LODGE LANE
HALLAM HEAD, SHEFFIELD
Similar to Spout Lane on the previous page, this is another climb that lies lurking on the western outskirts of Sheffield. Dropping due south from the A57, few climbs have a more immediate and abrupt beginning. Itβs almost impossible to simply turn off the main road to climb, so look over your shoulder, ride wide, drop about fifteen gears, and then attack the base. The awful start continues to rise sharply to the first bend β a slight right-hand kink β and then the slope backs off a touch towards the next bend. But then up and round to the right it becomes steeper again. I was simply not prepared for the climb to be this hard β half of me was happy it was of course, but the bottom half hated it. Winding slightly left then right, you reach the showcase bend: a 25% (maybe steeper) left-hander. Ahead lies another 100 metres of hard work before the slope gradually starts to fade, leveling off completely by the time you hit the junction.
