Ragpath Lane – Simon Warren Cycling Climbs of the North East
- SW Rating: 4/10
- Wheelygood Rating: Easy
- Length: 0.96 miles
- Avg. gradient: 6%
- Category: 4
- Strava Segment: https://www.strava.com/segments/19593724
- Route: https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1024660
One of the last climbs of the, sadly missed, Durham Beast sportive. In and of itself, it’s not massively difficult, but, by the time you’d got there on The Beast, you were pretty much cooked and the top part felt like trying to pedal up the Hoover Dam.
It begins easily enough – just an easy drag up past some fields and a farm. Nothing to write home about, really. But, as you ride, you’ll feel the gradient just inching itself up bit by bit. Once you hit the farm the inches become a bit bigger and it’s time to start thinking about your choice of gear, because, from experience, I can tell you that it’s not going to relent between here and the top. The first part of the real ramp is also fine – it’s a nice, steady, alpine-like experience, but with less altitude sickness and more trees.
The road bends left and then things really do kick off. The slope humps itself up into double digits and you’ll have to start working for it now. By the time you get to the top you’ll be looking at 15%1 and a road surface which Does Not Help In The Slightest. You’ll need to deploy a little self-encouragement to get to the top, although it helps that you can see where that is from a decent way out: where the trees stop on the right hand side, so does the climb. Just keep the cranks turning over until you get there…
..and then relax with another Good Job Done!
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…
I know, I know, compared to some of County Durham, let alone Yorkshire or the Lake District, this is pretty gentle! ↩
