Carter Bar – Simon Warren Cycling Climbs of the North East
- SW Rating: 4/10
- Wheelygood Rating: Easy
- Length: 1.7 miles
- Avg. gradient: 5%
- Category: 4
- Strava Segment: https://www.strava.com/segments/19601961
- Parking: You can park at the top in one of the set-back laybys which span the England/Scotland border, but be aware that this can be quite a busy road!
In some ways, this is one of the simplest climb reviews to write: it begins at the bottom, gets to a steady 4-7% and stays there until the top. And, in those same ways, that’s about all that needs to be said about the Carter.
I’m going to add a bit, because there are a few subtle details which can make a difference. The main one is to note that this climb is on the A68, which is one of the major trunk roads between England and Scotland in the North East of England. Essentially, this means that any truck not on the A1 (the other major trunk road in the North East) will be on the A68, probably followed by a long string of cars, none of whom will be able to get past because of (a) the windiness of the road and (b) the speed cameras on the Scottish side. The net result is that, depending on your luck, you might see no traffic whatsoever on your ascent, or you might be passed by a bazillion angry car drivers, none of whom will be pleased to see a cyclist. Choice of time and day makes a difference – there are definitely fewer trucks at the weekend, especially on Sundays, but, given the 24×7 nature of the ‘normal’ world1 there are definitely still some about.
The other is the weather. It can be ferociously windy up here – enough to blow you into the path of those trucks, or cars, if you’re unlucky. Don’t get me wrong – it’s rare that it’s unsafe to ride, it’s just that you should know that the biggest challenges you’ll face are environmental.
Assuming you get a decent day and aren’t run over, this is very much a climb where the most efficient tactic is to pick an effort level at the bottom and just keep it steady until you reach the top. No tricks, no technique, just steady application of yourself to the act of turning the pedals.
And, once you’ve reached the top, you can take a well deserved photo of you being in two countries at the same time!
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’m writing this during the time of the 2020 Coronavirus lockdown during which time very little is normal! ↩
