Sunday 21st September saw my first Sportive in a while. The Wakefield Hospice Dark Peak takes in iconic climbs at Emley Moor, Snake Pass and the infamous Holme Moss. What was not to look forward to?
Their ride HQ is at Nuffield Health in Wakefield. A working upmarket leisure centre on Denby Dale Rd. Easy enough to find but parking was minimal We arrived at about 7:40am to be told that the car park was full. We quickly found a space on a nearby road about 200 yards away.
Sign in was no problem even though there was quite a queue. 15 minutes later with ride number plus timing chip in hand we were back to the van and ready to ride.
The ride itself was well signed with plenty of volunteers early on to point us in the right direction through the many roundabouts that took us down Denby Dale Road towards Emley Moor. Once out of Wakefield the roads quietened down and the hills began. The first challenge being the Jagger Lane climb up to Emley Moor Transmitting Station, a testing climb at just under ½ a mile and an average gradient of 9%.
Jagger Lane was followed by a few welcome downhill sections before the steady climb into Shepley. Shepley to Holmfirth was a quick affair with the terrain dropping away unlike the anticipation of what was to come on the ride out. Having cycled the road to Holmfirth before I remembered that the only drawback to the fast downhill was the fact that vehicles on the road have to brake for a couple of bends, this can slow cyclists down a tad but it is still a quick descent down the -6.3% Strava graded road.
The ride through Holmfirth was a chance to chat to a couple of cyclists, admittedly, as they passed me on their way towards Holme Moss and I gained a few tips for my first ascent of the Strava rated cat 2 climb. The climb went well and the messages of encouragement daubed on the road from the Tour de France helped me along, especially as in my head I was Jens Voigt during the tortuous, endless hill. The ‘Shut up Legs’ mantra was echoing loudly in my ears. Those who know my cycling style know that rather than a natural cyclist, I am a bit of a plodder and this accounted for my dreadful average speed of 4 mph up the iconic climb. Some would say that I could have walked it faster but where is the fun in that. As is customary on Sportives, and the same can be said for RTB, the event photographer was positioned almost atop the climb giving me and most other cyclists that extra push to give the impression that this was a walk in the park, judging by mine (priced at £3.50 for a web version of the photo) I failed miserably in my attempt to look fresh.
The sight of the Feed Station loomed and what a view to have whilst enjoying the muffins, flapjack, sandwiches and bananas on offer. Food was of a good standard. The OTE energy drink on offer however was not to my taste and there were many others that were of the same opinion. After the customary photo with the Holme Moss Summit sign we set off on the eagerly awaited descent. There is a fine line between an adrenaline rush and fear, this descent may have crossed that line for me. The 47 mph top speed, although not as fast as I had hoped was very enjoyable/scary.
The split for the Hard and Extreme route was next at the junction with the Woodhead Pass, we had signed up for the Hard route and turned left uphill on the Woodhead Pass. This was a long uphill drag that took its toll in the wind. That was not the end of, in my opinion, the toughest section of the ride as the hills kept on coming past Winscar Resevoir and all the way towards Upper Denby. I was helpfully informed that the worst was yet to come with the ever nearing Haigh Bank at the end of the ride. But for now the undulating scenery whizzed by as the average speed on the cycle computer pleasingly increased on an enjoyable section towards Haigh Bank.
Haigh Bank was not a disappointment, as with Holme Moss I could see the never ending climb, which rose like a tarmac wall, every inch of the way. The last 100 yards increasing in gradient to a welcome stop at the crossroads. A quick breather, only waiting for a gap in the traffic and nothing to do with the physical exertion or thigh cramp, and the end was in sight. Again a quickish section that increased the average speed all the way to the end and the rapturous applause from family at the finish.
After collecting a finishers t-shirt with the ‘I survived the Dark Peak’ motif it was off for a welcome shower in Nuffield Health, which was a nice touch by the organisers. There was also complimentary use of the facilities thrown in, but the call of The Wetherby Whaler next door was far too tempting to hang around.
All in all this was a good event that I would recommend to others. The distance for the Hard route was listed at 48 miles but I clocked it at 53 which towards the end of the ride was a tad annoying. The only drawback for me was the use of OTE energy products but this could be personal taste and next time I would take my own product. For the £20 entry fee I will definitely look at this one again next year.
Their ride HQ is at Nuffield Health in Wakefield. A working upmarket leisure centre on Denby Dale Rd. Easy enough to find but parking was minimal We arrived at about 7:40am to be told that the car park was full. We quickly found a space on a nearby road about 200 yards away.
Sign in was no problem even though there was quite a queue. 15 minutes later with ride number plus timing chip in hand we were back to the van and ready to ride.
The ride itself was well signed with plenty of volunteers early on to point us in the right direction through the many roundabouts that took us down Denby Dale Road towards Emley Moor. Once out of Wakefield the roads quietened down and the hills began. The first challenge being the Jagger Lane climb up to Emley Moor Transmitting Station, a testing climb at just under ½ a mile and an average gradient of 9%.
Jagger Lane was followed by a few welcome downhill sections before the steady climb into Shepley. Shepley to Holmfirth was a quick affair with the terrain dropping away unlike the anticipation of what was to come on the ride out. Having cycled the road to Holmfirth before I remembered that the only drawback to the fast downhill was the fact that vehicles on the road have to brake for a couple of bends, this can slow cyclists down a tad but it is still a quick descent down the -6.3% Strava graded road.
The ride through Holmfirth was a chance to chat to a couple of cyclists, admittedly, as they passed me on their way towards Holme Moss and I gained a few tips for my first ascent of the Strava rated cat 2 climb. The climb went well and the messages of encouragement daubed on the road from the Tour de France helped me along, especially as in my head I was Jens Voigt during the tortuous, endless hill. The ‘Shut up Legs’ mantra was echoing loudly in my ears. Those who know my cycling style know that rather than a natural cyclist, I am a bit of a plodder and this accounted for my dreadful average speed of 4 mph up the iconic climb. Some would say that I could have walked it faster but where is the fun in that. As is customary on Sportives, and the same can be said for RTB, the event photographer was positioned almost atop the climb giving me and most other cyclists that extra push to give the impression that this was a walk in the park, judging by mine (priced at £3.50 for a web version of the photo) I failed miserably in my attempt to look fresh.
The sight of the Feed Station loomed and what a view to have whilst enjoying the muffins, flapjack, sandwiches and bananas on offer. Food was of a good standard. The OTE energy drink on offer however was not to my taste and there were many others that were of the same opinion. After the customary photo with the Holme Moss Summit sign we set off on the eagerly awaited descent. There is a fine line between an adrenaline rush and fear, this descent may have crossed that line for me. The 47 mph top speed, although not as fast as I had hoped was very enjoyable/scary.
The split for the Hard and Extreme route was next at the junction with the Woodhead Pass, we had signed up for the Hard route and turned left uphill on the Woodhead Pass. This was a long uphill drag that took its toll in the wind. That was not the end of, in my opinion, the toughest section of the ride as the hills kept on coming past Winscar Resevoir and all the way towards Upper Denby. I was helpfully informed that the worst was yet to come with the ever nearing Haigh Bank at the end of the ride. But for now the undulating scenery whizzed by as the average speed on the cycle computer pleasingly increased on an enjoyable section towards Haigh Bank.
Haigh Bank was not a disappointment, as with Holme Moss I could see the never ending climb, which rose like a tarmac wall, every inch of the way. The last 100 yards increasing in gradient to a welcome stop at the crossroads. A quick breather, only waiting for a gap in the traffic and nothing to do with the physical exertion or thigh cramp, and the end was in sight. Again a quickish section that increased the average speed all the way to the end and the rapturous applause from family at the finish.
After collecting a finishers t-shirt with the ‘I survived the Dark Peak’ motif it was off for a welcome shower in Nuffield Health, which was a nice touch by the organisers. There was also complimentary use of the facilities thrown in, but the call of The Wetherby Whaler next door was far too tempting to hang around.
All in all this was a good event that I would recommend to others. The distance for the Hard route was listed at 48 miles but I clocked it at 53 which towards the end of the ride was a tad annoying. The only drawback for me was the use of OTE energy products but this could be personal taste and next time I would take my own product. For the £20 entry fee I will definitely look at this one again next year.