Cragg Vale: Cycling Climb

The climb · United Kingdom

About Cragg Vale

Collections

Simon Warren’s Another 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs

Cragg Vale follows the B6138 south-west from Mytholmroyd, exchanging the Calder valley for higher moorland through almost nine kilometres of climbing. At an average of about 3.2 per cent, its challenge lies in duration more than steepness. The road gives you time to find a rhythm and watch the surroundings change, with the village sections lending definition to an ascent that can otherwise feel like a long, measured withdrawal from the valley.

The gradient varies along the way, and firmer passages interrupt the easier stretches without transforming the ride into a succession of sharp ramps. Higher up, the setting becomes more exposed and the closing road gradually relents. The final part makes little additional gain in height, giving the finish a softer character than the climb's length might lead you to expect. Cragg Vale rewards an appreciation of gradual change: a considerable ascent accumulated in modest increments.

01 / The ascent

Elevation profile

Start 100 m · Summit 386 m

Gradient by distance8.78 km / 294 m gain

0 km1.8 km3.5 km5.3 km7 km8.8 km

02 / The crux

Where it gets difficult

Choose a distance to find the steepest continuous section of the climb.

Steepest 500 m average

8.6%

Where to find it

3.90–4.40 km from start

Net height gained: 43 m
Section length: 500 m

The whole climb8.78 km

0 kmFinish

03 / The numbers

Climb statistics

Distance: 8.78 km
Elevation gain: 294 m
Average gradient: 3.2%
Climb category: 3
Start elevation: 100 m
Summit elevation: 386 m

Current weather

At the climb start

Loading weather…

Weather data: MET Norway

04 / 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

26 min

Power throughout: 225 W
Average speed: 20.3 km/h

Based on the 8.78 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.

05 / On the ground