Winnats Pass - Castleton

Let me echo Ann''s comment- this climb has no appeal beyond the challenge of being able to do it. It''s a brutal one, especially after 40 odd miles of climbs to get to it. It finished my ride because I cramped up after climbing it. If you look closely at the profile the very steepest section approaches 30%...we had the pleasure of a car burning out its clutch, while other cars blocked the way, meaning we were forced to slow to avoid stopping altogether...not fun

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Had a go at Winnats Pass today after 22 miles and it is a killer! It got so steep in places my 39/30 had my front wheel coming off the road (whilst seated), whilst my 39/28 was just too difficult (out of the saddle). I looked up just after the first yellow grit bin and couldn''t believe it! I made the mistake of looking up again after the second grit bin. Don''t look up - I nearly lost heart! Nothing had prepared me for this! Done Mam Nick and the two climbs out out of Bradwell to train for up, but this was a monster!



At 44 years of age and a novice on a road bike I felt really proud to get to the top without stopping, although I nearly fell off backwards twice owing to the gradient! A big thankyou to the cyclist coming down at the top for his cheers of encouragement!

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Things worth knowing about Winnats Pass

Winnats is busy. People use it as a through route between Sheffield and Stockport. The road is narrow. It is at the epicentre of the Peak national park so gets extremely crowded on sunny week ends. Queues of traffic often form putting a halt to the fittest cyclists ascent. Once stopped the only way is down. The best time to do the ride is early on a Saturday or Sunday when it is likely to be very quiet.
If the wind has anywhere from the west it will funnel down and hit you hard.

Sheep have right of way over everything and couldn''t care less about you and your bike.

It is beautiful!! Go early on a fine day, spin up to the 1st cattle grid then take it slowly, think postive and enjoy. It really isn''t that bad.

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Finally got round to doing this on a training ride yesterday. The 32 rear sprocket was useful. Sadly I was riding alongside a charity tractor convoy, about 50 tractors belching out smoke and noise. The climb itself is quite atmospheric and looks steeper than it actually is.

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I''ve climbed Winnats just to see if I could do it, and I could. It has no other appeal beyond that.



The climb form Barber Booth has great views, and in places is just as steep, although admittedly it is not sustained the way it is on Winnats.



The Peak District is full of great climbs with fantastic views*. Winnats isn''t one of them.



A couple of favourites Bakewell to Monyash, and Bamford to Burbage up New Road, and even Hathersage up past Fox House which is not physically demanding but great views and you can sprint from Fox House up to the summit on Hathersage Road.

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Climbed this as part of the tour of the peaks earlier in the year. It is a brutal climb, lulls you into a false sense of security and then halfway up, Bam!, 20%+ and wind and the ubiquitous sheep. Got 2/3 of way up before cracking (like previous poster already had 40+ miles and three big climbs before getting to this). Would like to (and will) tackle it again when a bit fresher!

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Yup, this one''s a real brute. I''d been meaning to have a go for a couple of years, but never felt fit enough to try. But having got back into commuting regularly and having tried Lodge Lane near Sheffield a couple of times, I thought I''d have a chance of making it all the way up with my wussy 26x32 gearing...



...but no. I managed about 2/3 of the way before cracking and resting. And another break at the cattle grid at the top.



The good news is that after Winnats, the climb over the shoulder of Mam Tor seems really easy and the descent the other side is intense.



Next time, I''ll try to pace myself a bit better, or maybe borrow someone else''s legs. I can only conclude that James G is insane if he really does commute over this to Manchester.

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Three friends and I did this pass yesterday and it was hell. The place has Fantastic views and its a great ride. Needed a big roast and a pint after.

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Brute of a hill did this today it came in after 45 miles of riding great view once the top is reached ,therees a really steep bit in the middle which can catch you out riders beware of sheep !!!!!

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This is miles 7-8 of my 32 mile commute to Manchester and it still never fails to surporiase me how bad it can get on the final stretch before the cattle grid. Whatever you do don''t over do the first third as you''ll never get up the middle 20%+ section. When I was really fit I could do it in 39/23 but I''m now happy to grind up in 39/28. The wind can get funnelled down the pass like it did today, which I reckon can add a notional 5% to the gradient so be warned - and watch out for the sheep!

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Juts road this today; totally fresh having only ridden 1 mile up the road from camp site but it still nearly broke me; the > 10% bit in the middle feels like it goes on for ever, my heart rate was maxed out the whole time on that bit. Coming from N Wales I''m used to tough climbs and while not the hardest I''ve done its certainly a challenge!

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wOw... After a good ride around Snake Pass from Hazel Grove I wanted to see if i had the legs for this, back in October I had to walk it, cars screamed up beside me so i didnt feel too bad... This time i seemed to have something left for it ! Another rider passed me and we had a joke about what idiots we were, it was foggy and getting dark....he made me almost fall off laughing when he said at least he wasnt doing intervals... really funny... Anyway i kept going and was feeling very proud of myself when my chain came off and got slightly mashed so it would stay on.... Walked rest of way up, tryed chain again and it was just about ok.... phew... 25 miles to go..... just as i was half a mile form home chain flew off as a took off at lights,, it rolled myself home safely... will try again soon!

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Climbed this bad boy yesterday as part of the Tour of the Peaks..would be hard enough as part of a steady ride out..doing it after nearly 50 miles, allready having done several other climbs including cat & Fiddle..twas hard work !!! and then on to Holme Moss.

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I climbed this pass on my way from Sheffield to Shrewsbury. I only had a limited number of gears on my folding bike and had to zig zag across the road to make it bearable. It was the end of July but the weather brought hail stones which bounced off my thighs and head. It is steep, really steep but short and very dramatic.

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