The 2013 national hill climb championships was held on the Stang (south side) on 27th October 12pm. The HQ is in Langthwaite (a few miles north west of Reeth). The event is organised by Howard Heighton, Ferryhill Wheelers CC
Event HQ
The CB Inn, Langthwaite, Arkengarthdale Sat Nav. DL11 6EN.
Parking is limited at the HQ. There is parking along the main road and in the car park in the village. Mobile phone reception is limited in the area.
Course Description
Start on unclassified road Stang Lane that runs from Langthwaithe towards Barnard Castle. The start is opposite Nothern gate post of entrance to field situated on the East side of unclassified road Stang Lane, leading to Barnard Castle, approximately 100 meters North from Eskeleth Bridge, and just past the turning on the left of the road to Eskeleth. From the start continue North Easterly up the hill to finish at Southern tip of lay-by identified by the County Durham and Welcome to Teesdale sign at the county boundary on the crest of the hill.
Details of the climb
- Distance 2.33 miles,
- height at top 1,771 feet
- Elevation gain (833 feet) 253 metres
- average gradient: 6.83%
- steepest gradient 18%.
- Course record: (7.57 Tejvan Pettinger, Sri Chinmoy CT 2013 was – 9.34 – Karl Denton (Blumilk.com) 2012
- CR women Maryka Sennema, Kingston Wheelers CC (9.42) was 11.13 – Lyn Hamel
- 100 climbs: 102
- Strava segment
- Everesting = 8848/132 = 100 ascents – total distance 241 km.
- Direction: West
Veloviewer
Strava
The Stang (south side)
The Stang is a tough climb with considerable variation in gradient. The hardest section is the first 0.6 miles, where the gradient is constantly above 10% and nudges towards 18%. After 0.75 miles there is the first section of downhill. This will enable you to pick up speed and recover somewhat from the first section.
The middle section is a fairly gentle gradient, and flattens out, with a small downhill towards the end.
However, at around 1.6 miles, the gradient picks up again to around 5-10% for final 1 mile to the line.
The hill requires careful pacing. It is too long to really go flat out at the start, but the steepest section still needs the most effort. The key is to go hard enough on first section to still be strong enough on the remaining 2 miles.
It obviously a climb for gears, and you will be in and out of your big chain-ring.
The hill is quite exposed to the elements which can be either very good (with nice tailwind) but equally if the wind is in the wrong direction, it makes it even tougher.
Traffic is quite light, and I think the road will be closed for the national championships. One thing to be aware of is sheep!
There are a number of ‘false flats’ – you think you’ve made it to the top, but around the corner, you realise there’s further to go.
The road surface is adequate. But, like most UK roads it’s not a smooth tarmac.
Photos from Climb
near the top on race day.
The start
The start is opposite Northern gate post of entrance to field situated on the East side of unclassified road Stang Lane, leading to Barnard Castle, approximately 100 meters North from Eskeleth Bridge, and just past the turning on the left of the road to Eskeleth.
The Finish
finish at Southern tip of lay-by identified by the County Durham and Welcome to Teesdale sign at the county boundary on the crest of the hill.
The Stang in the sun
Related
Video of climb
Will be my first hill climb – very very worried & very very excited. See you there.
You might not be guaranteed a starting post if it’s your first hill climb. If oversubscribed they will give entry to people who have done another event. But, good luck with first hill climb!
Good luck for the Nationals, Tejvan.
This site was a major part of getting me clued up and interested in the hill climb scene before giving it a go, so I, like I imagine many others, will be rooting for you next week (albeit from the comfort of my sofa).
Cheers Dan. Glad you’ve given the hill climb season a go!
I’m travelling from South of London so probably won’t get a chance to pre-ride the climb, so the video’s enormously useful… Thanks!
Can you tell me if you/most riders be using clip on tri bars on a road bike?
Cheers (I’m a vet in my first National)
Keith
Most riders will be using road bike. Clip on aerobars may help a little. I’m not sure whether to use clip on aerobars yet.
Hi I tried posting this as a comment on the cyclinguphill page but it didnt like my answer of 9 to the math 60-51-and I was a maths teacher in a former life!
Hi I’ll see you race past me on Sunday at Beeley as I’m off 2 mins before you and my best up there is just under 14 mins (at 59 years old last year!).
I found this link http://website.lineone.net/~jim.henderson/cycling/hc/history.html which seems to say Horseshoe was used in 1971 and 1981-still some gaps though-surely there are riders around who remember ?! Good luck on Sunday-my money is on you but Gunnar’s course record is a good one-the wind was helping that day ! are you using a TT bike ??
Paul
Hi Tejvan. Outstanding ride at Beeley (I managed 11’50” and that felt quick) and best of luck at the Nationals next week. One thing I’ve noticed looking at the start sheet – none of the men are V for veteran. Are they all marked up the same regardless of age? Regards Martin Rigby
Thanks Martin, On the Startsheet, There is the age, and there will be category prizes for different age groups.