Intake Lane
- Wheelygood Rating: Hard
- Length: 0.97 miles
- Avg. gradient: 13%
- Category: 3
- Strava Segment: https://www.strava.com/segments/16089128
If you stand in the heart of Frosterley and look North East … and up … you’ll see a radio mast. Guess where Intake Lane takes you?
There’s no warm-up here: 0-20% in about 5 metres. I’ve seen cars stall and then spin their wheels in an effort to get going again. And, just to make it that little bit more difficult, there are some drainage features running across the road in a couple of places. A little beyond this, the road surface has been relaid which makes it a much more pleasant experience than when I first rode it: it was cracked, beaten and no-one’s friend.
So, start as you mean to go on, i.e. putting in some proper effort just to keep moving. Survive the first pitch as it snakes its way to the treeline and you’d hope for a reward and, indeed, that’s what you get: a reward of more climbing, although, to be fair, the gradient does slacken just a bit. Enjoy it while it lasts.
Turn the right hander and it’s time to ask the legs for a bigger effort again as the gradient hauls up to the high teens once more. Keep it going – you know you can, because that’s the top, right? Erm ….. no.
In fact, it’s the point at which the mast comes into view – it’s that small speck which looks a bit like a taller telegraph pole. Yup, you’re headed all the way up there. No time to worry about that now, though, because there’s a cattle grid coming up just to steal all your momentum, followed by a degradation in the road surface to steal even more.
It’s a slog from here. I thought the following ramp was the last one, but, no, even I was fooled and I’d ridden it before. Ignore your legs and arms: just keep it rolling and you will get there. You’ll be playing dodge the hole and the sheep droppings by now and the odd small tussock will jump out to get you, but don’t let that put you off.
Savour the easing of the gradient before that final pull – it’s not that bad in the grand scheme of things, but you’ll need to summon your Inner Jens to make the most of it.
And, then, almost as suddenly as it began, it finishes on a small plateau from which you can perform some well deserved self-congratulation whilst getting some great views along the valley before braving the descent.
Please be careful going down: those holes, sheep droppings and tussocks which were irritating on the way up at 5mph are a liability on the way back down at 3-4 times that. Also, the tarmac on the bottom section isn’t terribly grippy (and usually damp) so it’s a case of picking your way down rather than hoofing it!
If there are any other road climbs you’d like me to take on, the more ridiculous the better, then please send me a message on my FaceBook page https://www.facebook.com/wheelygoodcycling/ or email me on wheelygoodmail@gmail.com and let me know…
