Bamford Clough - Simon Warren X31 (Fail, but I shall return) [Nuts]
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- Attempt at riding up Bamford Clough. The calamity list includes:
Blocked road
Loss of traction
Clip in fail (and falling off _downhill_)
Wheelygood Rating: Nuts
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Wow fair play for having a good go well done mate. I’m convinced if it was dry and no leaves you would get up in one . Simon said he would not recommend cycling down it (I can see why) I have never seen so many road/warning signs 🪧, sounded like you had fall detection on & congrats on the 1st video on UA-cam of this climb since it was tarmac over .
Cheers - you're very kind! I really wasn't going to try it so soon, but it got under my skin and had to be done... From how I felt, and what my two mates said afterwards, I would agree that with better road conditions I'd make it up in a oner; sadly, it'll have to wait until next year now, I think.
I can see why it's recommended not to ride down, but it might need to be done, if only to film it so others don't have to - I made it down Hardknott, Abdon Burf and Fford Penllech and lived to tell the tale...
Beyond brutal - amazing effort 😮
Cheers! It’s the hardest stretch of tarmac I’ve ever tried to tackle. In some ways, though, the worst part was half an hour later when I put sanitiser on my shin to prevent me from getting an infection from the open wound after falling off. Damn, did that hurt…
There are a few more ridiculous climbs on the channel: Afon Ddu, The Corkscrew, The Buttress and, to a lesser extent, Abdon Burf…
Good effort :) Had a go at it today and it's mental brutal hard!! The view from the top is gorgeous though and well worth it. Did a nice 20 mile route after that across the tops and back to Castleton which was lovely today :)
Cheers! It's absolutely nuts, but I reckon I can get to the top when the weather is better (I couldn't stand on the pedals). It is nice up the top - we headed back to a cafe in Hathersage before popping over the top back towards Sheffield. It's a lovely area to ride and I'll definitely be back down next year...
Cheers for these videos fella. I love to see what's coming up when I head up North to these beauties.
Cheers - you’re very kind! Come up and enjoy! Any thoughts on which one(s) you might hit first?
@@WheelygoodCycling I’ve done all the regional midlands climbs bar Church Stretton area in Shropshire so just the X-List midlands to tackle now. I’ll probably come do the Castleton, Bakewell and Buxton ones in a day trip. I do love the Peak District!
Nice! The ones around Church Stretton are a decent test of the legs, particularly Asterton Bank. That said, if you've done Abdon Burf, you'll be OK! The Peaks are fantastic and are similar enough that the Yorkshire Dales will feel pretty natural. The Moors have a very different feel, though...and the Lakes are different again...
@@WheelygoodCycling I did Great Dun Fell over Easter, (had to walk final 0.75 mi as the top was snow capped). and that’s the most brutal climb I’ve done. I’ve done a number of the regional Lakes climbs but not the big boys.
Good effort! The weather is a huge factor for GDF - on the day I filmed it, I had to walk *down* the steep gulley part, which was a novel experience...
If you're wanting to ease yourself into the Lakes, I'd probably say start at the North and work Southwards. Whinlatter is definitely the easiest of them and Newlands is OK so long as you remember that it comes in two parts. There is a nice loop you can do from Keswick which covers Whinlatter, Newlands and Honister that will keep you out of mischief for a couple of hours...
I don't think I've felt anxiety like this in a while.... waiting to see if you can clip-in ok on a 42% incline! Fair play, not sure I want to try this one.... but I want to try this one. 😂
🤣🤣 It is what could be described as a ‘nails hard’ piece of tarmac to ride and I think anyone who considers themselves a climber on a bike should try it, just to see how they go….so, go on, you know you want to…. I will definitely be back for another go now that the low geared Frankenbike is built and tested…
Absolutely insane ! Category Horrific 😳🤣 A friend of mine had suggested we try this on Saturday…. But seeing the closed off roads, and just how slippery it is …… no chance ! Respect for getting clipped back in and going on. Even more relentless than Cowlyd …:. And that’s saying something 💯
Thanks - I wasn’t going to let it beat me! I’d agree that it’s a horrible, horrible, climb and the descent would be … interesting … I’m waiting for the spring before I have another punt at it - the problem at the moment is the damp road and the fallen leaves which means you can’t stand up on the pedals (and, at one point, I span out whilst seated!)
@@WheelygoodCycling I’d never make it up seated ! Am concerned about the leaves on the Riber Hill climb event on Sunday 🤞.
I reckon it’s doable … with 36 on the back … 🤣. Riber is an interesting climb (I have a video of it - ua-cam.com/video/UgEG9J9HYCY/v-deo.html): the lower section of the Simon Warren segment always lulls me into a false sense of security before you turn off the ‘main’ road onto the narrow, brutish, top section…. Have a good ‘un on Sunday! 💪
Was a dreadful hill and fell off part way through ... however hats off to you for doing that , also I'm in the video aswell 😛
Cheers! I guess you were one of the guys I saw at the top?
Yeah the one sat on the rock looking defeated 😅
😂😂 That pretty much sums this one up, really! Hope the rest of the ride was good for you guys!
I went to Bamford last Saturday to try this and didn't realise it was fenced off at the bottom. I walked round the fence but then didn't fancy trying to clip back in and start climbing from a standstill on that gradient and decided to leave it for another day. No idea how people manage a standing start with clipless pedals on that hill...!
Getting going again is … tricky. It took me a few goes to get to the top of this one and every standing start was a real effort: the trick was to aim across the road, push really hard and hope you can get your other foot somewhere near the pedal before it reaches top dead centre so you can keep going and worry about the clipping in when you’re ‘properly’ moving…
Unbelievably brutal climb. Great effort though Simon. I think you will defeat this one in a rematch in the future.😅
Thanks! It's in there for me to make it to the top - I just have to win the head game to be able to actually make it...
Hi. I've been doing some of the steep climbs and have fitted a 11-40 cassette with a 34 small ring which although it's not meant to it works just fine with a medium Ultegra rear mech. Hope this helps. Off to do Trooper Lane and Mytholm Steeps this weekend 10/10 Climbs which I wouldn't get up with 34-32 setup.
Hi Steve, many thanks for the information - that's really helpful. I'm looking to build a bike specifically for these ultra-steep ascents with just this kind of gearing. I can't alter my main bike as I use SRAM and the road mechs are much tighter on spec than Shimano, unfortunately, but I am tempted to go for Shimano for this...
Enjoy the Halifax climbs (are you doing Dog House Lane whilst you're there?)..!
Yes, I'll be attempting Dog House Lane also. Which do you consider the hardest in the UK?
Great videos by the way
Cheers! Interesting question...for me the toughest climb in the UK is Bamford Clough, followed by Afon Ddu and The Corkscrew in equal second...
This is my fav video that ive watched of yours.....i honestly laughed my arse off cause i have done exactly the same thing.....there's nothing worse than trying to start cycling on a steep incline.....safe to say im not looking forward to this one😂
Yeah, it claimed a bit of skin and my ego is slightly dented, but it happens! You might get away with not filming it (unless you want to, of course) as this isn’t one of the numbered Simon Warren climbs… That said, given its infamy you might have to come and give it a try…. 😉
@@WheelygoodCycling I have learnt the only way to get back on the bike after stopping on a stupid % section for traction issues mostly, is to roll back down, with the brakes on, to get clipped in and then try and turn back up the road. It's easier said then done as these type of roads are narrow and don't give you a big turning circle either.
Brutal. Good effort
Cheers!
@@WheelygoodCycling what equipment do you use to record and put the data on the screen?
Hi Paul, I currently record the video with a GoPro Hero 8 (but I have been eyeing up a newer one, just because!) and I use the GoPro software to download the video files onto my PC. For the data, I have a Garmin 1030, but any device which can produce a GPX file of the activity should work. I then use the (free to download and use) Garmin Virb Edit software to put the footage and data together...
@@WheelygoodCycling thanks hopefully I'll be able to get set up myself one day
OMG...I actually felt guilty watching this suffering. 42% says it all really, just steeper than FP but with the added complication of drainage channels across the road. i know you run a 34/32 - same as me - but might it be an idea for these exceptional climbs to slip a 34 on the back, giving you a 1:1 ratio? You can always put the 32 back on for anything less than 40% lol...
You’re very kind, but no need to feel guilty - really! If it helps, I’m more than happy for you to have a good laugh at it. I do. 😉
I have been wondering about a 34 on the back, but I’m very much in two minds. I’ve ridden bikes in the past to feel the difference between a 28 and a 30, but didn’t find much, even though it’s a bigger percentage difference than between 32 and 34. What I _really_ want is a 36, but I don’t know if it’ll fit under a SRAM road rear mech…
@@WheelygoodCycling Good point, I went from a 36/28 last year to a 34/32 which obviously made a big difference, so probably a jump of 2 teeth on the back wouldn't be enough. I have a fairly old MTB with an XT 11-34 cassette which would fit straight on with my road bikes Ultegra medium cage derailleur: it's the max it will take. I keep meaning to try the swap but there's a shortage of 40% hills round my way to motivate me to do it! I just checked on Sram and it seems unless you have the new AXS derailleur then the biggest you can fit is 33t unfortunately. At least without a hanger extension.
33t matches what I'd expect from my Good Lady's short cage SRAM mech which will take a 30, but not a 32 (spec max is 28.) If the older SRAM mountain bike mechs have the same cable pull on them as the road ones, then that might be a possible - assuming I can find one! I'd love a new AXS setup, but it's seriously expensive (especially replacing Red with Red and I'd need the power meter option!)
Might be time for a chat with my LBS to see what my options really are...
🤣🤣 for the idea that there's a shortage of 40% hills - you've just made my day! Brilliant!
Think I would be stopping to check if I had a puncture even if I was on foot 😀
Yes, riding a bike is just marginally slower than walking up there…. 🤣
Weirdly enough you caught me on your video, I was the one standing up here ua-cam.com/video/iHqHFdWg234/v-deo.html I had made it to the top and came back to look after my mate who had fallen off half way up and not had a great time... Tough little climb this one was. Glad I wasn't wearing cleats that day.
Wow. Chapeau for making it to the top! I can understand your mate having a tough time of it - clipping in when get started was … interesting. It’s one of those sections of roads that, before you see it, you think ‘how hard can it be?’ Afon Ddu is the same. When you get there, though… 🤯
41% wow! is that the steepest in the UK? that's incredible, well done try trying! I have to admit though the fail is hysterical, not in a gloating way, I wouldn't even get up there in the ebike ha ha. I re-upped my clockburn lonnen video ua-cam.com/video/0wYRqlSsLAk/v-deo.html with corrected inline % thanks to you. Plus a fail of myself - an outtake as you will :) Better luck on this hill next time sir!
Cheers - I don’t mind laughing at myself on this one: the climb is nuts and so was everything that happened on it! 🤣 You know the worst bit? The hand sanitiser in the cafe on where I’d taken some skin off my palm. It was one of those ‘I’m a bloke and, therefore must pretend this isn’t knacking like a b******’ moments… 😂
In terms of the gradient, it’s the steepest I’ve recorded, although The Corkscrew in the Peaks is about the same (I failed on that one too: the cobbles were just too much). It’s definitely steeper than Fford Penllech (the one in Wales which was the steepest street in the world for a short while - that ‘only’ gets to 37%, and ‘only’ for a few yards.). Not even the very, very, nuts Afon Ddu or ridiculous Abdon Burf come close in terms of steepness - they’re hard in a different way.
I’ll definitely be back next year when the road is drier (and I have some lower gearing - or better legs 😉 .) I have a Plan to tick off the four climbs next year where I’ve not succeeded so far: Bamford Clough, Afon Ddu, The Corkscrew and The Buttress. I’m not letting these hills win…
I shouldn't have laughed! Puhahaha
I wouldn't worry - I laughed about it too ... once I'd got to the café and cleaned myself up!
And I do occasionally make it up the steep ones: see Abdon Burf and Hardknott... ;)