Slack Hill

Situated on the A632 between Chesterfield and Matlock, this is a tough climb that has a difficult 15% start and then drags up on to the top of the hill overlooking Matlock. There are no curves in the road, just an imposing straight road up the hill. In this area, good hills are in abundant supply, there is little flat, so this is likely to be one of many tests on that day.

Details of the climb

  • Location: Matlock, Derbyshire,
  • Distance: 1.3 km
  • Average gradient: 8.5%
  • Maximum gradient: 14%
  • Height gain 115 m
  • 100 climbs: 129
  • Strava segment
  • Everesting = 8848/115 = 77 ascents – total distance 200 km.
  • Direction: South West
  • KOM: 3.51 – 21.0 km/h
  • QOM: 6.15 – 12.9 km/h

Veloviewer

Riding Slack hill

I rode Slack hill in 2020 after riding up Riber and Bank Road earlier in the day. I had quite a few hills in my legs. After the drama of Riber and Bank Road, Slack Hill is not in the same league. It is fairly straight and unrelenting 14% gradient. It is a fairly busy A road so you get a little help from passing traffic. The best thing about the climb is that you can pick up speed coming down from Kestleridge and you can start with a good 30mph on the bike. However, this speed soon evaporates very fast and you are left pushing up the hill.

The finish of the 100 Climbs version is right at the top, so don’t let up – even as the gradient levels off.

I ended up going back down Slack Hill, which was a bit of a blast on a straight road and 14% gradient, you can really pick up some speed. Though do take care with the traffic. I also saw a sign to Beeley (Beeley Moor) are there no end to good climbs in this part of the world?

Strava

 

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