Winnats Pass - Peak District

daveb99

I'm doing a Sportive in the Peaks on Sunday including Winnats Pass - which is apparently a big challenge....

I'm about to change my cassette for a 11-32, but I'm wondering whether I should change the front inner chainring from 36 to 34 also.

Has anyone done it - any advice/experience would be really useful. My cadence averages around 92 on my rides, obviously lower when I'm grinding up the steep hills - but I've never done anything like Winnats Pass before.....

super_davo

Winners pass is steep, narrow in places and has a really heavy gravel surface. Just as you are about to start there is a cattle grid which saps any momentum you have. It gets steep quickly, and doesn't really relent, but it's not that long.
I've got up it in 34-28 but its a real struggle, if I had a 32 I would definitely use it. As to whether to change the inner to the 34 - it will help, but it's not a massive % difference in gearing so up to you. On a Sportive, I wouldn't be surprised if so many end up walking that you get stuck behind and have to as well. Once you stop and clip out, it will be very hard to restart, whatever gear you have.
For what it's worth now I tend to route around to Mam Tor, which is a nicer climb, still a big challenge though.

vinnymarsden

I regularly go up the back way....so to speak!!!lol but obvs in a sportive it will be routed up Winnats...and davo is spot on...loose gravel can be a real issue, plus others walking may well balk any chance at a clean run.I avoid it as the cars coming up or down actually scare me too much...they are on the limit uphill, and seem almost too quick down!
Re the gearing I have just gone to 50/34 and 11/32 for a weekend in the Dales...Buttertubs, Grinton etc...and I forgot the wheel!!!! i had a spare 11/28 but regretted not having the 32 A LOT!!!
If you can cange to 50/34 and 11/32 I would, i've seen the route for Sunday and 11/32 will help.

sloppyschleckonds

The jump from a 28 to a 32 is quite a difference, you should be fine with a 36 x 32 if you are using a 36 x 28 atm, so don't bother with a 34 inner

*depending on fitness

ugo.santalucia

It is consistently steep, but it is not "front wheel lifting" steep, meaning it gets to 20%, but not 25 or 30% like the Lakeland passes.
36 x 32 is adequate, then of course it depends how used you are to climbing

rando

I did Winnats Pass as part of the tour of the Peaks sportive yesterday and it was closed to traffic for a couple of hours which made a huge difference. I didn't notice any loose gravel though and thought in general the road surface was good but it was a nice dry day. Plenty of people walking up and you need to weave between these. It is a spectacular site though as you wind your way up the climb. I had read all the horror reviews of Winnats before yesterday and frightened myself silly that i would not make it up but i did and was pleased with my effort. Like someone else mentioned its not that steep that your front wheel lifts off the road like Hardknott (which I have failed twice !!)
I have a compact 50x34 with 11-28 cassette on my summer bike which i used yesterday and found this ok for me.
Enjoy Winnats but there are also some other monster climbs that I bet are on your sportive so keep some in reserve !

drlodge

I did Winnats Pass last year as part of a long ride, hit it in the middle of the ride so about 60 miles in. Have got 34x29 and managed it...just. I was standing for the second half if I recall and thought about putting a foot down but struggled up. A 32 would be useful especially if your legs are tired, however the issue I have with long steep climbs like this is that if you got into the 32 then you spend longer out of the saddle!! A 32 helps mainly by allowing me to stay seated for longer.

In the end though - better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

fenix

Impossible to answer really - some will romp up on much higher gears.

I don't think I've ever complained about having too low a gear though ?

drlodge

Fenix wrote:

I don't think I've ever complained about having too low a gear though ?

Exactly. "My bottom gear is too low", said no cyclist ever.

bigmat

drlodge wrote:

"My bottom gear is too low", said no cyclist ever.

You've obviously never ridden a Boris bike!

Winnats can be tough if you get a strong headwind, which I have had on my last couple of attempts. Otherwise, there's no mystique really. Its very steep and not that long, think about how strong a cyclist you are and fit gears as appropriate. I was probably on a 34 chainring and 25 sprocket last time round and that was fine for me, although it was hard work.

Wardster00

I also did the Tour of the Peak yesterday and have ridden Winnats a number of times. The 32 will make a difference.

If you have never ridden it before, there are 2 grit bins on the left hand side of the road and between these two bins is where it gets steeper. You will reach the second grit bin and want to put your foot down but don't as the top is hiding around the corner and seeing the top will allow you to push on and get up it.

I am presuming that you are doing the Peaks tour next Sunday? I did it last year and it is a really good route with some long hills at the end that really sap you of any remaining energy. Have a good day out.

dstev55

As others have said, although irrelevant to to the OP's query, Mam Nick/Tor from Edale (same elevation but from another side) is a much nicer climb. Less traffic, less walkers and stunning views across the Peak District.

daveb99

Thanks for all the advice. I'm reasonably fit, doing 2-3 rides a week albeit without the steep climbs I'll find in the Peaks (hard to replicate!).

I'll fit the 11-32, med cage mech and slightly longer chain. I'll save the 34T front chainring for another time, or for the Lakes / Yorks climbs...

Thanks also for the tips on tackling he climb itself. Sounds like it isn't quite as bad as I'm imagining it will be - I've done it a couple of times in the car in recent years and always thought "I'd hate to cycle up there"...but I reckon it'll be OK....maybe...!

DeVlaeminck

One thing about the climb is you can't see the top as it's just around a corner so you may feel you can't go on when in fact you are nearly done. I actually think it's a bit harder than some are making out but I've only done it on 39*25 max so modern gears may make it easier. I also think it's a beautifully dramatic road though sometimes the volume of traffic hides the fact.