Month: January 2020

Roper Hill

Roper Hill
Length: 0.23 miles
Avg gradient: 10.4% Peak gradient: 15.2%
Difficulty: 3/5
Likelihood of encountering unpleasant motor-vehicles: 1/5
Strava

I came across this climb when I was route planning and wanted the most direct way from Redmires Reservoir to Ringinglow Road. I didn’t realise until riding that near the beginning of that direct route lay Roper Hill.

It’s less than a quarter of a mile long but, for the unsuspecting rider, its a kick in the teeth. However, I’m sure it’s a joy for hill climbers and perfect for your hill reps. Indeed, last time I rode here there was a club doing reps, with one of their number playing Andy Williams’ It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year to motivate them uphill.

For the rest of us mortals though, prepare to dig in for a short, sharp blast. Roper Hill starts innocently enough as you turn in from Brown Hills Lane but very quickly ramps to about 8% up as you approach the first bend. The gradient only increases as you climb up the brief, straight section to the switchback. Luckily, you’re on the left, so the turn is not as punishing as it could be.

As you climb the next chunk, Roper Hill is holding a steady 11% but take a moment to glance to your right and appreciate the beautiful landscape beneath you. Let that, and the sight of the next bend at the hill’s apex (unfortunately also the steepest section at 15.2%), spur your legs on and you’ll soon be at the top.

From here, you’ve got a pleasant mile and a half ride, past the alpaca farm, to join Ringinglow Road and the options that presents.

Tom Lane

Tom Lane
Length: 0.76 miles
Avg gradient: 8% Peak gradient: 12.9%
Difficulty: 3/5
Likelihood of encountering unpleasant motor-vehicles: 1/5
Strava

A nondescript, residential road in the leafier end of Sheffield, I was surprised to see that, statistically this hill is actually not that different from the far more imposing Lodge Lane. Tom Lane is not as hard as that but it does have a couple of spikes along the way and, for the sake of this segment, a surprising little twist in its tail. I’ve worked around here quite a bit and would regularly see a mum cycling up here with a child on the back of her bike. Strava kudos to her for that.

Tom Lane starts innocently enough, opposite the junior school, with a gradient fluctuating around the 4-5% mark, as you climb the first couple of bends. As you pass house number 74, however, the road straightens up, gets steeper and the hill’s first challenge is laid in front of you. The hill is now around 12% and you feel each percentage as you pedal up to a large stone cottage at the junction of Belgrave Drive. It is slightly less steep now but you’re still plodding upwards.

Follow the road, ignoring any junctions and continue round, first a left bend and then a right. This little section here, for me, feels the hardest part of the road section. There isn’t a significant increase in gradient but the approach to the right-hand bend – and the bend itself – really makes you feel like you’re dragging your bike.

You’ll soon reach a T-junction, turn right and continue upwards on what, once again, feels steeper than it is. Take the next left (the road you turn onto remains Tom Lane) and head up this narrower section of road, often with numerous parked cars on either side. You’ll shortly come to a brief section of 5% as you round a few more bends and pass Hillcote Close on your left. It’s here that you’re going to find that surprising twist in Tom Lane’s tail.

As you pass the steps with a handrail, on the left, instead of sticking to the road, wiggle round onto what looks like a footpath (there are no signs saying cycling in prohibited and it even has a Tom Lane road sign at the bottom so I’m sure it’s legal). It’s this brief bumpy section that pulls the average up and my recording of this part puts the gradient between 17-22%. However, your fancy road bike might not like the surface. It’s only short, though, and you’ll soon reach Redmires Road and the golf club.

Well done, you’ve just made it up a modest yet surprisingly challenging hill. Which is exactly what a Sheffield cycling climb should be.

Lodge Lane

Lodge Lane
Length: 0.7 miles
Avg gradient: 9.3% Peak gradient: 15%
Difficulty: 4/5
Likelihood of encountering unpleasant motor-vehicles: 2/5
Strava

A few miles westward, out of the city, along the fairy nasty A57 Manchester Road you’ll find a couple of cheeky challenging climbs, escalating either side of the Rivelin Valley: Rails Road and Lodge Lane. Rails Road will take you north up to Stannington, and Lodge Lane, south, to the green and pleasant lands of Lodge Moor.

Like many of the roads that climb the Rivelin valley wall (see also: Hagg Hill), unless you’re lucky with oncoming traffic, you’re pretty much going to lose all of your momentum turning 90 degrees onto the hill. Lodge Lane isn’t quite as a brutal start as Hagg Hill but you are straight into a 10% incline and a sharp left corner to begin. The steepness gradually increases as you follow the road round a right-hand bend and are presented with a straight stretch open in front of you.

As you pass the campsite, the incline drops to around 7%, which feels comparatively flat, so use this section to ease off a bit before you prepare to dig in again. As the road heads to the next bend the gradient is back in double figures and although it’s only 0.1 mile I find this part tough because I know what’s around the next corner. Since you’re now well above the valley with some lovely views towards the Peaks, it’s tempting to think you’re almost at the top. You are not.

As the tree line returns and you round the next bend, I always expect to see the top of the hill, when all Lodge Lane offers you is more of the same. In the distance, it’s not the end of the hill you can see but, at 15%, the hardest of the climb’s numerous bends. If you get round that, once you reach the roadside bollards you’ve made it and just need to pant on a few more feet to the end.

Now turn around, drop down at speed, and tackle Rails Road on the other side of the valley.

The Dale

The Dale
Length: 2.25 miles
Avg gradient: 7% Peak gradient: 12.9%
Difficulty: 4/5
Likelihood of encountering unpleasant motor-vehicles: 1/5
Strava

If you’re heading back to Sheffield from Hathersage there is the small matter of how you are going to get over the massive hill between the two places. If you’re cycling on the road you’ve got three likely choices: The Dale, Fiddler’s Elbow and Surprise View. All three are different in character and The Dale is definitely the steepest and most challenging. The pay-off is that it’s also the quietest.

Having ridden down The Dale many times I was well aware of how steep it is and I was not surprised to discover how equally challenging it is to climb. The reward for your efforts, however, is some absolutely stunning scenery and an extraordinary sense of accomplishment.

As you leave Hathersage towards Sheffield, turn on to School Lane and follow the road past The Scotsmans Pack where the climb begins in earnest. For the first third of a mile, as you pass various quaint houses, the gradient fluctuates around the 5% mark. Once you’re past those, and as the road bends round to the left, the gradient dramatically jumps into the teens. The real fight starts here as you tackle The Dale’s steepest section but do hold something in reserve as you’ve still got a way to go.

As the tree cover gives way, revealing the valley that you’re carving up through, you just need to keep your head down and keep on pushing. You will eventually reach a sweeping left turn, where the gradient drops down to single figures (its still 8-9%, don’t go thinking it’s much of a relent) and your first sighting of the majestic Higger Tor.

You are now well past the hardest section of The Dale but you do still have over half the climb to do. Luckily, the next section to Hook’s Carr car park (marked by a cattle grid) is far more manageable and, according to Strava, even drops to 0% at one point. Use that softening to recharge your legs in preparation for your attack on the last third of the hill.

Your final blast is where it all pays off. The climb never goes above 11.4% for the last 0.8 miles yet you are gifted some absolutely stunning views as well as being able to look down into the Hope Valley and appreciate just how well you’ve done to get where you are.

A truly stunning Peak District cycling climb.

Smithy Wood Crescent

Smithy Wood Crescent
Length: 0.18 miles
Avg gradient: 3% on the Strava segment but closer to 6%
Peak gradient: 10%
Difficulty: 2/5
Likelihood of encountering unpleasant motor-vehicles: 1/5
Strava

With its 180° curve, Smithy Wood Crescent is almost like one of the switchbacks on the Alpe d’Huez. Almost. This is a road I’d driven up many, many times and it always felt like it would be a formidable challenge to ride up on a bike. I was wrong.

First of all, in the hill’s defence, the Strava segment includes a bit of downhill at the start, which scuppers the average gradient. It says 3% but I think it’s closer to 6% and it does reach double figures at the very end.

Whatever the actual stats, use the little downhill from Woodseats Road to get some speed then blast away as the road begins to climb for the first bend and then holds its steepness for a short straight stretch before you do that switchback. Feeling like you’re cruising up the Alps, the gradient actually drops off a bit as you round the corner and approach the tree-lined final spike before joining Chesterfield Road. A quick blast.

I’m not sure why I thought this would be such a tough climb when it really isn’t much of a challenge at all. I guess it’s included because ever since moving to the city, Smithy Wood Crescent felt like the typical Sheffield hill: short, steep and sitting in the middle of suburbia with no fanfare, when if it was anywhere else it would have a far more impressive reputation.

Myrtle Road

Myrtle Road
Length: 0.38 miles
Avg gradient: 10% Peak gradient: 16.5%
Difficulty: 2/5
Likelihood of encountering unpleasant motor-vehicles: 2/5
Strava

This hill climb starts just next to Heeley City Farm, a nice little slice of the countryside a couple of miles from the city centre. It’s worth popping into the Heely City Farm Café after tackling this hill for some tasty food or a hot chocolate.

Looking at the topography of Myrtle Road, it’s one of those weird streets that has a bizarre, almost unwaveringly consistent gradient. Hunter House Road and Blake Street being other examples. Strava says Myrtle Road peaks at 16.5% but while there is a little spike as you pass the Nursery at Heeley Bank Road, you are looking at a fairly solid 10% all the way up.

Begin the hill climb at the junction of Midhill Road, just after the railway bridge. There’s a row of houses on your left and what looks like a park on your right, actually contains a goat enclosure. Pick the right gear and pedal on. Once you’re past Anns Road the hill seems to get steeper but I think that’s just because you’ve got houses and cars parked on both sides of the road, making it feel a bit more closed in and leaving you hoping that you’re not going to encounter a grumpy driver coming up or down the hill.

You’ll soon reach Heeley Bank Road and the aforementioned gradient spike. It’s not long to go now, so just dig in for that last blast before reaching the top at the site of the derelict pub and some nice views across the city. Now roll back down and pop to the farm café.

Blake Street

Blake Street
Length: 0.11 miles
Avg gradient: 14% Peak gradient: 17.4%
Difficulty: 3/5
Likelihood of encountering unpleasant motor-vehicles: 2/5
Strava

Look on any list of Sheffield’s steepest hills and Blake Street will be in there, so it was with some trepidation that I finally got around to tackling this one. Any road that has had a handrail for pedestrians, you know is going to be steep and Blake Street has one running its entire length.

You’ll feel the hill’s impact from the the moment you put your pedal down to begin the unwavering climb. However, you’ll want to make sure that you’re in the right gear from the off, not do what I did and end up losing any momentum I had as I attempted to drop into my lower gears too late while trying to start climbing. From there it’s just head down, breathe deep and push up as fast as you can. You’ll quickly understand why this road features in many hill climb races.

Blake Street is a sprint though, not a marathon and, despite its reputation, I found it easier than I was expecting. Simply put, it’s not very long, so it’s over relatively quickly. I guess it’s a far different story if you’re a hill climb racer but if, like me, you just want to get to the top without worrying too much about times, it is perfectly doable. Definitely one to tick off a list but if you’re looking for more of a challenge, give Hagg Hill a go: similar in character but with a higher gradient and slightly longer.