Climbs that push you to your limits...
Discussion
Being quite new to this biking lark I mostly commute 25 miles a day and occasionally go for a blast out with other sad middle aged divots from work. Anyway to cut a long story short our friendly little rides out have become a battle of wills between the highly trained athletic types and my mate and I "team midlife crisis" AKA "Fat-man and Gobby" the athletic types have tried and failed on all occasions to break us by taking us on madder and madder climbs..
Well I went out for a blast on Thursday to re-live some of our best climbs and to get a little training under my belt. So some stats for those who care 6hrs 57 mins Average speed 10.2mph (16.4kph) distance 71.1miles (114.4k)max speed 42.1mph (61.1kph)I'm not sure about how high as I use the crappy GPS on my phone but it said 1011ft.
There are two points on the ride out that make me feel like my heart and lungs are going to quite literally burst out of my chest so I've linked them off goggle maps.
This one at this actual corner makes me feel physically sick I'm trying that hard!
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ie=UTF8&hl=en&am...
This one isn't as bad as the first but just seems to keep going on and on a bit like the wife's nagging..
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ie=UTF8&hl=en&am...
Just out of pure interest and for discussions at work with my buddies whats the worst you guys tackle? I'm trying to convince them they should be wearing dresses for these rides out compared with the big boys. The only shame is how Goggle maps doesn't seem to convey how fecking steep some of these hills are. But the badder the better please..
Well I went out for a blast on Thursday to re-live some of our best climbs and to get a little training under my belt. So some stats for those who care 6hrs 57 mins Average speed 10.2mph (16.4kph) distance 71.1miles (114.4k)max speed 42.1mph (61.1kph)I'm not sure about how high as I use the crappy GPS on my phone but it said 1011ft.
There are two points on the ride out that make me feel like my heart and lungs are going to quite literally burst out of my chest so I've linked them off goggle maps.
This one at this actual corner makes me feel physically sick I'm trying that hard!
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ie=UTF8&hl=en&am...
This one isn't as bad as the first but just seems to keep going on and on a bit like the wife's nagging..
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ie=UTF8&hl=en&am...
Just out of pure interest and for discussions at work with my buddies whats the worst you guys tackle? I'm trying to convince them they should be wearing dresses for these rides out compared with the big boys. The only shame is how Goggle maps doesn't seem to convey how fecking steep some of these hills are. But the badder the better please..
Having not ridden for years I went for a ride a few months back. I live on box hill so going away from home is a breeze! Coming home is just pain!!! Pebble hill is very steep. Box hill road isn't too bad. The Zig Zag is ok but I usually try to ride up the green hill on the side of box hill which is a killer.
The Great Surrey Cycle is a cracking ride IMO with some decent climbs and blissfull coasts down the other sides of the hills!!!
The Great Surrey Cycle is a cracking ride IMO with some decent climbs and blissfull coasts down the other sides of the hills!!!
http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=257...
It looks like youre climbing approx 100m in 1km making it about 10% give or take which Id say is a fairly fruity climb
10% is about the steepest Id find enjoyable
We have 2km at the gradient locally which is a nice ride if your in the mood
I can climb all day and actually enjoy it at 6-8% which is what most Alpine or Pyrenean climbs would be - just for a lot longer
We also have some 15% ers and a 25%er for a few hundred metres which for me serve no purpose other than to say youve done them!
Cheers
Oh and if you want the full 'hurt me plenty treatment' www.climbbybike.com
My favourite - well most testing - is on one of my local rides. Its appeal is its profile. It starts 90 degrees off a forest fire road with a section so steep and loose that you have to hit it fast and remain standing to keep the momentum up, and there is a very tricky line that has grip - miss the line and you're off. This section takes about 20 pedal strokes, but they are flat out so your heart is pounding.
The next section is flatter so you can drop back into the saddle, but you're still at 70-80% effort at this point. It then gets very very gradually steeper over about 8 minutes, until the top section which really kicks again requiring full effort and some speed to maintain traction. At the top you're lungs are hanging over the bars.
You then get a minute of flat before you get the last little standing loose kicker which is about 20 pedal strokes. It basically runs up the side of Negate Bank.
Its hard in summer, but the winter slop adds some difficulty WRT finding traction.
The next section is flatter so you can drop back into the saddle, but you're still at 70-80% effort at this point. It then gets very very gradually steeper over about 8 minutes, until the top section which really kicks again requiring full effort and some speed to maintain traction. At the top you're lungs are hanging over the bars.
You then get a minute of flat before you get the last little standing loose kicker which is about 20 pedal strokes. It basically runs up the side of Negate Bank.
Its hard in summer, but the winter slop adds some difficulty WRT finding traction.
RRS_Staffs said:
http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=257...
It looks like youre climbing approx 100m in 1km making it about 10% give or take which Id say is a fairly fruity climb
10% is about the steepest Id find enjoyable
We have 2km at the gradient locally which is a nice ride if your in the mood
I can climb all day and actually enjoy it at 6-8% which is what most Alpine or Pyrenean climbs would be - just for a lot longer
We also have some 15% ers and a 25%er for a few hundred metres which for me serve no purpose other than to say youve done them!
Cheers
Oh and if you want the full 'hurt me plenty treatment' www.climbbybike.com
They're a great pair of websites! Quickly added to favorites. Yeah one had a 14% another had 12% roadsign I remember. I can't even begin to think what 25% could be like! I don't know if I could even bring myself to try one.It looks like youre climbing approx 100m in 1km making it about 10% give or take which Id say is a fairly fruity climb
10% is about the steepest Id find enjoyable
We have 2km at the gradient locally which is a nice ride if your in the mood
I can climb all day and actually enjoy it at 6-8% which is what most Alpine or Pyrenean climbs would be - just for a lot longer
We also have some 15% ers and a 25%er for a few hundred metres which for me serve no purpose other than to say youve done them!
Cheers
Oh and if you want the full 'hurt me plenty treatment' www.climbbybike.com
Thanks for the interesting links.
There's a little climb near me that I use for hill repeats. It's not very long - maybe 700m - but peaks at about 28% which is tough the 10th time up.
Further afield Kirkstone Pass in the Lakes nearly did for me in March when I had a spin up it. Over 20% for a couple of km stretches. I recall that Wrynose is worse....
The Alpine climbs are not so tough to ride up unless you do several of them OR race up them. I imagine the Zoncolan and Mortirolo are pretty unpleasant though.
On a slightly more offbeat note the 6km up to Grosnjan in Northern Croatia is stunning but with a sneaky little 20% section about 4km up.
Further afield Kirkstone Pass in the Lakes nearly did for me in March when I had a spin up it. Over 20% for a couple of km stretches. I recall that Wrynose is worse....
The Alpine climbs are not so tough to ride up unless you do several of them OR race up them. I imagine the Zoncolan and Mortirolo are pretty unpleasant though.
On a slightly more offbeat note the 6km up to Grosnjan in Northern Croatia is stunning but with a sneaky little 20% section about 4km up.
The toughest out there (IMHO) is Hardknott Pass, it is insane. I've done it a few times & it's a real test of legs, lungs & crank arms!!
Rosedale Chimney in the North Yorkshire moors is a toughie too. Infact that area has plenty of quite bonkers climbing opportunities. The Ryedale Rumble is my favourite sportive & contains 4 or 5 monsters plus a whole load of little digs to take it outta ya.
Recently I've done Tan Hill into a mental block headwind & that felt tough, Sa Calobra in Majorca (crazy,pointless, unreal stretch of tarmac) was hard but then again I tried to get up it as fast as I could, in which case any hill is a test!
Rosedale Chimney in the North Yorkshire moors is a toughie too. Infact that area has plenty of quite bonkers climbing opportunities. The Ryedale Rumble is my favourite sportive & contains 4 or 5 monsters plus a whole load of little digs to take it outta ya.
Recently I've done Tan Hill into a mental block headwind & that felt tough, Sa Calobra in Majorca (crazy,pointless, unreal stretch of tarmac) was hard but then again I tried to get up it as fast as I could, in which case any hill is a test!
Snowdon was tough, wind rain and very cold. flickr pics here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/23318875@N02/sets/721...
Col Du Galibier was tough, sooooooo hot. flickr pics here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/23318875@N02/sets/721...
Love all climbs!
Col Du Galibier was tough, sooooooo hot. flickr pics here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/23318875@N02/sets/721...
Love all climbs!
There's an absolute c### of a hill near me called Blissford Hill... only about 300m long, but 25% average !
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&a...
One in the Purbecks, about a mile of 16%
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&a...
And a mile long 20% on the other side of Corfe Castle
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&a...
I can just about manage all three without collapsing in a heap.
I am crap at hills... need to lose a couple of stone to make things easier, I think.
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&a...
One in the Purbecks, about a mile of 16%
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&a...
And a mile long 20% on the other side of Corfe Castle
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&a...
I can just about manage all three without collapsing in a heap.
I am crap at hills... need to lose a couple of stone to make things easier, I think.
No idea what the grade is (I'd estimate near enough 20%) but there's an off road climb east out of Aldbury that goes pretty much straight up the side of the hill and it's murder. A couple on my local route around Whitwell too that have ~15% sections. Herts isn't very hilly but you could fool me!
Simon Warren's 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs is well worth a look. Plenty of scary stuff in there and it's a nice read too.
Hardest climb in Britain is Bealach Na Ba in Scotland which is on the west coast from the south up to Applecross. Its about half an Alpe Du huez. 6 miles in length and about 650m of height gain so slightly steeper than teh Alpe and on really shonky road surface. Its very slow and without too many hairpins which usually act as respite.
I found it an absolute bee stard which from someone who enjoys going up Alpe d huez is saying something
I found it an absolute bee stard which from someone who enjoys going up Alpe d huez is saying something
Old man Jimbo said:
There are two points on the ride out that make me feel like my heart and lungs are going to quite literally burst out of my chest so I've linked them off goggle maps.
I doff my cap to you Sir. Nuffink like that in the Saaarf, least ways not in Norf Essix, anyway. The first one you linked looks like the climb that just keeps on giving. 
Here's two near me that I have a love/hate relationship with
Dragon Hill Road
Blowing Stone Hill
The second hits 20% and just drags on. I don't mind long hills, just not steep and long together.
Dragon Hill Road
Blowing Stone Hill
The second hits 20% and just drags on. I don't mind long hills, just not steep and long together.
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