The UK's steepest passes are short but serious. Gradients around 1 in 3, single-track hairpins and oncoming traffic mean technique matters more than speed.
Before you go
- Check the weather — avoid ice, heavy rain and fog.
- Check brakes, tyres and clutch.
- Avoid peak holiday times when traffic backs up on hairpins.
- Don't take big groups; split into small ones.
Climbing
Pick a low gear before the hairpin, not in it. Take hairpins wide on the outside where the gradient is gentler, if the road is clear. On a bike, keep your weight forward and your eyes up through the turn.
Hill starts
If you stop on a steep section, cars should use the handbrake; riders should use the rear brake to hold the bike while feeding in the clutch. Practise on gentler hills first.
Descending
Use low gears and engine braking. Riding or resting on the brakes all the way down overheats them. Brake in straight sections before bends, never hard in the hairpin itself.
In a group
Leave big gaps so nobody is forced into a hill start on a hairpin. Agree a regroup at the top or bottom, not halfway.