EWDEN BANK

STOCKSBRIDGE, SHEFFIELD

Take a map of the area between Sheffield and the High Peak, throw a dart at it, and you’ll hit a hill. Collectively known as the Strines, it is packed with a myriad of steep climbs. If you want a really tough ride, take Mortimer Road from the A57 and ride north until you meet the A616. You’ll tackle many ascents on its course and the best is saved until last: the wicked Ewden Bank. Pass across the beck and bend right into a very tough ramp that takes you to a 25% left-hand bend. Brutally steep on the inside, scarred by the undercarriages of vehicles, it leads you into an even more punishing gradient that lasts until you leave the cover of trees. Past some farm buildings the slope backs off a little, before slowly building up again to the right-hand bend of the last, very hard ramp. Grind your way up to the sweeping left-hand bend and the road finally disappears over the brow. You’ve finished.