100 Great Cycling Climbs

[anonymous-user]

I'm sure you've all seen the book by now, small black A5 size describing, well, the 100 greatest cycling climbs in the UK. having read bits of it last night, i have actually driven up most of them including Bealach na ba which gets a rating of 11/10 in the book.

so i thought if anyone else had bought it or is considering it, we can compare climbs, not so much the time taken on the ascent but more the "fking hell that was tough" kind of thing... I'm planning a trip to the lakes in September to bag a few of the lakeland passes but there are a few in the South west that are worthy of a day trip and an early start given its tourist season...

I told SWMBO i'd need a new bike, the request wasnt met with total bike denial....

[Robster60]

I have the book and although not built for hill-climbing at 17st 7lbs, I am taking it as a challenge. Most recently did Box Hill in Surrey which is on the 2012 Road Cycling route, and I actually didn't find it too bad (albeit only once and not the 9 times that the likes of Cavo will be doing!)

As for the Lakes, Wrynose Pass is a real killer; the only reason I'm smiling in the pic below is that I'd walked half of it, and knew I could freewheel down Hardknot Pass the other side

[tenohfive]

I've done the Wrynose and Hardknott passes a few times in a car and that was hard enough! But cycling it? Bugger that for a game of soldiers.

Although saying that, I'm slowly converting the missus to the idea of fitting a bike rack to the car and doing some camping holidays with cycling chucked in, so who knows - maybe in a few years.

[Gazzab]

Is there a list on-line of the top 100?
The hill that I live on, up to 'Curbar Gap' is a killer (and I have to ride it afer every ride. Its used by clubs so I wonder if its in there. There are some great hills near me eg Jacobs Ladder.
Box Hill is pretty tame and no steep inclines, its more of a mound than a hill (my parents lived there until recently and I used to live in Dorking so know it well).
I used to cycle the 'La Manga' hill which was used in Superstars (OK its not in the UK) but actually that was relatively easy, it was just the heat during the middle of the day that would kill you. I would get applauded by walkers though!

[Robster60]

Gazzab said:

Is there a list on-line of the top 100?
The hill that I live on, up to 'Curbar Gap' is a killer (and I have to ride it afer every ride. Its used by clubs so I wonder if its in there. There are some great hills near me eg Jacobs Ladder.

Curbar Edge is how it's described in the book - rates a 6/10 compared with 3/10 for Box Hill and 10/10 for Wrynose/Hardknott. Not sure if the list is on-line anywhere.

When you live in Bedfordshire, as I do, where the tallest undulation is 300ft, then all of these are a challenge!!

[Robster60]

Just checked on Amazon - if you click on the 'Look Inside' icon, you can see the full list of 100 at the back of the book

100 Greatest Cycling Climbs

[tenohfive]

Robster60 said:

When you live in Bedfordshire, as I do, where the tallest undulation is 300ft, then all of these are a challenge!!

Not anywhere near Barton by any chance?

[Raoul Duke]

Havent got the book, but looking at the list numbers 9+10 feature fairly regularly on my Dartmoor training loop, usually do Widdecombe going up, which has a fair bit of 20% and then Haytor going down, which is a much more fun way of doing that particular hill! Dunkery Beacon in Somerset is a bit of a stinker as well, it can be ridden over two routes, both of which feature a cattle grid at one of the steapest points that can be very difficult to get accross when the roads slippery the gradient makes it a nightmare to clip back in if you do come a cropper on it. There is also a 33% hill not too far away, yet to get around to trying that one.

[Robster60]

tenohfive said:

Not anywhere near Barton by any chance?

Nah - just North of the County town itself. Barton is on one of my longer Saturday morning routes, though I've somehow always managed to avoid Sharpenhoe Clappers

[XitUp]

Anything in the Lincolnshire Wolds?

[The Flying Ox]

It's been a long while since I last did it so I can't really comment on how it counts against other climbs, but I always thought the stretch up from Hathersage village past Higger Tor was quite a beast.

[drakart]

I used to go up Chimney Bank in Rosedale Abbey in my youth. It's one of the steepest roads in the UK making it a phenomenal climb.

[ammw]

I've got the book. I live in Scotland and was disappointed at the lack of climbs north of the border included. There are quite a few difficult climbs I have done, that I'm sure are worthy of inclusion, and probably harder than some of the ones he has included from Scotland (obviously not Bealach na Ba!), e.g.

Bealach Maim from Glendaruel: http://www.sportivecentral.com/index.php?p=climbs&...
Glen Quaich from Kenmore: http://www.sportivecentral.com/index.php?p=climbs&...
Kenknock to Glen Lyon: http://www.sportivecentral.com/index.php?p=climbs&...

[Captain Beaky]

It's a great little book, an interesting read even for the hills you don't know. The ratings usually provoke discussion of the comparative difficulties over a post-ride cuppa.

I've ticked a few of them around the Yorkshire Dales plus one or two in Wales and the Peak District but just because they part of my rides rather than as a special trip. I dare say there are folks working on ticking them all though.

[flight147z]

Bit of a resurrection but I thought I would see how people on PH are getting on with these. I'm up to 25 now (no intention to do them all but I'm doing the ones that I can when I can!)

South West - Cheddar Gorge, Dover's Hill
South East - Swains Lane
Midlands - Michaelgate, Terrace Hill, Monsal Head, Bank Road, Riber, Winnats Pass, Rowsley Bar, Curbar Edge, Mow Cop, Peaslows, Jiggers Bank, The Burway
Yorkshire - Pea Royd Lane, Jackson Bridge, Holme Moss, Malham Cove, Langcliffe Scar,
Scotland - The Cairnwell, The Lecht
North West - Cat and Fiddle, Swiss Hill, Lamps Moss
Wales - None

Obviously the more you do the harder it gets to complete more given the travel involved. I've therefore mostly moved onto the "local" books (Midlands and Yorkshire in my case) as there are a lot of good hills in those that didn't make it into the main books that are a lot easier to get out to. Up to 11 in Yorkshire and 41 in the Midlands (not going to type them all out!)

[SomersetWestie]

flight147z said:

Bit of a resurrection but I thought I would see how people on PH are getting on with these. I'm up to 25 now (no intention to do them all but I'm doing the ones that I can when I can!)

South West - Cheddar Gorge, Dover's Hill
South East - Swains Lane
Midlands - Michaelgate, Terrace Hill, Monsal Head, Bank Road, Riber, Winnats Pass, Rowsley Bar, Curbar Edge, Mow Cop, Peaslows, Jiggers Bank, The Burway
Yorkshire - Pea Royd Lane, Jackson Bridge, Holme Moss, Malham Cove, Langcliffe Scar,
Scotland - The Cairnwell, The Lecht
North West - Cat and Fiddle, Swiss Hill, Lamps Moss
Wales - None

Obviously the more you do the harder it gets to complete more given the travel involved. I've therefore mostly moved onto the "local" books (Midlands and Yorkshire in my case) as there are a lot of good hills in those that didn't make it into the main books that are a lot easier to get out to. Up to 11 in Yorkshire and 41 in the Midlands (not going to type them all out!)

4 ! But then I've not been trying very hard lol.

Cheddar Gorge and Crowcome Combe here in Somerset.
The Tumble and Bwlch Y Groes in Wales.

Will be trying to do more once we can safely travel again !!!

[anonymous-user]

Once you have knocked off the UK climbs, you can head over to Italy for another 100!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1472143051

[nammynake]

I live in Leeds so no shortage of climbs around Yorkshire, however a couple of climbs further afield stand out:

1) Hardknott Pass - done it several times on the Fred Whitton sportive. The gradient is just ridiculous, especially that last ramp after the left hander. It’s the only time I’ve ever cramped, although the previous 100 miles no doubt contributed to that. I love it and hate it in equal measure. Would love to have a proper crack whilst fresh.

2) Great Dun Fell - private road, no traffic, immaculate tarmac and biggest climb in the UK (or I think on par with Bealach). It’s a tough climb due to its length and 20%+ gradients. The last two time I’ve done it half way around a 200 miler. Another one is like to do fresh but equally enjoy grovelling up during epic long summer rides.

[flight147z]

nammynake said:

I live in Leeds so no shortage of climbs around Yorkshire, however a couple of climbs further afield stand out:

1) Hardknott Pass - done it several times on the Fred Whitton sportive. The gradient is just ridiculous, especially that last ramp after the left hander. It’s the only time I’ve ever cramped, although the previous 100 miles no doubt contributed to that. I love it and hate it in equal measure. Would love to have a proper crack whilst fresh.

2) Great Dun Fell - private road, no traffic, immaculate tarmac and biggest climb in the UK (or I think on par with Bealach). It’s a tough climb due to its length and 20%+ gradients. The last two time I’ve done it half way around a 200 miler. Another one is like to do fresh but equally enjoy grovelling up during epic long summer rides.

I did GDF last summer and I'll definitely be going there again this year as there isn't anything else like it in England. It's a brilliant climb and very tough, especially after the flat bit in the middle! Found it a real challenge last time but I've lost about 10kg since then so I'm hoping to get a better time this year. I'll try to do Hartside this time in the same ride (last time I did GDF and Lamps Moss)

I was looking forward to completing Hardknott on the Fred Whitton this year (I had a place but obviously it's been cancelled). If I can get to the Lakes for a weekend I can probably tick off 4 or 5 climbs

[TCX]

flight147z said:

nammynake said:

I live in Leeds so no shortage of climbs around Yorkshire, however a couple of climbs further afield stand out:

1) Hardknott Pass - done it several times on the Fred Whitton sportive. The gradient is just ridiculous, especially that last ramp after the left hander. It’s the only time I’ve ever cramped, although the previous 100 miles no doubt contributed to that. I love it and hate it in equal measure. Would love to have a proper crack whilst fresh.

2) Great Dun Fell - private road, no traffic, immaculate tarmac and biggest climb in the UK (or I think on par with Bealach). It’s a tough climb due to its length and 20%+ gradients. The last two time I’ve done it half way around a 200 miler. Another one is like to do fresh but equally enjoy grovelling up during epic long summer rides.

I did GDF last summer and I'll definitely be going there again this year as there isn't anything else like it in England. It's a brilliant climb and very tough, especially after the flat bit in the middle! Found it a real challenge last time but I've lost about 10kg since then so I'm hoping to get a better time this year. I'll try to do Hartside this time in the same ride (last time I did GDF and Lamps Moss)

I was looking forward to completing Hardknott on the Fred Whitton this year (I had a place but obviously it's been cancelled). If I can get to the Lakes for a weekend I can probably tick off 4 or 5 climbs

Some decent climbing in the North lakes,bit quieter too,doctors brow out of sebergham,heading towards wigton,then as climb levels out turn left straight,literally up warnell hill head towards caldbeck then either head down caldbeck,great descent n more lumpy climbs heading back towards Penrith or follow road to uldale n head to Keswick