Tag: 15-20%

Kent Road

  • Kent Road
  • Length: 0.11 miles
  • Avg gradient: 16.5%
  • Peak gradient: 20.5%
  • Difficulty: 3/5
  • Likelihood of encountering unpleasant motor-vehicles: 2/5
  • Elevation gain: 99ft
  • Strava

Arguably one of Sheffield’s steepest hills.

In any discussion about Sheffield’s steepest hills, there will be a few usual suspects; Hagg Hill, Jenkin Road and Blake Street, but it would be surprising if Kent Street didn’t also get a look in. Blake Street is often credited as Sheffield’s steepest but, despite being the same length, Kent Street has a slightly higher average gradient.

The start of the incline begins between Rushdale Avenue and Albert Road, facing north (there is an interesting footpath you can cycle up in the other direction but we’ll save that for another day). Unfortunately, Albert Road is a blind crossroads so, unless you can get a mate to stand there and give you the all clear, it’s safer to start at that junction (and also where the Strava segment begins).

You can see the handrail in the distance, that’s your target, where the road bends slightly to the right and kicks up steeply. Before that, you immediately begin on a 13.5% climb, and for every 15 metres or so, the gradient increases by about 1% (the maths here is very approximate but you get the idea) until you reach the railing.

It’s here that the hill breaks 20% for the final spike, which you’ll really feel as the apex slips into view. Well done, you can now arguably claim to have cycled up one of the city’s steepest hills.

It’s sweet but too short to be genuinely formidable.

Wheel Lane & Coldwell Hill

  • Wheel Lane & Coldwell Hill
  • Length: 0.26 miles
  • Avg gradient: 15.4%   Peak gradient: 17.7%
  • Difficulty: 4/5
  • Likelihood of encountering unpleasant motor-vehicles: 1/5
  • Elevation gain: 217 ft 
  • Strava

A hidden gem of a hill climb, tucked away in the hills outside Oughtibridge. It’s just over a quarter of a mile long but look how close the average and peak gradients are.  That tells you that it’s a very unwavering climb all the way to the top.  And your reward for getting there?  Another hill.

As soon as you pass over the brook (which is liable to flooding in rainy periods) the hill begins with a little weave and a gradient of around 17%. Climb up this until the road makes a sharp right turn and a sign tells you that you’re now on Coldwell Hill. You’ll pass the first of the houses and a grit bin on your right, which makes you wonder how brave you’d have to be to drive up here in icy conditions.  It’s hard to believe but, at about 9%, this is the flattest section of the climb.

That’s soon forgotten however, as you wind round a dogleg bend with the steepest incline of the hill. As you curve past the row of quaint cottages you’ll be thinking that this must be it but you’re only about half way up. You’ve got a slightly straighter climb now but still averaging 15%. Shortly, the climb takes another sweep right and after a brief section of tree-lined road, another sign tells you that you’ve joined Jackey Lane for the final 600 ft.

Well done, you’ve just made it up one of my favourite Sheffield cycling climbs. From here, turn right and drop back into Oughtibridge or, if you fancy continuing the challenge, turn left onto Green Lane and tackle another mile or so of 8% out into the countryside.

Hagg Hill

  • Hagg Hill, Sheffield
  • Length: 0.17 miles
  • Avg gradient: 19%   Peak gradient: 24%
  • Difficulty: 4/5
  • Likelihood of encountering unpleasant motor-vehicles: 1/5 (not as bad as it could be but only because they’re struggling just as much as you).
  • Strava

Hagg Hill isn’t one of the headline climbs around Sheffield and the Peak District but it was my first introduction to Sheffield’s hills when I moved north in 2011.  I used to struggle to get up Hagg Hill in my car, it’s even more challenging on a bike.

Hagg Hill is not a long climb at all but it is very steep and unforgiving from the start.  To date, I’ve only ridden it four times and only once managed to do so without stopping. It also features as one of the climbs in the annual Magnificent 7 hill climb competition.

You need to turn onto Hagg Hill from Rivelin Road, a blind 90 degree turn, which results in you losing any speed you may have had.  From there on it’s just up, up, up.  It’s only real redemptive point is that there’s no hidden summit, you can see the top of the hill from the outset.  Beginning at a relatively forgiving 14% you just need to drop into a low gear and grind, although you’d be wise to hold a gear in the bank for when the road peaks out at 24%, towards the end.

The gradient continues to increase as you cycle past the allotments, before there is a tiny (so small it doesn’t even register on the Strava segment) relent about 3/4 of the way up.  Use that brief respite to catch your breath before tackling the final spike of 24% and reaching Bole Hill Road.

Well done, you’ve just done one of the hardest climbs in Sheffield!

Any sense of achievement, however, is slightly tempered by the fact that, if you’re heading towards Crosspool, you’ve actually only done about a third of the climbing.  We’ll save Bole Hill Road / Back Lane for another time though.