You need to do this at the Summer Solstice as part of the Ride To The Sun, an overnighter from Carlisle to Cramond. It is magical watching all the lights of the riders winking in the distance as the road snakes up the side of the ravine, a piper at the top to welcome you and then down the descent to the midnight cyclorave at the Crook Inn. Unforgettable.
I've heard of the Ride to the Sun and a few friends have done it and say it's great too. For some reason I had a blind spot that this climb was part of the route. I'll look out for it next year...
Really interesting video. How difficult would you say this ascent is ? Would it be viable for a novice rider or older person (62) of limited experience ? Thank you.
Hi Andy, thanks for the feedback and the query - much appreciated! Apologies for the delay in responding - it’s been a fraught week at work and I just didn’t get a chance. The difficulty is a tricky one to assess as everyone has their preferences when it comes to climbing - I didn’t find that hard, but, then I’m a regular on the bike and do a lot of climbing. To get a better impression, I asked my Good Lady who rode it with me a while ago; she’s not as experienced and she found it to be very manageable, although it does have its challenges with its combination of the overall length combined with Alipine-like steeper lower section. It’s certainly viable for someone of limited experience (I don’t see age as a boundary - I’m in my 40s and have been passed by riders in their 70s!) It could be ridden by a novice, but it’d be challenge simply due to the length: if you’re not accustomed to long hills it may feel like it goes on for ever. If you bear the following in mind, I hope this will help: - as the climb starts, find the lowest (easiest) gear on your bike and stay there. Better to ride up slowly and enjoy it than try to push on and find it all too much half way up! - pacing is vital. It’s so easy to scupper your chances in the first minute of a climb and not even know it. The ‘talk test’ is a good starting point: if you can speak out loud in sentences, or longer, then you’re about right. If you can only give out a couple of words, or can’t speak at all, then you’re going too hard - it’s not about the speed, or even making it up in without stopping. Ride it in chunks and take all day if you want to - I’d advise taking some food and water if you go this route and every time you stop, have a bit of a bite of something - if it does come to it and you find it too much on the day, then the town of Moffat is at the bottom of the climb so you can simply turn around, ride back down and go straight into the nearest cafe for refreshments. It’ll be a challenge, but it’s one that’s absolutely doable if you keep the right head on: be determined when you feel you can, but don’t be afraid to stop and look at the view for a bit. Very best of luck if you decide to give it a go - and let me know how you get on!
@@WheelygoodCycling My sincere thanks for your comprehensive and encouraging reply. A great deal of helpful information and tips. I particularly like your suggestion of using the lowest gear from the outset. I didn't think of that, yet it makes so much sense! At the moment not only would I be passed by a 70 year old, but I think a snail would give me a run for my money😉 Thank you again, & all the best to you.
You’re very welcome - happy to help! I can’t claim the tip about bottom gear as my own - I got it from a guide on a cycling based holiday in France a few years ago and I’ve been giving it out ever since! Unless you’re racing, or just being competitive, cycling’s not about speed - it’s about getting outside and seeing the world around you. That part of Scotland is fabulous - yes, it’s up and down, but it’s pretty accessible by bike, the scenery is great and the roads are, for the most part, pretty quiet. Yes, it can be a bit grim if the weather’s against you, but when the sun’s out it’s a great place to plot a route, take a picnic and head out and ride…
![Crow Road - Simon Warren #161 [Medium]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/qaCc3frZHfw/mqdefault.jpg)
![Crow Road - Simon Warren #161 [Medium]](/img/tr.png)
You need to do this at the Summer Solstice as part of the Ride To The Sun, an overnighter from Carlisle to Cramond. It is magical watching all the lights of the riders winking in the distance as the road snakes up the side of the ravine, a piper at the top to welcome you and then down the descent to the midnight cyclorave at the Crook Inn. Unforgettable.
I've heard of the Ride to the Sun and a few friends have done it and say it's great too. For some reason I had a blind spot that this climb was part of the route. I'll look out for it next year...
Really interesting video.
How difficult would you say this ascent is ? Would it be viable for a novice rider or older person (62) of limited experience ?
Thank you.
Hi Andy, thanks for the feedback and the query - much appreciated! Apologies for the delay in responding - it’s been a fraught week at work and I just didn’t get a chance. The difficulty is a tricky one to assess as everyone has their preferences when it comes to climbing - I didn’t find that hard, but, then I’m a regular on the bike and do a lot of climbing. To get a better impression, I asked my Good Lady who rode it with me a while ago; she’s not as experienced and she found it to be very manageable, although it does have its challenges with its combination of the overall length combined with Alipine-like steeper lower section.
It’s certainly viable for someone of limited experience (I don’t see age as a boundary - I’m in my 40s and have been passed by riders in their 70s!) It could be ridden by a novice, but it’d be challenge simply due to the length: if you’re not accustomed to long hills it may feel like it goes on for ever. If you bear the following in mind, I hope this will help:
- as the climb starts, find the lowest (easiest) gear on your bike and stay there. Better to ride up slowly and enjoy it than try to push on and find it all too much half way up!
- pacing is vital. It’s so easy to scupper your chances in the first minute of a climb and not even know it. The ‘talk test’ is a good starting point: if you can speak out loud in sentences, or longer, then you’re about right. If you can only give out a couple of words, or can’t speak at all, then you’re going too hard
- it’s not about the speed, or even making it up in without stopping. Ride it in chunks and take all day if you want to - I’d advise taking some food and water if you go this route and every time you stop, have a bit of a bite of something
- if it does come to it and you find it too much on the day, then the town of Moffat is at the bottom of the climb so you can simply turn around, ride back down and go straight into the nearest cafe for refreshments.
It’ll be a challenge, but it’s one that’s absolutely doable if you keep the right head on: be determined when you feel you can, but don’t be afraid to stop and look at the view for a bit.
Very best of luck if you decide to give it a go - and let me know how you get on!
@@WheelygoodCycling My sincere thanks for your comprehensive and encouraging reply. A great deal of helpful information and tips. I particularly like your suggestion of using the lowest gear from the outset. I didn't think of that, yet it makes so much sense! At the moment not only would I be passed by a 70 year old, but I think a snail would give me a run for my money😉
Thank you again, & all the best to you.
You’re very welcome - happy to help! I can’t claim the tip about bottom gear as my own - I got it from a guide on a cycling based holiday in France a few years ago and I’ve been giving it out ever since! Unless you’re racing, or just being competitive, cycling’s not about speed - it’s about getting outside and seeing the world around you. That part of Scotland is fabulous - yes, it’s up and down, but it’s pretty accessible by bike, the scenery is great and the roads are, for the most part, pretty quiet. Yes, it can be a bit grim if the weather’s against you, but when the sun’s out it’s a great place to plot a route, take a picnic and head out and ride…