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@colddarknorth

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Come explore the Cold Dark North with us... We're making exciting adventures, top-notch races, routes & group rides in the #ColdDarkNorth

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Retired fireys Thursday club, on a Wednesday! Days like these are made for throwing a leg over and enjoying the outdoors 🙌🏼

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The Rake Hill Climb | Set 1

Strangely enough, The Rake is one climb I’ve never actually ridden. Walking up it on the day was enough to get the heart rate going, so I’ve got even more respect for everyone who lined up to take it on.

Proper steep, with a handrail in places, and an atmosphere to match. Crowds lining the road, a commentator on the speakers and some of my favourite riders absolutely grafting their way up the climb.

This is what makes hill climbs special. The effort, the atmosphere and watching people push themselves to their limits.

Set 1 is here. Find yourself, tag your mates and let me know which is your favourite shot.

More to come.

#therake #therakehillclimb #hillclimb #cyclingphotooftheday
@lancashireroadclub
@cyclingtimetrials

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Not too late for a September round-up?

I hope not, because it turned out to be a huge month for me. Thought I’d have a bit of fun in the Brompton World Championships, and came away with a new project/obsession.

After strenuously avoiding anything resembling a race for most of my life (ultras don’t much resemble races, don’t @ me), I’ve decided that competitive cycling will be my main focus for the next 12 months.

Turns out doing something you’re scared of can be wonderful, and being visibly untalented isn’t the disaster I would have assumed. It’s also quite thrilling to be launching into this in my 40s - there is zero chance I’ll ever reach the higher echelons, so I get to enjoy racing for what it is, which for me at the moment is mostly a very steep learning curve.

I’m still terrified of what lies ahead (velodrome, BMX, gah). But just as it has so many times in the past, cycling feels new and exciting again.

I also had dental surgery, caught up with a great many friends, and hung out with the lemurs at London Zoo. No wonder I’m tired.

(The better photos are from @theoclarkes, @b_w_c_p, @colddarknorth and @emma_osenton)

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The North Pennines is home of the highest climbs in England.

I’ve only ever dipped my toe in there previously with Great Dun Fell and Hartside. But I’ve been told I must properly explore it as there are so many good climbs and the road are great and very quiet.

I’ve been waiting for the perfect weather conditions to make the £64 train fare and 7 hour round trip on the train be worth it.

Thursday was that time. Calm winds, sunny weather. Maybe a bit cold at 4 degrees but jackets, gloves and leg warmers will sort that problem out.

It was well worth the travel time, cost and wait!
It’s a cycling paradise of England. I wish I lived closer so I could ride here more often.

So many epic climbs in a concentrated area. And different style of climbs.

I ticked off 8 of @100climbs up here but there are so many more to do! And others from @climb_finder
May look at a multi day trip next year in the North Pennines.

Have you cycled in the North Pennines? What’s your experience been like up there? Best place to go cycling in England?

#cycling #ukcycling #cyclingroutes #cyclingclimb

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🚨 THE STRUGGLE HILL CLIMB 2026 — UNFILTERED Audio🚨

Having never done a hill climb race before, this is exactly the kind of video I was looking for beforehand.

Not the polished version.
Not the “I’m absolutely smashing it” version.

The actually racing up a 24% gradient and questioning every life decision version. 😂

So, putting any pride or self-respect to one side… here I am, struggling up The Struggle — with all the stats to prove it:

📍 4.8km
⛰️ 403m elevation
💀 24% max gradient
⏱️ 21:37 official time
🏆 13th female
🤝 9th team
🥇 Team with the 3 fastest riders

And probably the stat I’m most proud of:

🚴‍♀️ I’d only been riding for 1 year & 5 months.

This was my first ever hill climb race, and honestly, having the actual unfiltered audio makes it so much more real. You can hear exactly how much I was suffering 😂

The atmosphere was unreal, and a massive thank you to everyone who organised, raced, supported, shouted encouragement and captured these moments.

Would you race up The Struggle… or would you absolutely NOT be caught dead doing this? 😂👇

#cycling #cyclist #roadbike #bikegirl #lakedistrictcycling

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Find a hill, ride up it! Getting the ball rolling with hill climb season 🎱
Been treated to a great few events with @protechvelo , @velo.club.cumbria.vcc , @strugglehillclimb , @team_lifting_gear and Border City Wheelers 🏁
📸 @a_beard_on_a_bike @manuka.cycleworks

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Back to The Struggle ⛰️ One of the best events on the hill climb calendar, with a crowd that makes that solid final section something special!

12 seconds shy of my PB, 11th overall and the team win for Muckle with Adrian and Harry🏆

📸 @unsponsoredmedia

#mucklecc
#strugglehillclimb
#cyclingtimetrials

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All photos from Sunday’s Struggle are NOW LIVE over on my website. You can find the link in my bio, or drop a message below and I can send it over

Thank you so much for all of the love and support on the photos since Sunday, and especially a massive thank you to @colddarknorth for asking me to attempt to fill the MASSIVE shoes of @lancsracingscene for the HC famous Pain Face awards.

Here’s a selection of shots from the day, a mix bag. Make sure to check to the end to see absolutely the coolest, most chill rider of the day. Plenty of pain faces along the way to see

📸: Sony A7IV + Sony 70-200mm F/4
📍: The Struggle, Ambleside
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#britishhillclimb #thestruggle #painface #colddarknorth #grassrootscycling

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Swipe for suffering on THE STRUGGLE - Hill Climb 2026 - Part 3.

@arcunningham1 🥈
@sam_marshmellow
@joe.boothroyd
@adrian.armstrong98
@richyjmo_
@callum.anderson.503

@strugglehillclimb @lakesroadclub @colddarknorth

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🚨 THE STRUGGLE HILLCLIMB 2026 FULL BREAKDOWN 🚨

4.8km.
403m elevation.
24% max gradient. 💀

And…. I voluntarily raced up it.

My first ever hill climb race — and The Struggle was certainly one way to get introduced to them 😂

Here’s the full breakdown:
⏱️ Official time: 21:37
🏆 13th female
🤝 9th team
🥇 Team with the 3 fastest riders

And the bit I’m probably most proud of is my own personal challenge having only been riding for 1 year & 5 months 🚴‍♀️

The atmosphere was absolutely unreal and thank you everyone for all the support, organisation, encouragement and images/videos!

This is the first of a few Struggle videos coming your way —👇 FOLLOW for the unfiltered audio video because… yeah i STRUGGLED.

Were you there for The Struggle 2026 — or would you absolutely NOT be caught dead racing up this thing? 😂👇

#cycling #cyclist #roadbike #bikegirl #lakedistrictcycling

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There’s something truly special about The Struggle Climb Challenge!

The views, the atmosphere, the energy and the people cheering you on…it’s so much more than just climbing a hill.

Pain in your legs, chaos in your head and maybe a few tears disguised as laughter!

A beautiful kind of suffering 💚💙💚💙

#cyclingclimb #lakedistrictuk #lakedistrictcycling #cyclelikeagirl

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