Length (m) |
Average Gradient |
Men's CR |
Woman's CR |
Strava Segment |
3380 |
6% |
7:09.3 Dan Evans (09/09/2018) |
9:51.9 Jess Evans (09/09/2018) |
Blackstone Edge can be found in the West Pennine Moors on the outskirts of Littleborough. It's a very popular climb, leading to good roads towards Hebden Bridge or Ripponden and promises good views on a nice day.
There's not an awful lot to the climb, the gradient is pretty constant all the way up with very little change once you go past the Moorcock Inn after 300m. Once past that, the road swoops around in a horseshoe shape before a right hand bend where the road straightens and opens up towards The White House pub at the finish.
It's one of my favourite climbs, both as a hill climb and as training. It reminds me of more European climbs with it's wide meander, shallow gradient and great surface. The prevailing wind is normally a tailwind but is very exposed and times can vary wildly with the weather. Especially towards the top where the road becomes very exposed.
I've ridden it in three open hill climbs now, firstly in 2018 where I was second to Dan Evans, in 2019 where I won and in 2020 where again I won.
There's not an awful lot to the climb, the gradient is pretty constant all the way up with very little change once you go past the Moorcock Inn after 300m. Once past that, the road swoops around in a horseshoe shape before a right hand bend where the road straightens and opens up towards The White House pub at the finish.
It's one of my favourite climbs, both as a hill climb and as training. It reminds me of more European climbs with it's wide meander, shallow gradient and great surface. The prevailing wind is normally a tailwind but is very exposed and times can vary wildly with the weather. Especially towards the top where the road becomes very exposed.
I've ridden it in three open hill climbs now, firstly in 2018 where I was second to Dan Evans, in 2019 where I won and in 2020 where again I won.
2020 Event
Blackstone Edge was the second climb in East Lancs RC two stage HC. With the Covid restrictions, the results from stage 1 were not yet out but I was pleased with my earlier effort and knew I would be up there to defend by 2019 victory.
Whilst the sun was out and it was a nice Septembers day, there was a very unfavorable wind. Mostly block headwind with slight respites behind the hillsides on both "legs" of the horseshoe. I got up to speed quickly and pushed to get into the first leg of the horseshoe before the lactic from stage 1 started to bite. I kept the effort constant and only started to stand on the crest of the horseshoe. I pushed on there, raising my effort trying to catch my minute man.
As I passed him (and my two minute woman), I began the final corner to the line. The wind was really strong at this point and it was a real drag to the line. I wanted to raise my effort and sprint to the end but my legs were burning and the wind really buffered the effort. It felt like a crawl but the cheers my my Auntie and Grannie drove me on to finish with a time of 8:13.0.
Adam Kenway had won stage 1 and beaten me by 4s but he faltered slightly on Blackstone Edge, I put 10s into him giving me the overall victory. Great to defend my 2019 title and what a way to start the 2020 HC season!
Whilst the sun was out and it was a nice Septembers day, there was a very unfavorable wind. Mostly block headwind with slight respites behind the hillsides on both "legs" of the horseshoe. I got up to speed quickly and pushed to get into the first leg of the horseshoe before the lactic from stage 1 started to bite. I kept the effort constant and only started to stand on the crest of the horseshoe. I pushed on there, raising my effort trying to catch my minute man.
As I passed him (and my two minute woman), I began the final corner to the line. The wind was really strong at this point and it was a real drag to the line. I wanted to raise my effort and sprint to the end but my legs were burning and the wind really buffered the effort. It felt like a crawl but the cheers my my Auntie and Grannie drove me on to finish with a time of 8:13.0.
Adam Kenway had won stage 1 and beaten me by 4s but he faltered slightly on Blackstone Edge, I put 10s into him giving me the overall victory. Great to defend my 2019 title and what a way to start the 2020 HC season!
2022 Event
Well into the hill climb season now and just 3 weeks from national champs. I was in good form and had placed 3rd behind Andrew Feather and Tom Bell on Mam Nick the day before. On the reconnaissance before the race it was clear it was going to be a quick day. It was dry with a significant tailwind. It felt like course record breaking conditions.
I've been trying to work on pacing this season and I'd got it wrong at Mam Nick the day before so wanted to get it right today. I set off steadily, holding back so I could ramp it up later. As I started the "horseshoe" I raised the pace and I just got faster and faster. I did 425W for the first half and then 455W for the second half. With the tailwind I was absolutely flying and I had a huge burst of speed for the line, I actually did 510W for the last minute. I was on a mission.
On my descent back to the HQ I thought, if anyone has beaten me today then fair enough, I actually couldn't have gone any faster. Sure enough this was what happened. Andy Cunningham did a great ride and stuzzed me by 0.4 seconds. There's basically nothing separating us and that's within timekeeper error. We were both short of the record too, me by 1.1s and Andy by 0.7s.
The only thing I would have done differently would have been to have a bigger front gear. I currently have a 40T oneby but Blackstone edge is only 6% and I would have liked the largest torque with a bigger chainring.
I've been trying to work on pacing this season and I'd got it wrong at Mam Nick the day before so wanted to get it right today. I set off steadily, holding back so I could ramp it up later. As I started the "horseshoe" I raised the pace and I just got faster and faster. I did 425W for the first half and then 455W for the second half. With the tailwind I was absolutely flying and I had a huge burst of speed for the line, I actually did 510W for the last minute. I was on a mission.
On my descent back to the HQ I thought, if anyone has beaten me today then fair enough, I actually couldn't have gone any faster. Sure enough this was what happened. Andy Cunningham did a great ride and stuzzed me by 0.4 seconds. There's basically nothing separating us and that's within timekeeper error. We were both short of the record too, me by 1.1s and Andy by 0.7s.
The only thing I would have done differently would have been to have a bigger front gear. I currently have a 40T oneby but Blackstone edge is only 6% and I would have liked the largest torque with a bigger chainring.
How To Ride
The consistent nature of Blackstone Edge suits a seated effort of constant power. With length you cannot set out too hard but the gradual gradient would be more forgiving if you do. The easiest section is the first 800m which averages a mere 3%. I like to keep it in a big gear here and hold a good speed because it's the fastest section. Once past this the gradient remains at 7% until the top.
The exposed roads and horseshoe shape means you end up going from tail wind to cross wind to tail wind (or vice versa) all the way up making it difficult to pace. You can never get into a proper rhythm when going full gas so it would be wise to recce on the day and judge your pacing strategy accordingly, aiming to push on hardest when it gets tough.
During a full effort hill climb it can be ridden in the big ring, as long as you can hold a good cadence you would be more efficient speedwise churning a large gear.
The exposed roads and horseshoe shape means you end up going from tail wind to cross wind to tail wind (or vice versa) all the way up making it difficult to pace. You can never get into a proper rhythm when going full gas so it would be wise to recce on the day and judge your pacing strategy accordingly, aiming to push on hardest when it gets tough.
During a full effort hill climb it can be ridden in the big ring, as long as you can hold a good cadence you would be more efficient speedwise churning a large gear.
My Efforts
Year |
Time |
Power (W) |
Placing |
2020 |
8:13.0 (Big headwind) |
430 |
1st |
2019 |
7:15.2 |
422 |
1st |
2018 |
7:28.0 |
- |
2nd |
2022 |
7:10.5 |
430 |
2nd |
Previous Results
Year |
Men's 1st |
Men's 2nd |
Men's 3rd |
Women's 1st |
Women's 2nd |
Women's 3rd |
2020 |
Jude Taylor 8:13.0 |
Adam Kenway 8:23.9 |
Nathan Smith 8:42.0 |
Mary Wilkinson 9:53.1 |
Sammie Stuart 10:41.8 |
Anna Weaver 10:58.2 |
2019 |
Jude Taylor 7:15.2 |
Francis Woodcock 7:57.9 |
Nick Latimer 8:07.9 |
- |
- |
- |
2018 |
Dan Evans 7:09.3 |
Jude Taylor 7:28.0 |
Rick Bailey 8:01.6 |
Jess Evans 9:51.9 |
Alexandra Kendall-Smith 10:33.6 |
Anna Weaver 10:39.7 |
2022 |
Andy Cunningham 7:10.1 |
Jude Taylor 7:10.5 |
Value |

From the crest of the horseshoe on a miserable day.