Irontwit

Spitefully, the last day of summer dawned with the deepest of blue skies beloved of romantic novelists describing lovers wistfully staring heavenwards from cornfields. It was summer behaving like a spoilt brat, “I could have been like this throughout July and August, you know,” she taunted. Local arguments over footie bragging rights notwithstanding, the day had to be seized and a ride done, but what?

Yesterday I only had time for a short ride so with my next event being the Tour of the Pennines I thought I better reacquaint myself with hill climbing. I did a quick 33km circuit that included local classic, “The Brickworks”. This climb is always a good test of form for me as I’ve done it so many times. Yesterday I got up it in the big ring all the way with tread to spare. I was obviously going well so I needed a really good testing ride: it had to be the “Hazel Grove Hilly”.

The “Hazel Grove Hilly” is a training route I’ve developed especially for training for sportives. It’s a work in progress, and I’ve added to and amended the route at various times. The aim is to have a shortish ride (70km long) that incorporates as much climbing as possible without too much in the way of artificial route finding. The route includes over 1000 metres of climbing and a number of very testing hills. Start and finish is at the Rising Sun pub where the A6 and Macc roads part in Hazel Grove:

1. Blaze Hill (start at 13km). This hill is a real brute. It’s solid and steep up to a brief respite, and then steepens again up to the main road. Once across the road it carries on upwards for another 2 km before dropping steeply (take care) towards Saltersford. 4km of climbing; difficulty level (in the context of this route) 2.
2. Pym Chair (start at 18.5km) For many, this 1.5km hill will be the hardest on the route. It starts reasonably enough, but once past the chapel it rears ominously with a nasty switchback at halfway up and a finishing pitch that must be approaching 25%. Difficulty: 1
3. Errwood Incline (start at 22.5km). Coming so soon after the previous two hills this one can break the will. It’s 2.5km of climbing that is not as steep as Pym Chair, but it goes straight up at a constant grade for almost a kilometre, and when you think you’re done as you crest the incline, you see an even steeper finish ahead. You’ll look forward to the long, fast descent to Whaley after finishing these three. Difficulty: 2
4. Whaley Lane (start 33.5km) Another long, hard climb. The first kilometre from the railway station is a solid 11 or 12% with speed bumps thrown in. Luckily it eases off for the last kilometre. Difficulty: 3
5. Overhill Lane (start at 47.5km) It’s only .5km long, but it’s really tough: solidly 25% I think. After all the climbing that has gone before this is the hardest pitch on the whole route without a doubt, and one that will have you wishing for that triple. Take the descent with care. Difficulty 1*
6. Peep O’ Day (start at 50km) This is quite a gentle climb and only really gets in because it’s nearly 3km long, however it does steepen quite sharply to the finish. Difficulty: 4
7. Swallow House Lane (start at 55km) Assuming you managed to resist the temptations of the various pubs, teashops and chippy in Hayfield, then this little climb awaits. The first pitch is easy, but the last few hundred metres are steep enough to induce yet more fatigue in those legs. 1km long. Difficulty 4
8. Briargrove Road (start at 59km) Coming so late in the ride, and after so many climbs, this little known local horror proves to be a real test of will. It just gets steeper and steeper (up to about 15%) and leaves you gasping for the top. Luckily, it’s less than 1km long and is followed by the fast sweeping descent to Marple Bridge. Difficulty: 3
9. Brabyns Brow (start at 64km) This is a real sting in the tail. It’s only half a kilometre long, but will have you gnashing your teeth in frustration as some local roadie dances past you and you don’t have the breath to explain that you already have 1000m of climbing in your legs. Difficulty: 4

So there you have it, “The Hazel Grove Hilly”. It takes me around 3 hours 15 if I’m going well (averaging just over 21kmh) and I’d like to manage it in under 3 hours one day. I’d love it if someone else had a go at the route and gave me some feedback.