Is Stwlan Dam the best climb in the UK?

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  • čas přidán 10. 09. 2024

Komentáře • 84

  • @edlaverack
    @edlaverack Před měsícem +5

    A real gem!

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  Před měsícem +3

      The hill climb expert aficionado has spoken 👆👆👆

  • @beckywareing3956
    @beckywareing3956 Před měsícem +3

    Great video "fluffy speed bumbs" made me chuckle 😂

  • @davidmam
    @davidmam Před 29 dny +2

    The road from Glen Lyon over Ben Lawyers is also very good. Probably not as steep but fantastic scenery. Bealach na Ba is also outstanding.

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  Před 24 dny

      Got my eye on Bealach, it’s a bit of a trek up for me but would love to get it done this summer. Weather dependant, apparently it can be really nasty with the wind.

  • @garybignell6980
    @garybignell6980 Před měsícem +1

    Great video as always have really enjoyed watching all the videos and the climbs and laughs that you guys have
    Keep up the good work

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  Před měsícem

      Cheers Gary mate it’s been a while since we had the guys in a video. Need to get something sorted.

  • @RobbyRob1761
    @RobbyRob1761 Před měsícem +1

    Excellent video.... I need to give it a go.... My personal all time favourite in the UK is Bealach-Na-Ba in the Scottish Highlands... it's truly awesome !

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  Před měsícem +1

      Somebody else mentioned that to me on Instagram. It’s a bit of a trek but if I’m guaranteed good weather I might make the trip just for the climb. Perhaps do the Lecht at the same time?

    • @RobbyRob1761
      @RobbyRob1761 Před měsícem

      @@BeardonaBike It's well worth the trek... I live in Lincolnshire and travelled up there for a couple of days and did a few awesome climbs... Rest and Be Thankful, Bealach-Na-Ba, Cairn Gorm, The Lecht and The Cairnwell.... All pretty decent climbs. (All part of Simon Warren's '100 Greatest UK Cycling Climbs') However, Bealach-Na-Ba is by far the best climb in the UK. Rated 11 out of 10 by Simon Warren.... 5 1/2 miles long and over 20% in places. Enjoy.

    • @RobbyRob1761
      @RobbyRob1761 Před měsícem

      @@BeardonaBike czcams.com/video/YG9qRJyTU7k/video.html

  • @NightWatcher23
    @NightWatcher23 Před 2 dny

    Assalamualaikum! Great vid, enjoyed it v much, liked & subbed.
    I did the Stewlan a few months ago in the fog & rain (was committed regardless of the weather!). Great switchbacks, not quite the Stelvio but still was lung busting & picturesque!! Might do it again soon!

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  Před dnem

      Deffo no Stelvio but one of the best in the UK and enjoyable. If you’re in that area go check out Hell Fire Pass 😉

  • @raymondelliot4605
    @raymondelliot4605 Před 27 dny +1

    Nice one, great video as usual. You should come up to Scotland and try the Dragons tail at Dunning, Perthshire. There’s a good circular route that takes in the Dragons tail.

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  Před 24 dny +1

      I’m going to look those up, I was thinking Beelach and The Lecht but the weather needs to be spot on to make the trip up

    • @raymondelliot4605
      @raymondelliot4605 Před 20 dny

      @@BeardonaBikeYou just might wait a long time for the weather to be spot on 😂🌧️💨. I did an event back in June called, (RTTS), Ride To The Sun. Not sure if you have heard of it. It’s a 100 mile ride from Carlisle to Cramond on the other side of Edinburgh. It’s an overnight ride arriving at Cramond in time for the sun coming up. They put buses on to take you to Carlisle and Tesco lorries for the bikes. I believe they do the opposite way for people who live down south. They cycle to Cramond and get transported back to Carlisle. It’s a really good event. Keep up the cycling and videos and Take Care.

  • @SecwetGwiwer
    @SecwetGwiwer Před 29 dny +2

    It’s not the steepest or the longest but it’s absolutely relentless, making it incredibly difficult.

  • @andyfishwick
    @andyfishwick Před měsícem

    Great video and appreciate all the time you took putting it together with all the different shots. Yes I think it is one of the best climbs - if only for the super smooth tarmac that makes it a pleasure to ride up.

  • @colinwilliams9290
    @colinwilliams9290 Před měsícem

    I did this a couple of years back, I was 61 and my mate was 65 yrs old it’s definitely one climb that should be on anyone’s bucket list

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  Před měsícem

      Glad you agree, any plans to go back and revisit it?

    • @colinwilliams9290
      @colinwilliams9290 Před měsícem

      @@BeardonaBike yeh definitely. I live in Pembrokeshire so it’s a bit of a trek but there was a time when we used to go up to N/Wales every weekend in the van just to cycle on some great climbs

  • @cyclingthomas826
    @cyclingthomas826 Před měsícem +3

    Try Bwlch y Groes in Wales. It makes Stwlan seem flat

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  Před měsícem

      I’m pretty sure I’d did that on the Dragon Ride Dragon Devil route a couple of months ago. I don’t recall any of the climbs being particularly steep other than devils staircase but boy was there some scenery out there.

    • @cyclingthomas826
      @cyclingthomas826 Před měsícem

      @@BeardonaBike trust me if you have done it you would know. Its near Bala and averages 13.5% for 1.5 miles with 0.3m at over 18%

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  Před měsícem

      @@cyclingthomas826 I did a couple of Bwlch climbs but the one you are referring to I think is “Hell Fire Pass?”

    • @cyclingthomas826
      @cyclingthomas826 Před měsícem

      @@BeardonaBike yeah thats the one

  • @richardedwards9648
    @richardedwards9648 Před měsícem

    ❤ the Lucien Van Imp quote, give it done beans.

  • @umairnurgat7587
    @umairnurgat7587 Před měsícem +1

    Love it 😍

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  Před měsícem

      Have you done it?

    • @umairnurgat7587
      @umairnurgat7587 Před měsícem

      @@BeardonaBike nope unfortunately not 🥲 Need to insha'Allah, it's on my 🪣 list 😍

  • @MC-nr4mn
    @MC-nr4mn Před měsícem

    Chapeux brother....great ride and splendid video 🫡

  • @thequickorangefoxjumped
    @thequickorangefoxjumped Před měsícem

    Climbed it this week, stunning views & fantastic scenery 😎 needed a big range cassette, but I don’t care, climbed it & that’s what counts!

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  Před měsícem +1

      Exactly that, another glorious climbed ticked off well done. Whats next?

  • @thegreatestsoccerdudeperio1697

    Great video as usual, really nice place to climb, might have to put this one on the bucket list.

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  Před měsícem

      It’s a deffo bucket list climb in the UK

  • @DrJRMCFC
    @DrJRMCFC Před měsícem

    Quick answer. Yes. Absolutely stunning and quite likely that you will have it for yourself

  • @leanner.6578
    @leanner.6578 Před 28 dny

    Used to go up there when dodging school back in 1996/1997.

  • @3dstate
    @3dstate Před měsícem

    Awesome mate, love the commentary and cycling dynamics👌What a spectacular climb it is, shame i managed to get lost at the top! 🤣

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  Před měsícem

      🤣🤣🤣 did you ask for directions?

    • @3dstate
      @3dstate Před 29 dny

      @@BeardonaBike A coach load of school kids sent me the wrong way 🤣🤣

  • @CyclingwithRuss
    @CyclingwithRuss Před měsícem

    Mint video mate. Congrats on hitting 3k subs matey ❤

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  Před měsícem +1

      Thanks a ton Russ! Just 97,000 before I get a silver plaque 🤣

    • @CyclingwithRuss
      @CyclingwithRuss Před měsícem

      @@BeardonaBike🤣 you’ll get there 😝 I want a job when you do 😉

  • @kevstephen9393
    @kevstephen9393 Před měsícem

    Stunning location with absolutely fantastic tarmac. You've inspired me to give it a miss. My sweat and tears would break the dam. BTW your Welsh has come on a long way Aky...Something like that 😊

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  Před měsícem

      I’ll be getting told off in the days to come no doubt. 😂

  • @chrisplatt7391
    @chrisplatt7391 Před měsícem

    Great video Aky. Love the additional content - really shows the vista, gradients and greatness of the climb. Definitely the best content I’ve found on the Dam climb. Can’t wait now to go back! 😁👍🏻🚵🏼

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  Před měsícem +1

      Thanks, mate! All the effort was totally worth it then. I’m hoping someone will point me to an even better climb with more stunning views, valleys, and switchbacks. Let’s see what comes up!

    • @marktickhill8465
      @marktickhill8465 Před 28 dny

      Great Video and commentary Aky. Really enjoyed that. Great effort. 💪💪👏👏💖

  • @zaneclone
    @zaneclone Před měsícem

    I cycled from Bangor just to climb that lol- coming back via Tremadog and C'von etc...
    Wonderful ride... :)

  • @catshoemike
    @catshoemike Před měsícem

    Thanks / diolch yn fawr for getting your tongue around the pronunciation, good job! I'm pretty local and have only just done Stwlan - I rode over from (and back to) Pentrefoelas which is a glorious ride over the tops. Great video !!

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  Před měsícem

      You’ve so many good climbs and roads where you live, amazing place to ride dude.

  • @TheSadcyclist
    @TheSadcyclist Před měsícem

    Visited this dam when in school, and a few years later caught a bus to top, a fantastic ride up,and scarry coming down, then a few years later cycled up there with a mate on MTB,s, its a hill that keeps going on and on, just beware of sheep poo on the way down it has similar characteristics to a Teflon coated pan.
    Also met one of the original engineers who worked to build it, there are massive tunnels through the rock to the hydro electric power station at start of route.Sometimes the water level in top lak will be high and sometimes very low, due to water being let go to produce electric, to power all those e bikes.

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  Před měsícem

      It would have been amazing to watch how they put the damn together, didn’t know there were tunnels, must have been a massive project.

  • @T_Ali68
    @T_Ali68 Před měsícem

    Cracking video as always Aky 👍🏼
    Get yourself up to Scotland and take on the Bealach na Bà 😃

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  Před měsícem

      Willing to make the trip just for the climb and maybe sneak The Lecht in at the same time. Need to have guaranteed weather though.

    • @T_Ali68
      @T_Ali68 Před měsícem

      @@BeardonaBike haha, no guarantee on that sadly. Character building 😉

  • @thebypasscyclist7373
    @thebypasscyclist7373 Před měsícem

    Superb video and great commentary 👌

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  Před měsícem

      I appreciate the feed back, any other climbs that deserve a video you can think of?

  • @TheImprobableIronman
    @TheImprobableIronman Před měsícem

    Fantastic video mate. I watched this while climbing Alpe du Zwift which was like being there. LOL.

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  Před měsícem +1

      Alpe du Zwift, can’t wait to get back on the in winter not. I do however hope to do it in real life at some point it’s on the bucket list.

  • @user-dm84
    @user-dm84 Před 29 dny

    I still have PTSD from doing this climb last month, but the pay off at the top was worth it 😅

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  Před 29 dny

      It’s so good isn’t it? Have you done anything better in the UK?

  • @LakeDistrictcyclist
    @LakeDistrictcyclist Před měsícem

    Fantastic mate 😊

  • @leewilliams3153
    @leewilliams3153 Před měsícem

    Done this climb about 6 weeks ago. Drove 4 hours from Bridgend in South Wales just to give it a go. It bloody hurt 😂

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  Před měsícem

      But was it worth the journey?

    • @leewilliams3153
      @leewilliams3153 Před měsícem

      @@BeardonaBike most definitely. I’d do it again. Maybe stay a night or 2 next time though. Instead of driving home the same day

  • @Grant-bu4nj
    @Grant-bu4nj Před měsícem

    Well done guys 👍🏽

  • @julianwinn4502
    @julianwinn4502 Před měsícem

    Great video and commentary

  • @mikegriffith4190
    @mikegriffith4190 Před měsícem

    The day I did it it was so misty I couldn’t even see the water 😂

  • @leightondavies8884
    @leightondavies8884 Před měsícem

    Hardest part is descending under the railway bridge once your off the closed road - need ropes and crampons it’s so steep 😅

  • @IanB17
    @IanB17 Před měsícem

    36/30 lowest gear?!?! Not a chance I’d be attempting that with anything bigger than a compact & a 32 sprocket as I think I’d be in it right from the bottom.

  • @rpierrelouis86
    @rpierrelouis86 Před měsícem

    Epic video dude......glad you included the incline data.

    • @BeardonaBike
      @BeardonaBike  Před měsícem +1

      Hope it helps a little, going to give it a blast?

    • @rpierrelouis86
      @rpierrelouis86 Před měsícem

      @@BeardonaBike one day dude for sure!