Is Stwlan Dam the best climb in the UK?

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  • Опубліковано 3 гру 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 84

  • @edlaverack
    @edlaverack 3 місяці тому +5

    A real gem!

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  3 місяці тому +3

      The hill climb expert aficionado has spoken 👆👆👆

  • @beckywareing3956
    @beckywareing3956 3 місяці тому +3

    Great video "fluffy speed bumbs" made me chuckle 😂

  • @garybignell6980
    @garybignell6980 3 місяці тому +1

    Great video as always have really enjoyed watching all the videos and the climbs and laughs that you guys have
    Keep up the good work

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  3 місяці тому

      Cheers Gary mate it’s been a while since we had the guys in a video. Need to get something sorted.

  • @andyfishwick
    @andyfishwick 3 місяці тому

    Great video and appreciate all the time you took putting it together with all the different shots. Yes I think it is one of the best climbs - if only for the super smooth tarmac that makes it a pleasure to ride up.

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  3 місяці тому

      Much appreciated! Have you done it?

  • @MC-nr4mn
    @MC-nr4mn 3 місяці тому

    Chapeux brother....great ride and splendid video 🫡

  • @RobbyRob1761
    @RobbyRob1761 3 місяці тому +1

    Excellent video.... I need to give it a go.... My personal all time favourite in the UK is Bealach-Na-Ba in the Scottish Highlands... it's truly awesome !

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  3 місяці тому +1

      Somebody else mentioned that to me on Instagram. It’s a bit of a trek but if I’m guaranteed good weather I might make the trip just for the climb. Perhaps do the Lecht at the same time?

    • @RobbyRob1761
      @RobbyRob1761 3 місяці тому

      @@BeardonaBike It's well worth the trek... I live in Lincolnshire and travelled up there for a couple of days and did a few awesome climbs... Rest and Be Thankful, Bealach-Na-Ba, Cairn Gorm, The Lecht and The Cairnwell.... All pretty decent climbs. (All part of Simon Warren's '100 Greatest UK Cycling Climbs') However, Bealach-Na-Ba is by far the best climb in the UK. Rated 11 out of 10 by Simon Warren.... 5 1/2 miles long and over 20% in places. Enjoy.

    • @RobbyRob1761
      @RobbyRob1761 3 місяці тому

      @@BeardonaBike ua-cam.com/video/YG9qRJyTU7k/v-deo.html

  • @davidmam
    @davidmam 3 місяці тому +2

    The road from Glen Lyon over Ben Lawyers is also very good. Probably not as steep but fantastic scenery. Bealach na Ba is also outstanding.

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  3 місяці тому

      Got my eye on Bealach, it’s a bit of a trek up for me but would love to get it done this summer. Weather dependant, apparently it can be really nasty with the wind.

  • @CyclingwithRuss
    @CyclingwithRuss 3 місяці тому

    Mint video mate. Congrats on hitting 3k subs matey ❤

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  3 місяці тому +1

      Thanks a ton Russ! Just 97,000 before I get a silver plaque 🤣

    • @CyclingwithRuss
      @CyclingwithRuss 3 місяці тому

      @@BeardonaBike🤣 you’ll get there 😝 I want a job when you do 😉

  • @thegreatestsoccerdudeperio1697
    @thegreatestsoccerdudeperio1697 3 місяці тому

    Great video as usual, really nice place to climb, might have to put this one on the bucket list.

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  3 місяці тому

      It’s a deffo bucket list climb in the UK

  • @rpierrelouis86
    @rpierrelouis86 3 місяці тому

    Epic video dude......glad you included the incline data.

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  3 місяці тому +1

      Hope it helps a little, going to give it a blast?

    • @rpierrelouis86
      @rpierrelouis86 3 місяці тому

      @@BeardonaBike one day dude for sure!

  • @richardedwards9648
    @richardedwards9648 3 місяці тому

    ❤ the Lucien Van Imp quote, give it done beans.

  • @umairnurgat7587
    @umairnurgat7587 3 місяці тому +1

    Love it 😍

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  3 місяці тому

      Have you done it?

    • @umairnurgat7587
      @umairnurgat7587 3 місяці тому

      @@BeardonaBike nope unfortunately not 🥲 Need to insha'Allah, it's on my 🪣 list 😍

  • @thebypasscyclist7373
    @thebypasscyclist7373 3 місяці тому

    Superb video and great commentary 👌

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  3 місяці тому

      I appreciate the feed back, any other climbs that deserve a video you can think of?

  • @Grant-bu4nj
    @Grant-bu4nj 3 місяці тому

    Well done guys 👍🏽

  • @3dstate
    @3dstate 3 місяці тому

    Awesome mate, love the commentary and cycling dynamics👌What a spectacular climb it is, shame i managed to get lost at the top! 🤣

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  3 місяці тому

      🤣🤣🤣 did you ask for directions?

    • @3dstate
      @3dstate 3 місяці тому

      @@BeardonaBike A coach load of school kids sent me the wrong way 🤣🤣

  • @julianwinn4502
    @julianwinn4502 3 місяці тому

    Great video and commentary

  • @zaneclone
    @zaneclone 3 місяці тому

    I cycled from Bangor just to climb that lol- coming back via Tremadog and C'von etc...
    Wonderful ride... :)

  • @NightWatcher23
    @NightWatcher23 2 місяці тому

    Assalamualaikum! Great vid, enjoyed it v much, liked & subbed.
    I did the Stewlan a few months ago in the fog & rain (was committed regardless of the weather!). Great switchbacks, not quite the Stelvio but still was lung busting & picturesque!! Might do it again soon!

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  2 місяці тому +1

      Deffo no Stelvio but one of the best in the UK and enjoyable. If you’re in that area go check out Hell Fire Pass 😉

  • @TheImprobableIronman
    @TheImprobableIronman 3 місяці тому

    Fantastic video mate. I watched this while climbing Alpe du Zwift which was like being there. LOL.

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  3 місяці тому +1

      Alpe du Zwift, can’t wait to get back on the in winter not. I do however hope to do it in real life at some point it’s on the bucket list.

  • @colinwilliams9290
    @colinwilliams9290 3 місяці тому

    I did this a couple of years back, I was 61 and my mate was 65 yrs old it’s definitely one climb that should be on anyone’s bucket list

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  3 місяці тому

      Glad you agree, any plans to go back and revisit it?

    • @colinwilliams9290
      @colinwilliams9290 3 місяці тому

      @@BeardonaBike yeh definitely. I live in Pembrokeshire so it’s a bit of a trek but there was a time when we used to go up to N/Wales every weekend in the van just to cycle on some great climbs

  • @raymondelliot4605
    @raymondelliot4605 3 місяці тому +1

    Nice one, great video as usual. You should come up to Scotland and try the Dragons tail at Dunning, Perthshire. There’s a good circular route that takes in the Dragons tail.

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  3 місяці тому +1

      I’m going to look those up, I was thinking Beelach and The Lecht but the weather needs to be spot on to make the trip up

    • @raymondelliot4605
      @raymondelliot4605 3 місяці тому

      @@BeardonaBikeYou just might wait a long time for the weather to be spot on 😂🌧️💨. I did an event back in June called, (RTTS), Ride To The Sun. Not sure if you have heard of it. It’s a 100 mile ride from Carlisle to Cramond on the other side of Edinburgh. It’s an overnight ride arriving at Cramond in time for the sun coming up. They put buses on to take you to Carlisle and Tesco lorries for the bikes. I believe they do the opposite way for people who live down south. They cycle to Cramond and get transported back to Carlisle. It’s a really good event. Keep up the cycling and videos and Take Care.

  • @SecwetGwiwer
    @SecwetGwiwer 3 місяці тому +2

    It’s not the steepest or the longest but it’s absolutely relentless, making it incredibly difficult.

  • @LakeDistrictcyclist
    @LakeDistrictcyclist 3 місяці тому

    Fantastic mate 😊

  • @kevstephen9393
    @kevstephen9393 3 місяці тому

    Stunning location with absolutely fantastic tarmac. You've inspired me to give it a miss. My sweat and tears would break the dam. BTW your Welsh has come on a long way Aky...Something like that 😊

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  3 місяці тому

      I’ll be getting told off in the days to come no doubt. 😂

  • @thequickorangefoxjumped
    @thequickorangefoxjumped 3 місяці тому

    Climbed it this week, stunning views & fantastic scenery 😎 needed a big range cassette, but I don’t care, climbed it & that’s what counts!

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  3 місяці тому +1

      Exactly that, another glorious climbed ticked off well done. Whats next?

  • @T_Ali68
    @T_Ali68 3 місяці тому

    Cracking video as always Aky 👍🏼
    Get yourself up to Scotland and take on the Bealach na Bà 😃

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  3 місяці тому

      Willing to make the trip just for the climb and maybe sneak The Lecht in at the same time. Need to have guaranteed weather though.

    • @T_Ali68
      @T_Ali68 3 місяці тому

      @@BeardonaBike haha, no guarantee on that sadly. Character building 😉

  • @catshoemike
    @catshoemike 3 місяці тому

    Thanks / diolch yn fawr for getting your tongue around the pronunciation, good job! I'm pretty local and have only just done Stwlan - I rode over from (and back to) Pentrefoelas which is a glorious ride over the tops. Great video !!

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  3 місяці тому

      You’ve so many good climbs and roads where you live, amazing place to ride dude.

  • @cyclingthomas826
    @cyclingthomas826 3 місяці тому +3

    Try Bwlch y Groes in Wales. It makes Stwlan seem flat

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  3 місяці тому

      I’m pretty sure I’d did that on the Dragon Ride Dragon Devil route a couple of months ago. I don’t recall any of the climbs being particularly steep other than devils staircase but boy was there some scenery out there.

    • @cyclingthomas826
      @cyclingthomas826 3 місяці тому

      @@BeardonaBike trust me if you have done it you would know. Its near Bala and averages 13.5% for 1.5 miles with 0.3m at over 18%

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  3 місяці тому

      @@cyclingthomas826 I did a couple of Bwlch climbs but the one you are referring to I think is “Hell Fire Pass?”

    • @cyclingthomas826
      @cyclingthomas826 3 місяці тому

      @@BeardonaBike yeah thats the one

  • @TheSadcyclist
    @TheSadcyclist 3 місяці тому

    Visited this dam when in school, and a few years later caught a bus to top, a fantastic ride up,and scarry coming down, then a few years later cycled up there with a mate on MTB,s, its a hill that keeps going on and on, just beware of sheep poo on the way down it has similar characteristics to a Teflon coated pan.
    Also met one of the original engineers who worked to build it, there are massive tunnels through the rock to the hydro electric power station at start of route.Sometimes the water level in top lak will be high and sometimes very low, due to water being let go to produce electric, to power all those e bikes.

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  3 місяці тому

      It would have been amazing to watch how they put the damn together, didn’t know there were tunnels, must have been a massive project.

  • @chrisplatt7391
    @chrisplatt7391 3 місяці тому

    Great video Aky. Love the additional content - really shows the vista, gradients and greatness of the climb. Definitely the best content I’ve found on the Dam climb. Can’t wait now to go back! 😁👍🏻🚵🏼

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  3 місяці тому +1

      Thanks, mate! All the effort was totally worth it then. I’m hoping someone will point me to an even better climb with more stunning views, valleys, and switchbacks. Let’s see what comes up!

    • @marktickhill8465
      @marktickhill8465 3 місяці тому

      Great Video and commentary Aky. Really enjoyed that. Great effort. 💪💪👏👏💖

  • @leanner.6578
    @leanner.6578 3 місяці тому

    Used to go up there when dodging school back in 1996/1997.

  • @DrJRMCFC
    @DrJRMCFC 3 місяці тому

    Quick answer. Yes. Absolutely stunning and quite likely that you will have it for yourself

  • @leewilliams3153
    @leewilliams3153 3 місяці тому

    Done this climb about 6 weeks ago. Drove 4 hours from Bridgend in South Wales just to give it a go. It bloody hurt 😂

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  3 місяці тому

      But was it worth the journey?

    • @leewilliams3153
      @leewilliams3153 3 місяці тому

      @@BeardonaBike most definitely. I’d do it again. Maybe stay a night or 2 next time though. Instead of driving home the same day

  • @user-dm84
    @user-dm84 3 місяці тому

    I still have PTSD from doing this climb last month, but the pay off at the top was worth it 😅

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  3 місяці тому

      It’s so good isn’t it? Have you done anything better in the UK?

  • @leightondavies8884
    @leightondavies8884 3 місяці тому

    Hardest part is descending under the railway bridge once your off the closed road - need ropes and crampons it’s so steep 😅

  • @IanB17
    @IanB17 3 місяці тому

    36/30 lowest gear?!?! Not a chance I’d be attempting that with anything bigger than a compact & a 32 sprocket as I think I’d be in it right from the bottom.

  • @mikegriffith4190
    @mikegriffith4190 3 місяці тому

    The day I did it it was so misty I couldn’t even see the water 😂