ll find its a good way to finish :twisted:

Then turn right at the top of Foxholes, turn left after about 70 yards and ride up to the TV mast.....the views are lovely

morstar

Has anybody ever had grief riding up to the TV mast? There is a no bikes sign early on. I run up there regularly but never done it on the bike. Wonderfully eerie when it's foggy.

paulmon

barrie h wrote:

Hi Paulmon,
at the end of that ride between 36 m and 37 m turn left on Mill lane then up Foxholes lane to Georges lane, I think you`ll find its a good way to finish :twisted:

Barrie

Yep. Done foxholes and mast runs lots of times, particularly this year as training for the Fred and the Alps. Adding Claypool Road/Chapel lane into the mix makes it a bit more challenging.

http://app.strava.com/segments/3493311

P

cruff

Necropost I know, but did the full Winter Hill climb last night with the club for the first time (up Foxholes, Markland then left up the transmitter access road). Nice climb - need to pace it properly though, as Foxholes is a leg sapper and I stupidly got out of the saddle far, far too early - left my legs with a nice old burn and ground to a halt in a gravel filled rut on the last corner so had to dismount. Getting back on at 17% wasn't much fun...

The second part of the climb (up to the masts) was a nice, steady run with some spiteful ramps on the bottom half - the road surface is (predictably) horrendous nearer the top but it levels out after the first cattle grid, leaving you about 2km on false flat up to the final mast. Was about ten degrees colder at the top, and did it quite late, which made the descent on gravelly, undulating roads, in the semi-darkness and freezing bloody cold 'interesting'

Quite a tough climb, and tops out at about 460m/1500ft, so reasonably good training for anyone looking to improve uphill