| Altitude | Height (Metres) |
|---|---|
| Lowest point | 165 |
| Highest point | 511 |
| Total climbed | 1536 |
Keith Murray kindly rode the race with a Garmin GPS and the ensuing stats can be viewed here
You can now re-live the Mountian TT on your Tacxs VR trainer with this file Download
More pictures taken by John Howells can be found at here
Photos from 2007 are now available to purchase from Kimroy Photography:
www.kimroyphotography.co.uk
HQ: Main Hall of Glaxo Sports & Social Club, Harmire Road, Barnard Castle.
Starts with a 3 mile climb (about 1 in 12 or less) before descending passed Eggleston to the new climb of Carlonin (about 1 in 8) and then climbing several long drags to reach the summit of the Bollihope (approx 1700 feet). Another long descent and stiff climb takes you into Weardale and the descent of Unthank Bank into Stanhope. An unduating 4 mile loop brings you back to the bottom of Unthank Bank, 0.65 miles of 1 in 6 with a steeper S-bend, followed by a further mile of drag before the descent into Bollihope Bottom and the main climb of the course. A 1 in 6 S-bend opens out onto a deceptively steep 1.5 mile drag, followed by the final 1 mile ascent of the Bollihope (approx 1 in 8). The ride back to Barnard Castle is then mainly downhill except for the leg sapping climb of Folly Bank (about 0.5 mile of 1 in 10) with 5 miles to go.
The course is almost a 17 mile out and back route, with a 4 mile loop in Weardale at half distance. Rider's times relate quite closely to flat 50 times plus 8 to 10 minutes.
Course Record is Wayne Randle, set in 2006 at 1.48.48
click here to see the profileStart in Harmire Road 20 yards beyond the Red Well pub at Telegraph Pole and proceed north from Barnard Castle on the B6278 towards Eggleston.
Climb over Folly Top to descend to Lowson's Garage at the bottom of Folly Bank (5.15 miles) follow the road around to the left and continue towards Middleton in Teesdale.
Stay on the B6282 past the lay-by overlooking the River Tees, to bear right after the wooded bends at Whistle Crag (7.75 miles).
Climb up Carlonin to the T-junction with the unclassified road from Middleton in Teesdale (8.30 miles) and turn right to descend to the Y-junction at Middle End (10.95 miles).
Bear left and left again to rejoin the B6278 to climb up to the summit of Bollihope Common (13.10).
Take care on the descent especially on the S-bend below the turning to Frosterley (15.15 miles) and again on the S-bends descending Unthank Bank into Stanhope.
Over the level crossing to follow along the riverside and across the River Wear at Stanhope Bridge, proceed into Stanhope to the junction with the A688. (18.95 miles)
Bear left up Weardale towards Alston to turn left after 2.25 miles onto the unclassified road to Horsley. (21.20 miles)
Over the new Hag Bridge and left at the T-junction at the top of the rise, (21.50 miles) to climb up past Horsley Hall, before descending past two farms back to the junction with the B6278 at Stanhope Bridge (23.55 miles).
Straight across at the junction, with care, to retrace along the riverside and over the level crossing onto Unthank Bank (23.95 miles).
Climb up Unthank Bank to retrace back over Bollihope Common, past Middle End and through Eggleston on the B6278, to turn left at the bottom of Folly Bank (35.05 miles).
Climb over Folly Top to descend into Barnard Castle to finish at Telegraph Pole 37 on Harmire Road, outside Glaxo (gsk), 200 yards past the start and just before the turning into the Social Club & Sports Centre. (40.30 miles)
Important Information
The Event Headquarters is Glaxo Sports & Social Club.
- Numbers will be in the Hall. Remember you must sign on. Return to the Hall for your free refreshments afterwards.
- There is plenty of parking in the Glaxo Sports & Social Club Car Park and in the Teesdale Sports Centre Car Park further round. In previous years the Sports Centre Car Park has become very full leaving little space for their customers, so I would be grateful if riders could fill the Social Club Car Park first and use the Sports Centre's as an overflow. Thank You.
- No cars, except for the timekeepers to be parked at or near to the start or finish.
- No U-turns within sight of the timekeepers.
- Please take care while warming up, Harmire Road is a built up area. We allow riders to pass the timekeepers in order to warm up on the course, but please respect riders who have already started.
- Please take care on the descents, especially if it is wet. There will be Red Flags to warn you of the approach of the 2 Hairpin Bend descents on the way out, the first at Bollihope Bottom / Frosterley Junction and the second on Unthank Bank.
- Be aware of sheep and newborn lambs on the moor road over the Bollihope.
- There are cattle grids at Middle End (10.95 miles), and above Unthank Bank, Stanhope (17.20 miles) on the way out. A rider was injured on this cattle grid in 2002. You approach it downhill and on a corner, please ensure you straighten your line before you cross the metal grid. You re-cross this cattle grid on the return leg and also another above Eggleston (approx. 33 miles).
- The Railway Level Crossing at the bottom of Unthank Bank, Stanhope, has not wintered well and the rails are standing proud again. The centre of the road is the best line, but please take care, especially if there is on-coming traffic.
- Unthank Bank itself is 0.65 miles of 1:6 (steeper on the inside of the hairpin) and I would suggest that you need a gear of at least 42 x 21 (54.0 inches) for the climb up.
- In the interest of safety and due to the nature of the event, the promoting club and CTT strongly advise competitors to wear a hard shell helmet, which conforms to a recognised international standard. This is compulsory for riders under the age of 18.
The main climbs are featured below, with time it is planned to photo some of these and give a graphical view.
For those who are travelling to Teedale and need somewhere to stay, some of the club memebers have some spare rooms.
There is a full range of places to stay in and around Barnard Castle click here.