Rode with my son today. Alas not to Pateley Bridge** but 21 local miles: Cow & Calf, Old Pool Bank, 1860 feet. My resting pulse of less than 50bpm peaked at 157 - but I was trying to keep up with him. Very windy but "hundreds" of cyclists out.
** The Visit Harrogate Tourist site advertises "Nidderdale's Killer Climbs":
Trapping Hill, or the Cote de Lofthouse.
Now famous after its starring role on Stage 2 of the 2017 Tour de Yorkshire Trapping Hill leaves the village of Lofthouse far behind as it climbs the valley wall of Upper Nidderdale. Not dropping below 10% until the end this climb is relentless from the outset but kicks up at several points to escalate the challenge.
Naught Bank (or ‘Two Stoops’)
Naught Bank might not be so bad if it were not for the 25% left hand hairpin in its opening stretch. Never letting you see too much of the climb at once this road explores the hillside as it climbs before finding a nook to sneak up onto the moors. The Two Stoops name comes from the popular folly that can be seen on its summit.
Peat Lane
Starting near the foot of Naught Bank, Peat Lane is a climb of two halves, with most of the climbing coming in the first half mile and the added challenge of a poor road surface. The second half is a climbing time trial of about a mile in length emerging finally by the popular Coldstones Cut.
Old Church Lane
This climb begins at the top of a hill. But bear with us. While the main road up Pateley Bridge’s award winning high street turns to follow a gentle route down the valley, our climb carries on up possibly the hardest of our Killer Climbs. Passing the old church of St Mary’s that gives the climb its name, the tight, winding, and unrelenting gradients take the most direct route up the north side of Nidderdale and simply do not stop until you reach the top.
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One might think if you are cyclist you may as well stay in Pateley Bridge where these climbs actually are - but perhaps that was a pedal stroke too far for the Harrogate Tourist Office!
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