Mickledore

Mickledore cycling climb profile

Mickledore is a compact but serious category 2 climb. On paper, the main numbers are clear: 6 km in length, 402 m of net elevation gain, and an average gradient of 6.69 percent. That average is already enough to make the climb selective, but the defining detail is the maximum gradient of 22.75 percent. This is not a climb to pace as if every metre sits neatly around the average.

The start elevation is 67 m and the summit elevation is 469 m, so the road gains height steadily across a relatively short distance. With total ascent listed at 363 m, the profile should be treated as a sustained uphill effort rather than a rolling climb where recovery is a major part of the equation.

How the gradient should feel

The available profile data does not give a corner-by-corner breakdown, so the honest way to read Mickledore is through the relationship between its average and maximum gradients. A 6.69 percent average across 6 km means the climb demands consistent pressure on the pedals. The 22.75 percent maximum means there are pitches steep enough to punish over-pacing, poor gear choice, or any attempt to ride the early slopes on feel alone.

That contrast matters. If you ride the climb at the average effort from the bottom, the steepest sections can push you above threshold quickly. Once that happens, the remaining distance becomes far harder to manage because there is not much room in a 6 km climb to recover properly while still gaining elevation.

Pacing and gearing notes

The smart approach is controlled aggression. Ride the opening portion below the effort you think the average gradient deserves, then let the climb come back to you. The goal is to keep enough torque and cadence available for the steepest ramps, rather than arriving there already fighting the bike.

For gearing, choose the lowest practical climbing gear before the start, not once the road has already kicked up. A maximum gradient of 22.75 percent is steep enough that cadence can collapse quickly if you are over-geared. Spinning slightly easier on the steadier gradients is the better trade-off if it keeps you from grinding through the hardest pitch.

If riding by power, anchor the effort around sustainable climbing output and expect short spikes above it. If riding by feel, keep the breathing controlled early and avoid responding to every change in pitch. Mickledore rewards patience because its main difficulty is not just the average gradient - it is the way a short category 2 climb can combine sustained climbing with a maximum pitch that forces a real effort reset.

For pacing reference, see /glossary/ftp and /tools/ftp-estimator.