I’ve a few long, flat time trials coming up, including the YCF 50 and National 100. The sensible thing would be to get out the time trial bike, and get some fast miles in. But, I’m in Yorkshire and every evening I can’t resist opening the OS Map of Wensleydale and Upper Wharfedale and start scouring over the tightly packed contours and steep climbs of the Yorkshire Dales. The climbs between Kettlewell and Settle looked particularly appealing – a real treasure trove of pointy arrows, vicious ascents and open moors. So rather then blast away to York on time trial bike. I got on the road bike and headed up towards Kettlewell and Malham. A chance to tick off a few new climbs and revisit some old favourites.
Park Rash
The first climb of the day is Park Rash.
- length 2.3km
- height gain: 230 metres
- Max gradient 25%
Park Rash is perhaps the hardest climb in Yorkshire, and that is quite something. Leaving the village of Kettlewell, you have a short 20% climb over some gritty road surface. If you have difficulty on this hairpin, I’d turn back because this is just the hors d’oeuvre for the main climb around the corner. After this first climb, there’s a gentle descent and you see the foot of Park Rash proper in the distance. The double hairpins of 25% look suitably menacing. It’s a thing of beauty or thing of fear, depending on your point of view. At the foot of the climb, I saw a team of mountaineers all kitted up in climbing equipment. I don’t think they were just going to climb Park Rash, but it seemed appropriate.
The start is the hardest with two vicious hairpins. The only thing is to try and go wide and avoid the steepest, shortest route. With only a 39*25 gearing, I had to maintain a stiff tempo, which soon gets you close to the limit. After the worst section is over, the gradient eases up – but only relatively - it is still 15-17% for a considerable drag. You can sprint up the first two hairpins, but there’s no respite for this long drag to the misty summits. In terms of pacing, my relatively high gearing made me go really hard for first section, which made final section really hard work.
Park Rash at the top. I lasted visited Park Rash on Dec 21. 2012
Half way up, the climb does finally relent with a section of flat, but it’s insufficient recovery before you grovel up the last 15% climb to the bleak moor land and a sign saying ‘Welcome to Richmondshire’. I never knew Richmondshire existed, so at least I learnt something from doing the climb.
The top of Park Rash always seems to be wet – either raining of a fine drizzle. I just did a u-turn and went back down. Near the top there was a film crew and vintage car parked on the road. Someone had obviously chosen Park Rash as a suitable setting for some 1950s film or Heartbeat type TV programme. They gave me a friendly nod. Perhaps there were smiling because they thought I was lost. I mean, who would cycle up to the top of Park Rash, only to do a u-turn 5 minutes later? I think it would be unconvincing to say, I wanted to go and visit Richmondshire for a moment.
By the way, the descent down Park Rash is really tough. You need to slow down to a snails-pace on the 25% hairpins. My mother always tells me to get off and walk down these descents. Like a good son, I always nod my head and smile – just as I promise to blow my nose on a handkerchief, whilst racing at 30 mph. But, if ever there was a descent to get off and walk, Park Rash might be the one.
Arncliffe Crag
Arnclife to Nab End
- length 2.6km
- height gain: 190m
- max gradient 18%
After Park Rash, I went back down valley to Arncliffe, for the first ascent up to Malham Tarn moor. Mostly 16%, but a headwind made it a tough climb. Up on the top of the moor, there was a strong headwind all the way to Settle. Unfortuantely, it’s not a consistent climb to the top of the moor. There are quite a few ups and downs to break the rhythm of the climb.
Leaving Settle there is a great climb out of the town towards Kirby Malham. There is a short section of cobbles, reminiscent of some Belgian bergs before the steepest section of 22%, which soon takes you clear out of the town. If you look behind, you get a great view of Settle and the Settle-Carlisle line, but it’s not easy to admire the view until nearer the top, where the gradient eases. After steep section, a wonderful tailwind pushed me up the whole climb. It was pretty fast in places and then a nice descent into Kirby Malham.
Full High hill Lane climb
- Length: 5km
- Height gain: 230 metres
- max gradient: 20%
Malham Cove Climb
Malham cove is another tough climb.
- 2.3km
- height gain: 190 metres
- max gradient: 21%
The hardest part of Malham Cove is after half way. A 20% hairpin makes it a tough finish. You need to be wary of this part, as it comes at a time, when you’ve already been climbing for quite a bit. On a later descent, I stopped to take some photos, and it is really a great view. Not something you might appreciate on the way up, but it is worth being a bit of a tourist, if you get chance. I took the photo of Malham Cove, from about half way up.
There is another way up to the top of Malham Tarn – taking the East side. This ascent is slightly easier. Not as steep, and more of a gradual climb. Yesterday, there was also the benefit of a slight tailwind, until the top where you come around and finish off the climb into prevailing westerly. At the top it’s mostly flat, but is very exposed.
Langcliffe Scar Climb
- distance: 1.5km
- height gain: 155 metres
- max gradient: 18%
- average gradient: 10%
One of the last climbs of the day was Langcliffe Scar climb. From the village of Langcliffe, 1 mile north of Settle, there is a great climb. Again there are a couple of steep hairpins which make you climb quickly off the valley floor. At the top of the climb, there are great views back down to Settle. The road also goes through an interesting Limestone cut out.
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The end of the world Yorkshire style
Hmm, I have a Dura-Ace 50 – 34 crank, I might swap and give it a try, thanks Tejvan, food for thought.
Seems like you are having fun Tejvan, what gearing would you normally use when taking on these hills ? I have recently put on a 28 – 11 cassette (front is 53 – 39) to tackle some of the hills in Cornwall but we have one, going out of Porthoustock that is 40% in the middle, I am too scared to try it, how daft is that.
I have 25-11 and (53-39) though a 28 would be nice.
I got up Hardknott pass 30% (on 39*28) but it was a real struggle. 40% sounds both crazy, difficult and interesting
Ok, you use a 53-39, its just that the better than myself rider’s down here and there are plenty of them, all ride compact 50-34 front rings and tell me to do the same. However an ex-pro I got chatting too told me to stay with the 53-39 as I would get stronger.
Great in theory and on the flat, then you reach a climb………
I don’t really subscribe to view that it’s good to ride a huge gear. You just get demoralised when you can’t go up hills.
When I do hill intervals, I try to use cadence of 100-120rpm
Though some like to do gear strengthening on low cadence.