Miry Lane – Simon Warren Cycling Climbs of the North East
- S/W Rating: 7/10
- Wheelygood Rating: Hard
- Length: 0.48 miles
- Avg. gradient: 12%
- Category: 4
- Strava Segment: https://www.strava.com/segments/19601476
There’s nothing nice about this climb, other, possibly, than the feeling of accomplishment when you’ve finally reached the top.
My own introduction to it was a few years ago when I was taking part in the, now defunct, Wiggle sportive ‘The Hell of Hexham’. I thought I knew where the route was headed and that the next climb was the Town Head road, which isn’t a bad climb at all so when, at the feed stop, we got a warning about the severity of the next climb I said that it would be OK and that I’d just ‘roll up it’. This raised a couple of eyebrows and garnered a ‘roll up 18%?’ query. Oops. Like a cornered guinea pig, I came back with ‘I’ve just done the Fred Whitton.’ This, although absolutely true, did not have the desired effect on the raised eyebrows so I was forced to stuff my face with whatever was closest and hope for the best. Fig rolls it is then!
My bravado survived the very first section of Miry Lane – it’s a gentle pull away from the ‘main’ road up to the row of houses. It lasted up the first ramp too, which is probably just as well as deflation at this point would have been problematic about 50m later. This first ramp is quite steep, but feels OK – you can see its extent and getting your head around it is fine. There’s a bit of respite before the road takes a turn to the left and the real fun starts.
Up she goes! And, then, up some more. All of it is in the high teens and you’ll be brushing 20% later on too. The beginning, although steep, doesn’t feel quite so bad, probably because it’s got some curves to it and this breaks it up mentally into ‘easily’ digestible chunks.
Then you turn right. Um, yeah. It’s one long ramp that goes straight up the side of the hill and you can see how far you’ve got to go. And it’ll take a while, because you will bump over 20% here and there’s nothing for it but a bit of bump and grind. I took the opportunity to make the most of the ‘don’t look up too much’ school of breaking things down. You can get away with it here, because it’s a very quiet road. Don’t shut your eyes, though, as this is likely to cause the Karma Fairy to wave her wand and summon someone from one of the nearby farms on a quad bike to ruin your day. If you do happen to look up then the farmhouse towards the left and hedge which runs across to the right about 150m in front of you is the level of the junction at the top.
Honestly, just keep gritting the teeth and turning the pedals – it’ll all be over soon!
And, then, as if by magic, the gradient will quickly slacken and you’ll reach that elusive junction which marks the top of the climb. Once the grey edges and coloured spots have disappeared from your vision, now pick your head up, turn around and take in some of the best landscapes in the Pennines…
Seriously good effort for sticking it up here: there are enough points along the way to make you want to pack it in so great job on making it to the top!
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…
