Cycling in Hills of Keighley and Worth Valley

Hainworth Lane – If this was Flanders, this could be as famous as Oude Kwaremont

I blame Simon Warren and his 100 greatest climbs. I can’t think of any other reason for finding myself fighting up a 20% gradient on a tough cobbled climb from an industrial estate near Keighley. (Thwaites Brow, #140, 2nd Edition)

Thwaites Brow – follow sign  ‘not suitable for large vehicles’ past industrial estate.

As a devotee of pro cycling, I’ve always been enamoured of the famous cobbles of Paris-Roubiax, the Tour of Flanders. Even just the name of these famous races leaves a tingle of excitement. But, whilst watching mud-splattered heroes race over cobbles may be very romantic, when you find yourself riding over rough cobbles on 23′ tyres – you do start thinking, what am I doing here?

Them cobbles are harder than they look. And it’s hard to find enough flat space for a proper football pitch in this part of the world.

There are very few occasions when I’ve thought I made have to get off and walk up a hill whilst cycling. Once was Wrynose pass – when hopelessly over geared, the other time was yesterday on Thwaites Brow – 20% uphill, but with devilishly difficult cobbles to boot. I did finally gingerly make it to the top. I’ve never been so relieved to find a bit of smooth tarmac – even if there was still another 50 metres uphill to climb.

Thwaites Brow

• Distance – 1.2 Km
• Elevation gain – 122 metres
• Average gradient 10.2%
• Max gradient – 20%
• Cobbles!

From Thwaites top, I swooped back into Keighley, criss-crossing the famous Keighley and Worth Valley Railway. I have a real love of railways so I was in a kind of heaven – surrounded on all sides by hills and getting the odd glimpse of steam trains hurtling past.

Trains in Haworth

In another era, I could have quite happily been a trainspotter. I can just imagine myself sitting on Crewe station, pad and pencil in hand. But, the new style Virgin Pedallinos are just not as romantic as the old class 00s. Anyway, I’ve an image to uphold – so I’ve swapped the anorak for a one piece lycra skin suit. – I think that’s an image improvement, though my sister is not so sure.

If you need an excuse to support your hobby of hill climbing, the views from the top is a pretty good one.

I still have that trainspotter mentality though – only now it is collecting hill climbs. I’ve spent many hours pouring over maps, looking for those double arrows and packed altitude bars. Which route offers the longest climb? Which route offers the best descent? Which route offers the biggest possible height gain? But, now with my trusty 2 volumes of 100 Greatest hill climbs to tackle, there’s a whole new challenge. After reading Simon’s description of Thwaites Brow, I knew it was a hill I had to tick off.

After descending from Thwaites Brow and back in the Keighley basin, I felt like a kid in a sweat shop – everywhere was uphill, I could have gone straight back up the hill I’d just descended. There is no shortage of climbs in the Aire Valley, but next on the list was another cobbled classic from the station of Ingrow West to the top of Howarth Moor – Hainworth Lane. This climb had everything. A climb from near a train station, cobbles, 20% gradient signs, tight hairpin corners. I knew it was another one I had to tick off.

Hainworth Lane

• Distance 1.5 Km
• Elevation gain – 158 metres
• Average gradient: 10%
• Max gradient 20%
• Cobbles!

Bottom of Hainworth Lane, by Ingrow West

After eyeing up the cobbles, I rode to the bottom of the hill and began the 150m ascent. This time I didn’t ride gingerly over the cobbles, but just went full pelt. Ironically, riding quickly is an easier way to ride cobbles; it’s a bit like riding over a cattle grid. If you ride faster, you get a slightly smoother ride.  I was furiously riding – looking for the best line. (which wasn’t really there) After a good cobbled section, the road returned to tarmac but there was still plenty of the climb to finish.

On top of the world.

A great view from the top -  probably even better than seeing a class 00 on the West coast main line.

Haworth in the distance

After that it was just a hill climb free for all. Racing up and down Howarth main street passing bemused tourists. Apparantely, British cyclists are racing to innumerable golds on a nice smooth velodrome down in London, but that wasn’t really so much in evidence today. We’re supposed to be hoping  for a great Olympic cycling boost, but cyclists seemed to be pretty sparse on these hilly roads. You think we might get some reflected glory from the 8 Olympic gold medals, but the white van driver on Hainworth Lane just looked pretty bemused at the cyclist weaving his way up through the cobbles.

Just to prove it’s not all bulging biceps and interval sessions, I visit the literary hotspot of Haworth.

Oxenhope Moor (Cock Hill)

• Distance 3.6 Km
• Height Gain: 216 m
• Average gradient 6.1%
• Max gradient: 10%
• Time: 9 mins

After the rough cobbles and 20% gradients, it was nice to also find a smooth classic ‘Alpine style’ climb. With an average gradient of 7%, the A 6063 rises gently out of Oxenhope towards Hebden Bridge. It is never steeper than 10% and allows you to find a decent rhythm on the swooping slopes. It’s not as exciting as Thwaites Brow, but gives an impressive 220 metres net gain.

Riding all 100 Hill Climbs

I’ve already heard of cyclists trying to ride all 100 Greatest hill climbs. I wonder what is a suitable name to describe a cyclist who goes to try and do all the climbs in the UK? I don’t think we want to be called hill climb spotters – there must be a better term. Maybe on achieving all 100 climbs, you should get a fragment of cobble from Thwaites Brow. I’m sure one day it will become as famous as the Koppenburg.

Related

• 100 Hill Climbs
• Hill Climbs