SLACK HILL

KELSTEDGE, CHESTERFIELD

I’ve never had a good time on this road – I hate it, I hate it so much, which is the very reason why I had to include it. It is such an unforgiving beast. The first time I came across its cruel slopes was on a youth hostelling weekend, but that time I rode down it. The aim was to see who could achieve the highest speed; I chickened out at 57mph, and to this day I have only been faster once, and that was coming off Mont Ventoux. But to climb Slack Hill is just evil; if bikes had been around in medieval times people would have been forced to ride up it as a form of torture. Approaching from Kelstedge you’re faced with the sight of a huge arc of 14% tarmac heading skywards – take all the momentum you can to the base and begin to suffer. There are no corners, no deviation, just struggling. Of course the torment does come to an end – over the brow just past the turning to Beeley. Now, how fast do you dare ride down it?