Shibden Wall – Simon Warren #40

• SW Rating: 8/10
• Wheelygood Rating: Hard
• Length: 0.55 miles
• Avg. gradient: 15%
• Category: 4
• Strava Segment: https://www.strava.com/segments/6690966
• Route: https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1059881
• Parking: Not a great deal at the bottom, but people do park their cars on the junction. It’s not ideal, but there’s nothing official particularly close by.

A climb of some considerable repute is Shibden Wall. Like many of the ascents in the Halifax area, a large percentage of it is cobbled and, as you’d expect, that is one of the main challenges.

Thing is, when you first arrive, you’ve got no idea of what’s coming¹, because it’s all nice, smooth and treelined. It’s lovely, in fact. Right up to the 1:4 sign. Yes, it’s an old school sign for an old school climb.

You’re still not really there, though. Following this first sign, which may, or may not, be part of the Wall proper, is a warm-up ramp which gets up towards 20%. For something that’s not the main event, it’s pretty interesting in and of itself! Once you’re over this, best get your breathing under control, because…

…around the next corner you’ll begin to see the cobbles. The road just rises up in front of you and does, to all intents an purposes, look like a wall of bricks. Thing is, it’s a road and you’re about to ride up it without stopping. Aren’t you?

The first straight up ramp isn’t so bad – there is a smooth-ish line through the cobbles and you can just keep your head down and pedal. The only thing which might cause a change of plan is when there is other traffic. The first time I rode it, there wasn’t any and It Was All Good, but every subsequent attempt has had at least one motor vehicle pass by and there’s not much you can do other than to head for the left hand side of the road and hope you can keep pedalling. For the most part, that’s fine, but there is the odd decent sized gap between the stones and a few are missing completely so you will need to keep your wits about you if you get forced to the side.

As the road bears right, the slope eases somewhat. Don’t be completely fooled as you are very much still climbing, but the gradient drops into the easier teens. This gives you a chance to do two things: try to get your breathing back under control and also pick a line for the left hand hairpin which comes next. This is, perhaps, the most famous part of the whole climb. I remember a Pro race coming up here (Tour of Britain/Tour de Yorkshire?) and this was the vantage point for the filming. It is pretty tight and I’d really avoid the inside if you have a chance – in fact, if there’s nothing coming, I’d head straight for the outside line as it’s much easier. For whatever reason, I always got the impression that people think this hairpin is close to the top. It isn’t. You’re about half way up and the remainder doesn’t give you any gifts, either. In a number of ways it’s actually worse – it’s pretty relentlessly steep and the cobbles get bigger with wider spacing in some places.

Still, could be worse, eh?

Away from the bend and the gradient takes a few metres to ramp back up so, again, make the most of the respite as it’s the last you’ll get before the top. If you’ve got the room, and it’s clear from traffic, I’d suggest thinking about taking a note from computer gamers and employ a ‘bob and weave’ tactic of moving around to pick up the smoothest line. It really is worth it as the surface does get interestingly bouncy in some places. Keep the power on at all times, otherwise you’ll not make it onto the next cobble and come to a very premature stop. It’s hard work, this bit, but hang on in there.

You’ll need to keep hanging on in there for a bit longer, but, as you get around the couple of bends, you’ll suddenly be visible to the residents of the houses along the roadside and it’s be rude to give up in front of them, now, wouldn’t it?

So grind away (‘spin’ is likely to be a bit beyond most of us) as you’re pointed directly up the side of the hill. Salvation isn’t so far away now: if you can lift your head just a bit, you should catch sight of the road sign on the left which pretty much marks the top of the climb. It’s not quite the top, but if you’ve made it to there, then you’ll make it to the actual ‘summit’. Just keep it going! Even over the bit where the cobbles get just a bit worse before the top. I did say that there were no gifts!

Eventually, you will make it to the very top, at which point you can relax and breathe a sight of relief that it’s all over. Chapeau – it’s a toughie is this!

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…

Shibden Wall - Simon Warren #40

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1. Unless, of course, you’ve ridden it before and know exactly what’s in store ↩