Hagg Bank

• Wheelygood Rating: Easy
• Length: 0.20 miles
• Avg. gradient: 9%
• Strava Segment: https://www.strava.com/segments/1722610
• Parking: There are a few spots, none of which are ideal for a long stay: there is a get-in right at the bottom of the climb and also at the junction half way up the other side, but you always run the risk of being in someone else’s way.

What you see is pretty much what you get here, at least it is once you’ve made it onto the climb itself. The approach is a slightly tricky descent including a blind hairpin where the oncoming traffic will be cutting the corner towards you, because there really isn’t enough space for them to do anything else!

If you can, it’s worth using the bottom part of the descent to carry some momentum into the climb, not that you’ll find it lasts very long. You also have a choice in method here: leave the bike in a reasonable gear and absolutely hammer it from the bottom knowing that it’ll all be over in about a minute, or stick it in the loest cog you’ve got, flail your feet around at the start and then wait for the climb to come to you (it doesn’t take long) and then spin your way up the rest of it.

The first section over the A695 is quite steep, but pretty steady. Once over this, though, the hill ups the ante to about 18% before relenting around the corner – nothing for it but to just keep turning the pedals!

Once up t he main section, there’s a very short, shallower, pull up to the final corner at which point you can relax and try to make yourself look presentable before you have to ride into the housing estate…good job!

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…

Hagg Bank