• Biggest rideable climb in Britain?

Posted: **Mon Nov 15, 2021 12:33 pm**

I was musing about the Bealach Na Ba climb last night, and that the next time I go up it I intend doing the track that goes from the road pass at 626m up to about 770m.

Seen as it starts at sea level (whichever side you attack it from), is this the most height gain in any completely rideable climb in Britain? Perhaps the term 'rideable' is the part of the question as with more skills than I have perhaps some 800m+ ascents in Scotland, Wales or the Lake District are possible?

Posted: **Mon Nov 15, 2021 12:40 pm**

i did the bealach last september in pissing down rain and 10 yard visibility at the top.
would love to do it again in glorious sunshine.

it is one hell of a climb and challenge.

Posted: **Mon Nov 15, 2021 12:45 pm**

ton wrote: ↑Mon Nov 15, 2021 12:40 pm i did the bealach last september in pissing down rain and 10 yard visibility at the top.
would love to do it again in glorious sunshine.

it is one hell of a climb and challenge.

I found Great Dun Fell harder when I rode it recently, but maybe that's because I'm older and fatter than when I last did the Bealach.

Posted: **Mon Nov 15, 2021 12:51 pm**

I've got an on-going project (along with learning Portuguese) to work out all of the UK road climbs from data and classify them.

It's not as easy as it sounds and I keep getting distracted. One day I'll be able to answer your question.

Posted: **Mon Nov 15, 2021 12:57 pm**

Dave Barter wrote: ↑Mon Nov 15, 2021 12:51 pm I've got an on-going project (along with learning Portuguese) to work out all of the UK road climbs from data and classify them.

It's not as easy as it sounds and I keep getting distracted. One day I'll be able to answer your question.

Thankyou Dave... I look forward to that book/app.

Posted: **Mon Nov 15, 2021 12:57 pm**

Dave Barter wrote: ↑Mon Nov 15, 2021 12:51 pm ...all of the UK road climbs...

Not sure the track at the top of the Bealach will get classified as a road climb?

: StreetView Bealach Na Ba track.JPG (86.96 KiB) Viewed 2593 times

Posted: **Mon Nov 15, 2021 1:13 pm**

The Corrieyairack Pass must be up there - from Loch Ness (16m above sea level apparently) and 770m at the high point. All rideable - but brutal! Incredible though!

Posted: **Mon Nov 15, 2021 1:46 pm**

Surely all climbs start at sea level (if you start far enough away)?

Posted: **Mon Nov 15, 2021 2:00 pm**

redefined_cycles wrote: ↑Mon Nov 15, 2021 12:57 pm
Dave Barter wrote: ↑Mon Nov 15, 2021 12:51 pm I've got an on-going project (along with learning Portuguese) to work out all of the UK road climbs from data and classify them.

It's not as easy as it sounds and I keep getting distracted. One day I'll be able to answer your question.
Thankyou Dave... I look forward to that book/app.

It will probably be your 70th birthday present at my current rate of development

Posted: **Mon Nov 15, 2021 2:08 pm**

Assuming there is some sort of rule about continuous climb, I think the best I can offer locally is from the bridge over the Allt Ban at Glenmore (323m) via road, access track and footpath to the summit of Cairngorm (1,245m).

IMHO you'd ideally want a fatbike

Posted: **Mon Nov 15, 2021 5:03 pm**

I’ll add snowdon to the list too

Posted: **Mon Nov 15, 2021 6:59 pm**

UnderTheRadars wrote: ↑Mon Nov 15, 2021 5:03 pm I’ll add snowdon to the list too

You've some skills if you can ride all the way up. I recall plenty of pushing .

Posted: **Mon Nov 15, 2021 7:22 pm**

Dyffers wrote: ↑Mon Nov 15, 2021 12:33 pm I was musing about the Bealach Na Ba climb last night, and that the next time I go up it I intend doing the track that goes from the road pass at 626m up to about 770m.

Seen as it starts at sea level (whichever side you attack it from), is this the most height gain in any completely rideable climb in Britain? Perhaps the term 'rideable' is the part of the question as with more skills than I have perhaps some 800m+ ascents in Scotland, Wales or the Lake District are possible?

I've rrecently done that climb in Scotland - it's ace!

Posted: **Mon Nov 15, 2021 7:38 pm**

Ace photos!

My first ascent with ChrisN in 2010:

Posted: **Mon Nov 15, 2021 7:47 pm**

Richpips wrote: ↑Mon Nov 15, 2021 6:59 pm
UnderTheRadars wrote: ↑Mon Nov 15, 2021 5:03 pm I’ll add snowdon to the list too
You've some skills if you can ride all the way up. I recall plenty of pushing .

Llamberis path used to be doable.

Posted: **Mon Nov 15, 2021 7:47 pm**

Corrieairyack is 710 from the wee road on the north side to the summit - all rideable with the right leg / gear. Its actually only slightly more than my local climb in the Ochills - 700m.

So Cairngorm as per Colins' idea is 923 and Snowdon is 959 from Llanberis. Guess someone needs to try and ride them!
Otherwise I suspect it will be Applecross as thats always been touted as the longest road climb in terms of overall altitude gain.

Posted: **Mon Nov 15, 2021 7:59 pm**

: IMG_20200930_120511.jpg (122.41 KiB) Viewed 2406 times

what a view.

Posted: **Mon Nov 15, 2021 8:25 pm**

.Llamberis path used to be doable.

Who has cleaned it?
It's not one I would think has been cleaned

Posted: **Mon Nov 15, 2021 8:34 pm**

Might (stress might) be doable in sections but there's some sustained climbing such as the bit up from where the Cloggy path splits off to Halfway Station and then once you cross under the line the couple of hundred metres up from Cwm Hetiau is really steep, traction is bad enough when walking. That's not including the rough ground below Halfway House.

Posted: **Mon Nov 15, 2021 8:40 pm**

Yes there are two bits that would be very very tough ignoring the approach to them and sustained effort.
Personally I could not climb it if they tarmacced it but cleaning it, as is , IMHO is a big ask.

Posted: **Mon Nov 15, 2021 8:44 pm**

I walked the one bit that Bob describes as super steep. Rode the rest with one or two dabs

Posted: **Mon Nov 15, 2021 8:54 pm**

Chapeau

Posted: **Tue Nov 16, 2021 12:02 am**

Dave Barter wrote: ↑Mon Nov 15, 2021 8:44 pm I walked the one bit that Bob describes as super steep. Rode the rest with one or two dabs

Pretty much my experience. Went to Uni in Bangor, so we’d do it quite a lot. Virtually cleaned it to the steep section after the bridge. That was mid-90’s though, so maybe more eroded now.

Posted: **Tue Nov 16, 2021 12:04 am**

Dyffers wrote: ↑Mon Nov 15, 2021 12:33 pm the track that goes from the road pass at 626m up to about 770m.

How rideable is the track?
Bonus question: Does anyone know if this has been Everested from the very bottom at Tornapress?

Posted: **Tue Nov 16, 2021 8:01 am**

Very rideable Ian, I just had to commit and push hard on the pedals. You'd breeze it.

Biggest rideable climb in Britain?

Biggest rideable climb in Britain?

Re: Biggest rideable climb in Britain?

Re: Biggest rideable climb in Britain?

Re: Biggest rideable climb in Britain?

Re: Biggest rideable climb in Britain?

Re: Biggest rideable climb in Britain?

Re: Biggest rideable climb in Britain?

Re: Biggest rideable climb in Britain?

Re: Biggest rideable climb in Britain?

Re: Biggest rideable climb in Britain?

Re: Biggest rideable climb in Britain?

Re: Biggest rideable climb in Britain?

Re: Biggest rideable climb in Britain?

Re: Biggest rideable climb in Britain?

Re: Biggest rideable climb in Britain?

Re: Biggest rideable climb in Britain?

Re: Biggest rideable climb in Britain?

Re: Biggest rideable climb in Britain?

Re: Biggest rideable climb in Britain?

Re: Biggest rideable climb in Britain?

Re: Biggest rideable climb in Britain?

Re: Biggest rideable climb in Britain?

Re: Biggest rideable climb in Britain?

Re: Biggest rideable climb in Britain?

Re: Biggest rideable climb in Britain?