The Climb
There is a climb that I look across at each morning as I sit and eat breakfast. The road is only visible in places as a blanket of evergreen trees surrounds it all year round. At this time of year headlights glimmer every now and then, as an early morning riser makes their way to work. But it is not the car that belongs on that road, it is a road that was made for two rather than four wheels.
Leaving Clonmel, heading towards Carrick on Suir you pass by Strangs garage. Full of second hand Mercs and BMW’s with a Southfork style house alongside, don’t let it distract. You have more important tasks ahead.
Within 400 meters you approach the Bulmers roundabout with a grove of apple trees on your left. This is not the liquid you need for what faces you so just take a swig of electrolite from your bidon and go right taking the third exit from the roundabout.
Traffic now quietens as you approach the traffic lights that signify the single lane Ferryhouse bridge over the River Suir. Stop on red, go on green. Sprint on orange.
The mountain ridge ahead now gives the first impression of the journey and the challenge that you are facing. Don’t get distracted, you’re looking at the easy part.
A sweeping left hander announces the begining of gradients that count in percentages, all positive.
400 meters later you brake, turn right onto the by-road off a by-road and enter the cauldron of ‘Shamaleyes hill’ otherwise known as Tickincor.
When we were schoolboys meeting at the gaa centre on the Western road after school on autumn evenings, driven by the passion of Kelly’s exploits in the Nissan Classic, the biggest challenge facing us was the hill up behind Sean Molloys House, also known as Shamaleyes hill (say it with a Tipp accent)
A 10 meter flat section is your opportunity to change into the lowest gear on your bike. Don’t worry if others keep a few in reserve, you will soon be gliding past them.
A gate into the wood straight ahead may distract, but don’t let it, you now need all of your attention focussed on propelling you and your machine up the wall that faces you around the 90 degree left hand bend.
Dig in and suffer now, whilst knowing that this, the steepest part of the entire climb is just 300 meters long. But don’t empty the tank, you still have 90% of the 3k climb to endure before you can say that you have conquered the beast that is Tickincor.
If the guy who lives in the sloping cottage on the right is leaning over the wall as you approach do not feel self concious as you pass him wheezing and spluttering. It’s nothing he has not seen many times before.
A slight right hander gives 8 feet of respite before another longer right hander twists the knife once more.
The road goes by another house as it snakes around to the right. A car once tried to pass me here and another car came around the bend. Both cars braked, one stalled whilst the other skidded past me, just millimetres from my bars.
Passing the house of the artist you can now relax In the knowledge that the worst gradient is behind you. The worst of the pain may not be, if you are already in the red, but you were warned.
A straight now beckons. If you are feeling strong your right index finger will reach for the inner sti lever and drop down one sprocket and then another. If you ride campag it will be your thumb. If you ride sram, you may already have double tapped, but not in a ‘hitman’ kind of way.
At the end of the straight comes a pretty sharp left hander. Change down now. It’s steeper around the corner and the surface is rough.
Rolling around the long gradual right hander you may also notice your shoulders rolling too. That’s OK as long as your eyes don’t join in.
Passing a double forestry entrance, the gradient eases off and the surface improves. Don’t get cocky. You’re not there yet.
Passing the farm, on the right the gradient rises again, and rises and rises. A sweeping left turns into a sweeping right which turns into a sweeping up to the second steepest part of the climb.
A gate into a short tree lined avenue signifies an approach to the final ‘flatter’ section before you eventually reach the top and turn right to Harneys cross.
You have now reached the summit. If you made it without unclipping or coming to a halt, you are fit, you are strong, you are now a ‘Tamer of Tickincor’ !
Barry
19 COMMENTS
Paul Lafford
Thoroughly enjoyable read Barry. For “no hopers” like me, it’s very “true to life”. Well done.
Barry
Thanks Paul. I think we all need the ‘hope’ that the bike has to offer. Often it is getting to the top of a climb that is feared that gives the confidence to push the limits out further again.
John Falvey
Barry as usual excellent description , we can all visualise the climb and we know the different land marks.Keep up the great work.
Barry
Thanks John, I think the landmarks break it up into manageable chunks and are less intimidating than the prospect of facing the entire climb. As the book says ‘How do you eat and elephant, one piece at a time’
John O'Dwyer
Brilliant piece Barry. I have only climbed it twice since we started the Raparee Cycle Club in 2013 but as I was reading I could feel every strain and ache I went through trying to tame that beast. I have probably one of the slowest strava times on Tickincor but I don’t care. Getting to the top without getting off the bike is reward enough….Great piece..well done…
Barry
Thanks John. The work being put in by all in The Raparee Club is certainly paying off judging by the amount that I have seen on the roads. As you say, the Ostrava time doesn’t matter, it’s all about getting to the top.
Ray Mannix
Very well put Barry. I really enjoy your blogs.
I remember my first attempt on Tickincor back in 2012 as a relatively new cyclist with a group from Waterford Sportif Cycling Club. I made it a few hundred metres up and remember thinking if it is like this all the way I will keel over well before the top. I swung around in a forestry entrance and two of us headed back down. We met up with the rest of the group at the coffee stop in Clonmel. I remember some of the lads saying I should have kept going as I had the worst of it done when I turned back.
It was the following summer of 2013 before we tackled Tickincor again and I got up it relatively ok. I find it makes some difference when you have done a climb once and you know what to expect.
Keep up the good work.
Barry
Thanks Ray. You most definitely would not have been the first to turn at that forestry entrance. There always seem to be tyre tracks looping around there. It really does make a difference to know a climb beforehand, although sometimes that can be intimidating in itself 🙂
mick kelly
Felt every pedal turn even my legs are aching with the thought of that climb well written Barry
Barry
Thanks Mick. You might have to venture up there again soon to see if it getscany easier 😉
Martin O' Loughlin
And the great thing about this article is that there’s a Part Two. You gotta cross the road and up Power’s the Pot to truly complete the challenge.
Barry
That’s the real challenge Martin 🙂
Andrew Howard
Hi Barry, an old post but a good one! Did the climb again yesterday for the 8th time and the description is still accurate! Think I’ve done it on three different bikes now (all Emonda’s, one of which you did a fitting on for me). For me the climb is not complete unless you go all the way up past Powers the Pot, past the castle grid and up to the highest point on the road (around the single hawthorn bush on the left), just before the road descends down towards Ballymacarbry. The views of the Knockanaffrin ridge and Laghtnafrankee from there are on a fine day are worth the climb!
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Michael White
Well described Barry.When I first did the climb I thought the guys flying past me weren’t suffering,but as I got faster at it I discovered it doesn’t get easier.You just get faster,I still love the feeling you get once you reach the top.
Tony Sheehan
What happens after we cross the road 🙂