Brunton Bank
- Wheelygood Rating: Medium
- Length: 2.05 miles
- Avg. gradient: 6%
- Category: 3
- Strava Segment: https://www.strava.com/segments/16183741
What do you do to burn off those calories from an excellent in the Riverside Kitchen at Chollerford? Ride straight up Brunton Bank, that’s what!
Not one of the most popular climbs in the area, for which there are a couple of reasons. The first is that, unlike many around here, it’s quite a decent sized climb at a couple of miles long and the second is the traffic. It’s not the volume, because it’s not that busy a road, it’s that combination of a slightly twisty road and the relative speed differential between them (60mph) and you (6mph). On your own, it’s OK as there’s pretty much always room for people to sort themselves out, but I wouldn’t take a group of more than a couple of people up there at any one time.
It’s a fabulous descent, though!
So, what do you get? Well, you get a climb of two unequal parts: a lower section in the trees which has three main ramps and then an more open upper section that has a draggy bit and then a final ramp-and-a-half.
From the bottom, then, the road arcs sweetly from a small descent straight into the first ramp and you’ll feel the road start to tug well before the crossroads. Find yourself a nice, comfortable, gear and settle in. Speaking of the crossroads, when you’re on a bike, it’s as though the traffic suddenly believes it can take more liberties, so don’t be surprised if you get some … opportunistic … behaviour around there.
This first pull is a nice warm-up for the remainder of the climb. It’s not too taxing, doesn’t last all that long and there’s a short section upon which to recover before the road winds upwards once more. Catch your breath as best you can and turn the corner…
…to come face to face with the steepest section of the climb. It doesn’t hit you straight away – in fact it winds up reasonably steadily, but the final pitch before the right hander gets up to 17% and you’ll know all about it before reaching the top. I don’t know if the usual physical laws are suspended around here, but I’ve ridden 17% sections before and this one just feels harder than most and I don’t know why. At least it doesn’t last too long and, again, you get a decent chunk of recovery before getting back into it.
The third and final bit ramp is the one which will cause you the most mental anguish: it’s about 20% longer than you’re expecting with a little kick in the gradient just to help things along a bit further. If you can find a nice rhythm at the start of this part and you’re OK just to let the cadence drop a bit, then you’ll be OK. Try to push it and it becomes Hell On Wheels by the end.
And that, ladies and gents, is the bulk of the climbing done, but you’re not finished just yet.
The road drags on for about a third of a mile, or so before disappearing around a small s-bend and ramping up for the final time. It’s nowhere near as bad as the previous ramps, but it’s enough given the amount of climbing you’ve already completed. At least you’ll normally have the wind behind you!
Oh, and don’t think the crest you can see is the top, either – there’s another mini-ramp beyond it which does mark the actual top of the climb – so you may want to keep that in mind when you’re deciding on the effort level you’re going for on this last section.
And, at last, you’ve made it! Great effort – and I bet you don’t feel so guilty about those calories now… 😉
If there are any other road climbs you’d like me to take on, the more ridiculous the better, then please pop them in the comments, or send me a message on my FaceBook page https://www.facebook.com/wheelygoodcycling/ or email me on wheelygoodmail@gmail.com and let me know…
