Cycling uphill

Tour de France legacy

July 8, 2014 by tejvan

Everyone seems to agree that the Tour de France in Yorkshire / England was an unprecedented success. But, will it be a one hit wonder or will the legacy of the tour help boost the long term profile of cycling in the UK?

As the tour swept through Britain, you could see potential seeds of a real cycling legacy which could offer many benefits to the nation. And these could be real benefits like improved health, reduced pollution, greater community spirit – benefits which definitely surpass just an understanding of what an echelon is, or what the yellow jumper means.

Some potential benefits of Tour de France legacy include:

Closed roads are liberating

Usually we’re in a rush to get somewhere and the car is king. Because we’re in a rush we end up sitting in nice long traffic jams getting frustrated. The Tour de France was an opportunity to reclaim the streets, bringing whole communities together. People were having a great time. I’ve never seen so many happy people, not bad to say the action lasted only 30 seconds. In an age of digital communities and instant messaging, it is a relief to remind ourselves that nothing can beat going out into the world and meeting real people. I even broke a habit of lifetime and started talking to strangers by the roadside. The millions by the roadside show that it wasn’t just the attraction of seeing some lycra fleeting by – we actually love an excuse to be part of something big.

The Tour was a good example of how there is life after the motorcar and busy streets. It was definitely helped by good weather and having the Tour de France come through, but it shows there’s a lot to be said for creating towns where people can walk, cycle and chat and not just wait for articulated lorries to fly past and the pelican lights to change. Sundays would make a great time to have more road closures. Life doesn’t end if you can’t drive 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Elivar Prepare, endure and recovery | Review

October 3, 2017July 7, 2014 by tejvan

I was sent some samples of Elivar – Sports nutrition specially formulate for the over 35s. Firstly, I wasn’t entirely enamoured of being reminded that I was edging towards the ‘veteran’ category. The young and sprightly can take anything, but apparently us old fogies need special nutritional requirements.

I tested these over the weekend during some 4-5 hour rides whilst watching Tour de France

The basic principle behind Elivar is that ‘older’ athletes do better with more slow release carbohydrates, and less ‘simple’ / high GI index food.

The main difference of Elivar brand of sports nutrition is that it contains a higher proportion of protein, and no fructose – but more complex carbohydrates.

The Elivar website states:

The plain fact is that your physiology (not to mention your work life balance) does change. It gets harder to maintain muscle mass, absorb and synthesize vitamins or maintain strong joints and bones. That’s why it can take longer to recover after a hard session or you pick up more coughs and colds.

Elivar Prepare

One 65 gram serving provides
27 gram of carb
– 14g of which is sugar
27 gram of protein

I do like taking energy drinks pre race because it’s a way to stock up on energy without overloading the stomach. For pre-ride, you definitely want slow release carbs, and I would avoid too much fructose at this stage in the day. Often I take a recovery drink pre race as I assume that is a better pre-race drink. This seems to do a good job pre-ride

The only thing with prepare is that it does seem quite similar in protein carb ratio to the recovery drink. I’m not sure how it differs too much.

Photos from Tour de France Yorkshire

July 7, 2014July 7, 2014 by tejvan

Some selected photos from the Tour de France in Yorkshire.

Thanks to photographers who offered creative commons photos.

See also: Blog from day 1 | Blog from day 2

Buttertubs pass packed to the rafters. – photo: Dave Haygarth, flick cc.2.0

Stage Two Winner – Vicenzo Nibali, – just outside Addingham. Photo: Lynne Pettinger flickr

Geraint Thomas on Holme Moss, stage two. photo Duncan Palmer, Flickr

Grinton Moor, stage one. Photo Adam Bowie, flickr

Top of Cragg Vale, after stage 2. Photo Dave Haygarth, flick cc.2.0

Near the top of Cragg Vale. Photo Dave Haygarth, flick cc.2.0

Buttertubs pass Dave Haygarth, flick cc.2.0 (click to enlarge)

Buttertubs pass Dave Haygarth, flick cc.2.0

Silsden Town centre. Photo amsterdame flick cc.2.0

On the road to Harrogate. Photo Adam Bowie, flickr

Thomas Voekler on Holme Moss, stage two. photo Duncan Palmer, Flickr

Stage Two, on the road to Sheffield. Photo Event Coverage – Eventcoverage, flickr

Stage Two of Tour de France 2014 photo blog

July 7, 2014July 6, 2014 by tejvan

After being blown away by stage 1, we had the good fortune to have a second bite at the cherry. Yet again the world’s biggest cycle race was passing over God’s own County and straight over many of my old training roads. It felt too good to be true, a weekend of cycling heaven.

The French Gendarmes looked pretty serious. But, the British police were really enjoying themselves. It will remain an abiding memory watching a police car go up the climb with the theme tune to “Last of the Summer’s Wine’ blearing out of the windows with four policeman giving high fives!

Family and friends came from all over the country – they had a field day. If you want to be seen on TV bring a flag, like this Irish flat. I was on TV twice! though you can’t see much of me. I was too busy taking photos. That’s another dilemma of watching the tour do you concentrate on cheering and enjoying or do you try and capture something?

Back of peleton

Water carriers – I wouldn’t want to carry that weight going uphill.

Watching Le Tour de France in Yorkshire + Photos

November 1, 2016July 5, 2014 by tejvan

It was a really great day watching the Tour de France in Yorkshire.

Despite near saturation media coverage, I still find it difficult to get my head around the notion that cycling in the UK is mainstream. But, today it was all about cycling. It was surreal cycling along roads I used to train on with virtually no cars, just hundreds of other cyclists. Even when I did see a car, they were kind, courteous and patient. I know it won’t always be like this, but it was something to experience for a day.

Even at the best of times, it seems cycling in Britain is something to be tolerated – ‘OK, you’re a cyclist but can you please keep in that segregated cycle lane, thank-you very much‘.

King of the yellow jumpers. The Black Knight – He is famous for crippling the French army at the battle of Crécy in the 14th century!

I’d never thought I’d see the day, when my county of birth (1) would come to a virtual standstill to give 100% attention on a cycle race passing through. Such enthusiasm and excitement I haven’t seen since the 2012 Olympics (and that was pretty special). I went to see the Olympic road race in the centre of London, but to be honest, the Tour de France is on a completely different level. The Olympic road race was just one of many unbelievable events – The Tour de France demands and fully receives centre stage. They don’t fly 60 French gendarmes in, just to taste the local Wensleydale Cheese. It is all a bit surreal, almost unbelievable. I think many in Yorkshire are proud that we’ve helped add something quite significant to the Tour de France.

yorkshire-flags — Yorkshire! Yorkshire! Yorkshire!

I thought I’d take the train into Ilkley four hours before the race was due to pass by. I couldn’t get the train because it was full. This is a 600 capacity train running four times an hour. I’ve never seen a full train at Menston before. I walked home and got on my bicycle.

The Peleton in full flight

I went to watch in two places.

First up was Burley bypass. A few miles from my parents house in Menston. Normally 10km from the start on a flat stage, and spectators are pretty thin on the ground – even at the Tour de France. But, this was the day for everyone to be there. I met some old friends from Otley CC. My whole family had turned out to support the race.

Oxenhope Moor

July 4, 2014 by tejvan

Oxenhope Moor climb (Cock Hill) from Oxenhope – south towards Hebden Bridge.

Length 2.1 miles
average gradient – 6%
Max height – 432m
Height gain: 709ft (216m)
Category 3
Max gradient: 10%
Time: 9 mins
OS Map 104

Oxenhope Moor is a long steady climb from the village of Oxenhope to the top of Oxenhope Moor. It sometimes goes by the less well known name ‘Cock Hill’. Though when the Tour de France came through town, they decided Côte d’ Oxenhope Moor had a better ring to it.

I’ve been up Oxenhope moor a few times. There is some great hills around the Keighley and Worth Valley (e.g. Thwaites Brow and Hainworth Lane). Keighley has some of the best cobbled climbs this side of Belgium. But, Oxenhope Moor is less strenuous than some of those short steep climbs, but at over 2 miles, it makes a good test, and if the wind is blowing in the wrong direction, it can be really hard work on the exposed slopes.

After leaving the village of Oxenhope (At the end of the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway) It passes the Wagon & Horses Inn on the left. Also after a few hairpins, you can take a left turn to take a harder and steeper minor road over the moor past the Holline Hill wind farm. This takes you down to Luddenden. By the main A 6033 is probably a better route to take – it doesn’t get too busy.

The climb is hardest as you leave the village of Oxenhope, but eases off towards the top.

There is a great descent from the top of Oxenhope moor into Hebden Bridge. Long and sweeping, though parked cars on the road mean you have to take care. From Hebden Bridge you are spoilt for choice if you want to keep cycling uphill – you could take in Cragg Vale or if you want something very steep try Mytholm Steepes or Halifax Lane from Luddenden.

Oxenhope Moor Tour de France 2014

Oxenhope Moor is one of the many climbs on stage 2 of the Tour de France

Hebden Bridge to Oxenhope Moor (north to south)

From Hebden Bridge to Oxenhope Moor, the climb is even longer, with over 300 metres of climbing. It is steep at the bottom as you come out of Hebden Bridge but gets less steep the further up you go.

Length – 3.5mi
Average gradient: 5%
Height gain: 1,018ft (310m)

Mytholm Steeps and Blackstone Edge

January 29, 2017July 3, 2014 by tejvan

Mytholmroyd near Hebden Bridge has to have a good shout for being the best location for finding a large quantity and variety of hill climbs. From Mytholmroyd you can take any number of hill climbs – from the famous Cragg Vale (3%) and longest ascent into England, to more esoteric climbs like Mytholm Steeps and Halifax/Luddenden Lane.

I returned to Mytholmroyd and met up with Nathan who rode the Cragg Vale hill climb last Tues. We started off with a gentle ascent of Cragg Vale before plunging down into Ripponden. From Ripponden we followed the Tour route and climb up Ripponden Bank. I’ve done it a couple of times including during a hill climb event organised by Paul Brierly of the Huddersfield R.C. We were lucky with the lights and were able to get a smooth run up the climb.

I’ve never seen the council so busy – Council workers were everywhere – filling in the smallest potholes, picking up litter, dropping off ‘Road Closed signs’ – even cleaning ‘undesirable graffiti’ on Cragg Vale hill climb. Some local wag, thought it amusing to paint the names of Tom, Dick and Harry on the road. It might bemuse the French to see Wendy for Craig – but that’s what’s been painted on Cragg Vale. At least no-one’s drawn a big needle on the road.

At Ripponden Bank we did a u-turn and went all the way down to Littleborough. The ascent from Littleborough (Blackstone Edge) is a great climb – although an A road, it’s not too busy – there’s even a cycle path. We went up the gradual ascent at a good pace, helped by a strong tailwind from the West.

Blackstone Edge

Blackstone Edge
Length – 2.5 miles
Average gradient – 6%
Max gradient – 10%
Height gain – 757ft (230m)

Cragg Vale hill climb

September 10, 2014July 2, 2014 by tejvan

Cragg Vale from Mytholmroyd on the B6138 road proudly claims to be the longest continual ascent in England. 968 feet of climbing in 5.5 miles. It is not steep, just a classic long drag – a power climb with an average gradient of just over 3%.

Cragg Vale Hill climb

Distance 5.3 miles
Avg Grade 3%
Elevation gain 968ft (295m)
Max gradient: 7%
Highest Elev 1,268ft
100 climbs: no. 138

Tour de France and Cragg Vale

In a few days, the Tour de France peleton and whole caravan will be passing up these slopes. 198 riders, and goodness knows how many support vehicles and supporters. Compared to the Alpine giants like the Col du Tourmalet, Alpe d’Huez and Hautacam – Cragg Vale is little more than a mound or hillock, a minor pinprick on the map. It won’t feature too much in Team previews. But, it’s still a good test and a good place to watch. The peleton will be strung out – 5 miles of uphill, is hard in anyone’s book. For the riders, it will be about getting a good place in the peleton for the upcoming climbs, such as Holme Moss and Côte de Greetland nearer the finish.

2-riders-smile — Riders going up Cragg Vale

Yorkshire Cycling Federation Hill climb

I’ve ridden Cragg Vale once in training (with a huge tailwind), and I jumped at the chance to race a hill climb a week before the big race. The local community are really getting into the spirit of the tour – amongst other things, they are going for a Guinness world record for the longest stretch of bunting – 5 miles uphill of bunting. It looks good.

Where’s Bradley Wiggins?

I did a warm up on the climb. Amidst the Go Froomedog, Geraint Thomas! e.t.c. I did see a writing. “Where’s Wiggins?”

Whilst at the start, a member of the public asked seriously if Bradley Wiggins was in our race. They thought they had just seen him. I replied, offhand – no, it will be just someone wearing a Team Sky replica jersey. And indeed there was a rider in the ‘come and try it event’ wearing a Team Sky jersey. However, back at the HQ, I heard again the rumour that Bradley Wiggins did indeed ride up Cragg Vale that evening; and according to the extremely unofficial rumour mill, I heard he did a ’12’. Maybe that was just a guess from projected power figures.

More concrete was a sighting of recently crowned British time trial champion Emma Pooley; Pooley was seen training on the slopes of Cragg Vale – surely you couldn’t have both national TT champs training on Cragg Vale on the same evening?

bunting-bus-stop — It was very good of the Mytholmroyd community to put up bunting for the YCF hill climb – It’s definitely set the standard for future hill climbs. I suggested to a local they leave it up for a few days, as I hear another big cycle race is coming along soon too.

Norwood Edge

January 27, 2015July 2, 2014 by tejvan

2013-view-norwood — At the top of Norwood edge in the trees

Norwood Edge is a tough 1.2 mile hill climb from north of Otley towards Pateley Bridge. It is hardest at the bottom, with a max gradient of 16%, it then ascends at a more gradual gradient around a couple of hairpins before cresting at the top of the moors. It is a difficult climb to pace well. You need to go hard at the bottom because it is the steepest part, but if you give everything at the steep section, you will suffer on the remainder of the climb.

Norwood Edge was my first ever hill climbs, many years ago as a junior in Otley CC. I think my time might have been 6.30, but I can’t really remember. I’ve always seen it as a good hill to test relative form. It’s 20 minutes from Menston and a good warm up. The hill climb starts from the road over the reservoir, where it soon kicks up to 16%, and is a tough start. After this opening couple of minutes, the climb levels off, though it’s deceptively hard because your legs are trying to recover from steep part. After the briefest of flattish section, the road gains in gradient again as you go around a sharp right hander. From there there are excellent views down the Wharfe valley. From here there’s still a kilometre to go before you head over the ridge of the hill.

The course record for Norwood Edge is 4.40 by Jeff Wright back in 1994. I got close in 2010, when I did 4.45. But, it will be hard to break the record now as we now do Norwood Edge as the second climb of the day (after Guise Edge) in the morning – it used to be the other way around Norwood then East Chevin.

Norwood Edge Climb

Location: 7 miles north of Otley, West Yorkshire on B road towards Pateley Bridge
Distance – 1.2 miles
Average gradient: 9%
Max gradient: 16%
Height gain – 571ft (174m)
100 Climbs #53
Everesting: 51*2.4 miles = 122 miles
Course record for open hill climb: 4.40 Jeff Wright

Norwood Edge Hill Climb

Norwood Edge was the first hill climb I did back in 1994 or something. I can’t remember my time, but I think it was 6 and a half minutes. Perhaps I will dig out the old results sheet one day.

My times up Norwood Edge in Otley CC hill climb

1994 – 6.30 something
2009 – 5.0 something (3rd, behind Matt Clinton, Jim Henderson)
2011 – 4.46 (1st)
2012 – 4.50 (1st)
2013 – 4:56.4 (1st) (blog from 2013)
2014 – 4.57.9 (1st) blog from 2014

Rides from Norwood Edge

If you want a hilly ride, Norwood Edge makes a good starting point. The B6451 will take you to Summerbridge. If you go straight on here, you will find a little known steep climb to Brimham Rocks. It’s a real toughie over 20% taking you straight up to wonderful views from the tourist spot of Brimham Rocks.

If you turn left at Summerbridge, you can take the main road towards Pateley Bridge. From Pateley Bridge you have a choice of quite a few good climbs. The main B road travels West towards Grassington and Skipton. This road takes you up Greenhow Hill which is a real classic climb (nearly 1,000ft of ascent), with several ramps of 16%. Alternatively, you can take the quieter roads up to Greenhow, through Guise Edge – which is nearly as tough.

Views from Norwood Edge

Half way

The long bend

Views from Norwood Edge

The last climb
Veloviewer

Strava

The 100 climbs version is an extra 0.1 miles starting by the reservoir. The Otley CC hill climb version starts 100 m further up the hill by a layby.

Related Pages

100 Climbs

Tour de France fever hits Yorkshire

June 30, 2014June 30, 2014 by tejvan

I’ve noticed that I’ve been getting a lot of traffic in recent days for the Google search ‘Buttertubs pass’, Grinton Moor, Cragg Vale’ – You could almost guess the route of the Tour de France by the popularity of keyword searches.

cow-calf-tour — Ilkley from the Cow and Calf – you will be able to watch the Tour from a distance snake its way along the A65 from this vantage point

The Tour de France is a big deal for the Yorkshire; we haven’t had this much excitement since the Yorkists gave the House of Lancashire a good thrashing in the old War of the Roses (And if history buffs claim the House of Lancashire won the war of the Roses, it’s not the version we remember here in Yorkshire.)

But, it would be churlish to bring up old conflicts from the dark ages, the Tour de France is giving the old county the kind of uplifting excitement and inspiration – not seen in Britain since the 2012 Olympics. Like the Olympics, the Tour de France is another vehicle for creating a spirit of international friendship and goodwill. It is an unexpected benefit of attracting a big cycle race to your shores.

Goodness me, all the pubs in Otley have translated their names into French. This is the greatest outpouring of British-French unity since British pubs started serving garlic bread! in the mid 1980s.

In a country struggling to deal with the growing influence of the European Union, you may think Britain was primarily beset with trying to regain it’s Anglo Saxon independence. But, even in the heartlands of our EU bashing county, there’s been an outbreak of French lingo, and appreciation of most things Gaelic. The Tour de France has done more for British-European relations, than a whole string of EU directives and speeches.