Rosebank
- Wheelygood Rating: Easy
- Length: 0.34 miles
- Avg. gradient: 8%
- Strava Segment: https://www.strava.com/segments/2977419
By the village of Fourstones in Northumberland, there’s a small side road which allows traffic to cut through towards the Military Road without passing through the village itself. It begins by a farm and that impression of it being narrow is spot on and if you’re unlucky enough to meet any vehicles coming the other way then you’re likely to be off the bike to let them through. If they’re behind you then either they’ll be very frustrated with you for riding or, again, you’ll be off the bike to let ’em past.
It begins innocently enough past the houses – the road rises steadily, until you reach ‘the countryside’, at which point the road turns quite a sharp right and points skywards rather more significantly. Pro tip: Don’t Panic12. It’s not as bad as it seems; yes the gradient goes up into the teens, but it really doesn’t last all that long: just beyond the left hander, in fact. Ignore your legs and lungs to keep your eyes on the prize and it’ll not take you long to reach it and, from thereon the road flattens before, finally, dropping down to the junction onto the road from Chollerford.
Good job – it’s a nasty little kick, this one, if you’re not expecting 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…
