Blakey Bank: Cycling Climb

The climb

About Blakey Bank

Collections

Simon Warren’s Another 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs

Blakey Bank climbs from Church Houses in Farndale towards the higher ridge of the North York Moors. The opening gives a comparatively mild introduction, but that impression does not survive far up the road. Over about 1.8 kilometres, the climb becomes a sustained bank, with steeper passages that make the hillside feel much closer than the broad landscape around it. The valley falls away while the road continues to demand attention.

A brief easing in the middle interrupts the effort without bringing the main ascent to an end. Beyond it, the gradient takes hold again, making the remaining distance more substantial than the small pause might promise. The changing pitch is enough to disturb a settled rhythm, yet the climb retains a clear upward purpose throughout. Blakey Bank is a compact route from the sheltered valley towards higher ground, with its difficult sections carrying most of the memory.

01 / The ascent

Elevation profile

Start 152 m · Summit 357 m

Gradient by distance1.81 km / 206 m gain

0 km0.4 km0.7 km1.1 km1.4 km1.8 km

02 / The numbers

Climb statistics

Distance: 1.81 km
Elevation gain: 206 m
Average gradient: 11.4%
Climb category: 3
Start elevation: 152 m
Summit elevation: 357 m

Current weather

At the climb start

Loading weather…

Weather data: MET Norway

03 / Your effort

How long would it take?

Enter the power you could hold for the whole climb. We calculate a moving time from the elevation profile and the forces you ride against.

Sustained power

W/kg

Use your intended climbing effort, rather than FTP unless you can hold it for the predicted duration.

Rider weight (kg)

Bike + kit weight (kg)

Bike + kit includes clothing, bottles and luggage.

Advanced settings

Defaults represent a road-bike scenario. Adjust these settings to match your tyres, drivetrain and riding position.

Effective drag area (CdA) (m²)

Rolling resistance (Crr)

Drivetrain efficiency (%)

Modelled moving time

15 min

Power throughout: 225 W
Average speed: 7.3 km/h

Based on the 1.81 km elevation profile. Assumes steady power, with no stops, braking or drafting. Rounded to the nearest minute.

The science behind the calculation

For each part of the stored profile, we solve the steady-state cycling power equation for speed, then add distance ÷ speed across the climb. Gravity uses rider + equipment weight; available power is W/kg × rider weight. This uses the profile’s distance and elevation together, without mixing in another route’s metrics.

Power × efficiency = gravity + rolling resistance + air resistance + bearing losses

The resistance equations are adapted from Martin et al. (1998), Validation of a Mathematical Model for Road Cycling Power. Air density changes with profile altitude using NASA’s standard-atmosphere model. This calculator’s adaptation has not been independently validated.

It predicts travel at the power you enter, including on descents. It does not model acceleration, cornering, braking, traffic, wind, changing weather or fatigue. At altitude, choose power you can sustain there: thinner air reduces drag, but this model does not predict its effect on your ability to produce power. Profile quality and assumed equipment settings also affect the result.

04 / On the ground