With many apologies for the delay - here, hopefully, finally are a load of climbs that Em and I did on a 9 day orgy of hills and travel. I started with Mow Cop:
I knew Mow Cop was going to be toughy. Not just from Simon’s description of how drinkers congregate outside the Cheshire View pub on the hill during sportives to watch determined, but foolish riders topple gently sideways as the climb proves too much for them.
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I knew Mow Cop was going to be toughy. Not just from Simon’s description of how drinkers congregate outside the Cheshire View pub on the hill during sportives to watch determined, but foolish riders topple gently sideways as the climb proves too much for them.
No, I knew it was going to be tough thanks to mentioning the fact I was going there to people who corrected my pronunciation (apparently not Mow as in 10 men went to mow a meadow), but Mow (as in M-OW! This climb hurts!!!)
The start of my climb was delayed somewhat as our dog decided to lodge a dirty protest at having been in the car since London. He found a fresh cow pat and with great relish rolled around it before we could possibly stop him. At this point it was cycleshoes back off, trainers on and the spaceship’s water reserve (more on this later) used up.
One clean(ish) dog later, I waited for the train line at the bottom of the hill to clear and started my ascent. The road starts with a good slope, steepens a little and then opens out so you can see the pub on the left and a straight and fearsome 25% slope which you need to get out of the saddle and haul yourself up.
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Phew! A real toughy for my first ride of our 10 day hill mission and my legs were singing in protest already! Amazing views from the top though. And well worth the drive to get there. The steep slope is wide open and I can imagine on a sportive with loads of cyclists pulling themselves up there, it must be quite a sight.
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When I was there, there was no-one around apart from the wife and a slightly damp, disgruntled dog. Even the pub was shut!
Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfrdDnjds5E
Garmin Data here: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/90464343 (I think I went a bit wrong at the end - but I didn't want to risk being short!)
Flickr Photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157626872767433/
When I was there, there was no-one around apart from the wife and a slightly damp, disgruntled dog. Even the pub was shut!
Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfrdDnjds5E
Garmin Data here: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/90464343 (I think I went a bit wrong at the end - but I didn't want to risk being short!)
Flickr Photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/100hillsforgeorge/sets/72157626872767433/
ha ha. I did this blighter as part of the Cheshire Cat in July this year, on one of the hottest days of the year. It was a toughie, but I just about dragged my backside up it. I proudly have my "Mow Cop" medal hanging in pride of place; they were giving them out separately for anyone who made it to the top without putting a foot down!
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