Attempting the Hardest Climb on the Mendips

So it was about time I tried this again, even though I am probably in the worst shape I've been attempting it! The hardest climb on the Mendip Hills, Draycott Steep. At nearly 2km long and averaging 11.4%, that doesn't really tell the true story, as the last ramp is 20% when you are at your limit. Many have walked up it's slopes over the years, many avoid it like the plague. But, for only the fifth time, I'm going for it! Can I make it all the way up in one go? Well I strapped my Insta360 X3 on the handlebars and captured every second of it, although, I've spared you the entirety of my suffering. Let me know if you like or don't like this kind of video, as it's a little different to my usual stuff, so i know to either make some more like this, or not! Enjoy my suffering!!
Between the Parks 100km Audax Link;
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Created with Wondershare Filmora
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My equipment for list for filming :
iPhone 13 Pro(4K enabled)
Bitplay iPhone camera case
Front camera is IPhone 4K
Shure MV88 microphone
Tascam DR10 Lavalier Microphone
GoPro Hero 9
Insta360 X3
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[@richardsutton6742]

That is insane. Absolute respect Darren. I descended that climb and there is no way I could go up

[@DarrenPhillips]

This weekend, I was introduced to Hill Lane, which runs parallel to Draycott Steep, but off-road! I think it’s fair to say, that it was twice as tough! Thanks Richard, I don’t blame you, it used to be an annual ritual to do the climb at least once. I no longer think I need to do it anymore!! 😂

[@timlilley3788]

Hi Darren, I've ridden the steep three times on a recumbent. The view from the reclined seat is spectacular, but the effort is immense especially when the rear wheel starts to spin. The only saving grace is that being a trike I don't have to maintain speed for balance.

[@DarrenPhillips]

It’s not a climb that I can say I’d really enjoyed the views, more hurry up and get the suffering over and done with to tick it off for another year!! 😂

[@daviddring8906]

Chapeau Darren. We're not too far from you and our club went that way this weekend and it was carnage by all accounts. I'm no stranger to the Mendips but still not been up Draycott (Ebbor is the nearest i've gone...) . Top effort and maybe i'll have a go sometime this summer. Great videos and enjoy watching your exploits. All the best. 😀

[@DarrenPhillips]

Thanks David, it’s definitely a beast of a climb. Let me know how you get on up there?

[@stevenfreeman7798]

Went up a hill in the Brecon beacons my 16 stone carcase crumbled and I lost control of my breathing completely lol the Brecons with zero training was a stupid idea lol! Especially at 62 years old. Glad you made your climb brilliant mate.

[@DarrenPhillips]

Thanks Steve, years ago at my fittest, my legs would crumble long before my lungs, but I’ve just got into the habit of managing the least effort to get up hills these days, so my lungs give in, long before my legs. It’s still a great feeling when you get to the top of a climb though, mainly because the pain stops!! 😂

[@goldenmath4091]

I need a full book of excuses before attempting, tried it , gave up half way...of course it was gears.... It's on my conquest list , have done deer leap so will get there, well done matey

[@DarrenPhillips]

I’m pretty stubborn, when I set my mind to achieving something, plus recording it and failing is huge motivation to not fail! 😂 Thank you

[@E-ZeeRiders]

Fair play mate. Been up that bugger and had to stop twice and that was on an e-bike!!

[@DarrenPhillips]

I would have loved an E-bike yesterday and then I might not have sounded like Wheezy McWheezerson up that steep bit!! Thank you!

[@craigfoley440]

Fantastic Darren, well done, you’ve almost inspired me to give it a go. Almost!

[@DarrenPhillips]

I think fairs fair Craig, it would only be right if you had a go now! 😜 Thanks though Craig! The chances of me bumping into you that morning were incredibly slim! As had several things not gone to plan, I’d have been out hours earlier. It must have been Fate!

[@paulfowler2067]

Darren, considering the time of year, the bike, the gearing and the camera equipment... respectable effort mate. Rode this hill a few times myself last year - felt your pain and the elation of summiting! Draycott Steep should be on every cyclists bucket list...

[@DarrenPhillips]

Thanks Paul, it’s also on many a cyclists avoid at all cost list, but they’re definitely missing out!!

[@trekshogun]

Thats a fantastic effort, ive been up and down that hill in a car ,and yes its a monster ! Im going to give it a go at some point 👍

[@DarrenPhillips]

It’s definitely worth a try! Even if it is just the once!!

[@malcolmphillips3217]

Well done, been up there a few times in the car, it's definitely steep

[@DarrenPhillips]

It wasn’t as steep as I remembered it, but it was steep enough!

[@julianfback]

Well done! So far that's the only hill in the area that's defeated me although I've only attempted it once. I am a fair bit older than you though.

[@DarrenPhillips]

It’s defeated many a cyclist a lot younger as well, and that’s including the ones that avoid it altogether! it’s definitely a slow and steady climb, as if you get on the limit before the steep bit, there is nowhere to recover. Oddly I was saving myself for the steep bit and I’d already done it. It just didn’t look as steep without the trees and completely threw me. Most of my elation was realising there wasn’t anymore hill to ride up! Thanks Julian

[@lewiswalker7803]

Fantastic Darren, that wall still haunts me…. I thought Alfreds Tower was steep before i attempted Draycott, scarred me for life!!

[@DarrenPhillips]

Thanks Lewis, oddly, I remember coming across the wall and thinking that looks brutal. But whether it’s because they’ve cut down the trees, it didn’t look as steep yesterday, I could see it was 20% on my Wahoo, but I was convinced I still had the wall to do. I shouldn’t have looked at the distance to go though, as that floored me! But it’s amazing what you can do to save face with a camera pointing at you!! 😂

[@peterlanganke6716]

Well done buddy. Smashing it.

[@DarrenPhillips]

Thank you Peter, I think it smashed me more!! 😂

[@andrewbristol2738]

Great effort Darren - I've never been up there in the saddle - you made it look more comfortable than I ever remember. And you definitely earned your cake.

[@DarrenPhillips]

Thanks Andrew, but you may have heard from my wheezing, it certainly wasn’t comfortable. As I passed the cars, the guy by the side of the road said to me keep going, my instant reply is “I don’t want to!” It’s amazing what can be achieved with a camera In your face! 😂 Let me know if you try it though, as the camera doesn’t do the gradient any justice!

[@andrewbristol2738]

@@DarrenPhillips Have been up there four times, but out of the saddle all the way. Absolute punishment. Only comparison I can think of is the main Porlock road.

[@DarrenPhillips]

I didn’t think the main Porlock road was that bad when I did it, but at the end of that ride I was completely broken, but we did go up Martinshoe Common, which was as bad, if not worse! Then again, Crowcombe is probably still my number one most difficult climb over ever done.

[@johnf285]

Impressive. Most impressive!

[@DarrenPhillips]

Thanks John, and as a Star Wars fan, I appreciate the Vader quote! 👏

[@simonclare5422]

Well done Darren, great effort

[@DarrenPhillips]

Thanks Simon! I now don’t have to do it for the rest of this year! As that’s the law!! 😜😂

[@donnajago]

Wow, well done, amazing effort!

[@DarrenPhillips]

Thanks Donna! 😄

[@spikedickey5703]

I don’t know who was the most surprised at you reaching the top, you or me!!! Thought at one stage you were going to abort the mission, blowing like a steam train but good on you, you hung in there and the elation of reaching the top was evident. Well done mate👍

[@DarrenPhillips]

Thanks Spike, I can assure you it was me that was most surprised!! 😂 it’s amazing motivation having a camera on the front of your bike knowing people will see your video and being that stubborn to not give in and embarrass yourself! Most of the elation was realising I’d remembered the whole climb wrong and I’d already done the hard bit, and didn’t have another wall to go up! It’s a shame the camera doesn’t show its gradient in all its glory. But those that have done it, know. Just read some of the comments. 🥵

[@gregthomas5663]

Well done Darren. Great effort. Completed Deerleap last week and it was horrible after 50 miles in the saddle. Glad I didn't have to do that one!! Next time I'd recommend a beer 😊

[@DarrenPhillips]

Thanks Greg, Deer leap is tough around the bend, but I’d happily go up it, where as, I actively avoid Draycott. Which is probably all you need to know!! 😂 I’m not sure I rode far enough to earn cake and a beer!!

[@peterwaine1875]

Epic Darren nice one 👍

[@DarrenPhillips]

Thanks Peter!

[@bigmancycling8104]

Great effort 👍

[@kevincastell2271]

Great climbing Darren💪,that climb looks a beast,I must visit the Mendips to sample these climbs

[@DarrenPhillips]

Thanks Kevin, it’s a must do climb at some point, but it might be a while before you attempt it again though!

[@SteveBrill]

My wife was watching with me and was worried you were going to die! Well done Darren, that was a sterling effort. 💪👏👍 As I said, half man, half mountain goat. 😉

[@DarrenPhillips]

😂 I felt I was dying at one point Steve!! It’s axing motivation having a camera in your face. The camera doesn’t do it justice though, it’s a mental climb. My wife watched it after I’d edited it, and her face said it all. She said she didn’t enjoy me being in pain, so I said pedal harder next time we’re on the tandem!! 😜

[@jasonn7192]

Well done Darren! Epic effort! Will do it myself by the end of the year 🙏👏👏👏👏☀️

[@DarrenPhillips]

Just grit your teeth Jason and keep going! Good luck! 😅

[@Teifilass]

Wow i was saying no don’t do it lol. But wow hats off that was a challenge and a half well done doing that and filming your pain, you shot up there really fast, I crawl up hills, but my aim this year is to get better and do them, after all there’s too many to keep avoiding. Love this vlog keep filming.

[@DarrenPhillips]

Thanks Michelle, you weren’t the only one saying No!! 🙋‍♂️It’s a shame the camera doesn’t ever show the real gradient, but judging by the other comments, I’m not the only one who actively avoids it!

[@wightsurfer]

was it you that phoned me last night - I thought I recognised the heavy breathing 😂😂 Good effort Darren - I've tried DS once and that was enough

[@DarrenPhillips]

Do you think I could get a job on one of those phone lines?? 😂 Thanks Conrad

[@wightsurfer]

@@DarrenPhillips yeah, you'd be a shoe in 🤣😂🤣

[@JonathanMallett]

👏👏👏

[@DarrenPhillips]

Thanks Jonathan 😄

[@markwells6689]

Another great video 👌👏 I may have a go at some point 🤣

[@DarrenPhillips]

Thanks Mark, glad you liked it! 👍

[@markwells6689]

Enjoy watching them - I bought two sets of hunts after your vids 🤣

[@DarrenPhillips]

The Hunts are amazing wheels, I’d swear by them.

[@bigmancycling8104]

Great effort Darren I would not have made first 5 mins lol😂

[@DarrenPhillips]

😂 I’m not sure I wanted to keep going after the first 5 mins!!! But I desperately wanted some cake!! 😜

[@bigmancycling8104]

I would have brought you a second one for that lol the joy when you went over the top we can all relate great vid 👍

[@DarrenPhillips]

Thank you, I was a bit worried about this one, as it’s a bit different to my usual style of video. So I’m glad it’s going down well.

[@NJAYC48]

To clarify, the road you were going up, is it called New Road? I think I came down it last summer and I was thinking that'll be a bugger to climb up😂

[@DarrenPhillips]

Yep! That’s the one Nick, it’s as terrifying going done it, as it is going up. As I was about to start, a car came down and the smell of his brakes was horrendous! You’d definitely know if you’ve been up it though.

[@mrgingermanfishing5405]

fair play to you darren that's a week off work 🤣🤣🤣

[@DarrenPhillips]

One for your next Mountain bike video Scott!! 😜😂

[@colinmaceachern9]

You're a glutton for punishment 😂

[@DarrenPhillips]

I think it’s commonly referred to as type 2 fun! 😂