Length (m) |
Average Gradient |
Men's CR |
Woman's CR |
Strava Segment |
14560 |
2.6% |
22:49 James Gullen (02/05/2016) |
0:00.0 TBC (date) |
Length (m) |
14560 |
Average Gradient |
2.6% |
Men's CR |
22:49 James Gullen (02/05/2016) |
Woman's CR |
TBC |
Strava Segment |
Traditionally the first open hill climb on the calendar but it's a far cry from a classic Yorkshire October hill climb. At just over 9 miles in length, averaging merely 2.2% Shap Fell is just an uphill "10". Shap Fell often features on epic endurance ventures and tends to be the highest point above sea level on Lands End to John O'Groats.
Starting just on the outskirts of Kendal, the road climbs very gradually in the first half with slight intermittent descents allowing for slight recovery. From the half way mark the road does steepen with 1.2km at 5% before a rapid, well needed 500m descent before the only actual climb of the hill climb. In the final 2km, the road begins to feel more isolated and one begins to notice all the elevation they've climbed in the previous 12km.
This climb is just over 2km at an average of 6.5%. On it's own, nothing to write home about but if you've set out too hard, you will only find out here.
Shap Fell is not one of the most iconic events but can be a fun test for a rider who revels in the longer efforts.
Starting just on the outskirts of Kendal, the road climbs very gradually in the first half with slight intermittent descents allowing for slight recovery. From the half way mark the road does steepen with 1.2km at 5% before a rapid, well needed 500m descent before the only actual climb of the hill climb. In the final 2km, the road begins to feel more isolated and one begins to notice all the elevation they've climbed in the previous 12km.
This climb is just over 2km at an average of 6.5%. On it's own, nothing to write home about but if you've set out too hard, you will only find out here.
Shap Fell is not one of the most iconic events but can be a fun test for a rider who revels in the longer efforts.
2019 Event
I took on Shap Fell for the first time in 2019 where I took first place ahead of former BBAR champion Richard Bideau. We had awful conditions with a block headwind and thick hail at the top. It was a real brute of a day. I rode it with my road bike and clip on bars. I lost time to Richard most of the flatter way up before I dug deep up the actual climb and sneaked a victory. Initially I misread the results and thought I'd lost by 5 seconds. I was seething for 30 minutes (to the annoyance of my girlfriend) before I reviewed the results to find I had actually won by 15 seconds!
How To Ride
Shap Fell is very much a slightly uphill 10 mile TT so I would ride a TT bike and treat it as a 10 mile TT. The road starts gradually and you aren't going to make a huge difference in the first half, it's definitely worth keeping it steady at the shallower gradients in the first half and press on as the gradient steepens.
You can recover slightly on the bits of downhill so it's wise to get up to speed over the top of each to take advantage of the rest.
The only nuance is the final section where the road is properly climbing. Definitely do a negative split and save for that section as you can do the most damage there. I advise to ride consistently for the first 3/4, recover on the short descent then demolish the last ramp. Beware of a headwind as this will slow the effort significantly and you should adjust pace accordingly.
You can recover slightly on the bits of downhill so it's wise to get up to speed over the top of each to take advantage of the rest.
The only nuance is the final section where the road is properly climbing. Definitely do a negative split and save for that section as you can do the most damage there. I advise to ride consistently for the first 3/4, recover on the short descent then demolish the last ramp. Beware of a headwind as this will slow the effort significantly and you should adjust pace accordingly.
My Efforts
Year |
Time |
Power (W) |
Placing |
2019 |
25:37 (Big headwind) |
379 (Old PM) |
1st |
Previous Results
Year |
Men's 1st |
Men's 2nd |
Men's 3rd |
Women's 1st |
Women's 2nd |
Women's 3rd |
2019 |
Jude Taylor 25:37 |
Richard Bideau 25:52 |
David Powell 27:11 |
Charlotte Boothman 32:38 |
Sarah Lewthwaite 33:15 |
Carol Westmorland 36:19 |
