Cheshire Cat

I rode the killer mile hill climb many years ago. The weekend before I had been involved in a crash and broken my wrist.My crazy coach at the time decided I could still ride using my track bike. When we turned up he got me sat on the bike and produced a roll of gaffer tape. He then taped my hand and wrist to the handlebar. He told me it wont hurt much after the first 50 mts as you legs heart and lungs will be on fire anyway. He was right I never felt a thing until he cut my hand free at the top of the climb. We then all headed off to a pub called the Bleeding Wolf for a slap up Sunday lunch with Guinness and blackcurrant to wash away the pain.

The pub is just at the point where your brain might be saying 'sod this, I'm getting off'. But you just *can't* do that in front of an audience, so you dig even deeper. There should be more pubs on hills.

Ahh yeah, the descent is horrible - tight, twisty, steep and a terrible surface.

Biggest problem you'll face is people falling/unclipping ahead of you - hence the "DO NOT WEAVE" rule. Pick your line, if you're slow and fat stick to the side - sorry to be blunt, but if you don't you ruin it for others.

It is pretty funny watching people fall over though. Take a minute or two at the top to do that.

Pendle hill - Nick o' Pendle? It's much tougher than that.
Jeffrey hill? That's closer I think. But it's shorter.

Mow Cop hurts more in part because it's straight and so you can see a lot of it intimidatingly in front of you. My advice: don't look!

Though, really, it's easily tamed. It's quite long, maybe over a mile, so sit well within your threshold, stay seated, and let everyone else go off at their own pace. As pointed out, the [mercifully short] ramp at the end is ridiculous, and the spectators/photographers add stagefright, so make sure you've got one more cog in the back pocket to beat it.

With a compact on, it's really fine.

And, it comes early in the route these days, so fresh legs help.

Watch the descent. I saw a guy wipe out badly once there.

Enjoy..?

If you need to weave - weave

Its not too bad - its over really quick, take you time getting up its a slow slog. What I did was to hold back so I wasnt going up in a big group, means you have more of the road to choose a good line and avoid the walkers/strugglers.

Once you hit the base of the 25% bit - just attack it, it really is surprisingly short, and once you pass the people there recording your number, thats it you've earned your medal

Its such a buzz though, you'll really enjoy it and dont forget to stop at the top and refuel, you still have the tough Wincle to do.

Slowly does it though. Good luck

What they all said, though that last section is fucking tough, especially this early in the season. Did it a couple of years ago and though I wasn't as strong then as I am now, a 25% long section is a 25% long section, however you look at it. Make sure to practice your pain face; loads of photogs will capture it. It's the hill that made my heart go up to 202.
To be honest though, tough as it is, you'll be flying up that hill compared to the others - there's a LOT of climbing to come afterwards....

Watch out for others - you get a lot of people wandering over the road, weaving from kerb to kerb or coming to complete halt right in front of you and dismounting which means they swing their leg round into your face. Maintain a gap between you and others, don't try and keep with the fast boys (unless you are one) and be aware of what's going on around you.

Pacing is the key to it; too many people go balls out right from the level crossing, get round the bend then die. Steady start and you'll be fine - save your lowest gear for the last 50metres! It's not as bad as everyone makes out, it just looks bad cos you can see it all in one straight line in front of you!

Tougher than Pendle. But it's short and over quickly. The main problem is the idiots who decide to weave from kerb to kerb with no idea what is going on around them. Straight line...get up, get over and get descending

It's tough and stick to the side if you're struggling so the climbers don't get blocked!

It's a cracking ride though.