Event idea

[Daveyraveygravey]

The Goodwood Hill climb? Would Lord March go for it? And is there another road down?

Will try and think of other options

[Gruffy]

I don't think there's an access road for Goodwood but the hill is wide and straight enough to be safe. It's probably a long shot but definitely worth an ask. Good suggestion.

[louiebaby]

Hill climb course local to me, no affiliation, might be worth a call:

http://www.wiscombepark.co.uk/

[G321]

Gruffy said:

Quick update: Prescott have exhausted their limited (30) allowance of event days for 2019. Denbies are keen but I'm cautious about putting large numbers of tired riders onto public roads to descend Ranmore Road at 30-40mph. Firle Beacon is an option but is steeper than I'd like and doesn't offer any shelter for relay teams or facilities, limiting the appeal.

I'm trying Shelsey Walsh and Gurton hill climb courses too.

I was going to suggest Shelsley but thought prescott would be more suitable as it has the service road down (which Shelsley doesn't have). Shelsley does already run cycling events with the hill climb and cyclo cross events in October and I think a TT run from there at some point so they may be open to another cycling event. Plus it's local to me so I would definitely be up for it!

[Gruffy]

Another update. I visited Denbies last week and though they were really helpful I don't think the hill suits an event like this. I'm not prepared to repeatedly send a mass of tired riders out onto Ranmore Road. For a smaller event Box Hill is a great hill but finding a base and managing the turnarounds is challenging. I visited Juniper Hall, 400m from the base of the climb, and they were really helpful. Ultimately though I think trying to safely use Box Hill caps the numbers too low.

Initially CRUK came to me asking for a fundraising event they could put on 'before the end of March'. Having visited the potential venues and been subjected to the realities they've acknowledged that March really isn't the time for this, regardless of accounting desires. So, happily, we're now aiming higher and planning for the end of September or early October, when you're all in peak summer fitness and the weather is on our side.

All of the motorsport hillclimbs we've contacted have unfortunately been eliminated. Firle Beacon is currently the best contender but I'm still hoping we can find something perfect. I came across photos of the stunning climb at Stwlan Dam in Snowdonia, which would be a beautiful place to toil. It might be that it's too narrow to safely have riders climbing and descending at the same time. Does anybody know this area well?

Are the other similar hidden gems we don't know about? Remote enough to feasibly close and make a bit of noise for 24 hours; safe enough to host tired descenders and climbers with somewhere to safely turn at each end. Ideally an area we set up with gazebos/marquee to act as a base. And of course somewhere people would love to ride their bikes. A smooth 7-10% hill would be perfect.

If anybody has other suggestions please do post them up.

[Daveyraveygravey]

There's a fella called Sir Guy Litespeed I follow who Everested Stwlan Dam, he would know. I would love to ride up it but it would make the event more challenging logistically for me.
It’s definitely a better time of year though, March can be ropey.

[wobert]

What sort of height gain are you looking for?

I know of a road close to where I live in N Wales which is effectively a dead end, it’s a mile long and starts at 2% increasing to 12% near the top.

There is a closed section at the top accessed through a gate which is on The Gladstone estate in Hawarden, which adds another section of climb. (You would need to negotiate with the estate to get the gate opened.

It’s around 300 ft (100m) vertical ascent, but a quiet road with good access to the motorway network to get people in and out, plus room at the top for a base.

Look for “Spinning Wheel Hill” and “The Forgotten Road” on Strava.

I won’t be offended if you don’t wish to use it.... as it may be a “bit far north” for some of you.... (that comes from someone born in Surrey, and spent his formative years on the Sussex coast...)

Edited by wobert on Monday 14th January 21:36

Edited by wobert on Monday 14th January 21:36

[Gruffy]

I'm keen for the course to be long enough to host lots of riders and I think it's probably more enjoyable to ride if it's a larger hill with less reps. 150m+ would be my benchmark I think.

[Jacobyte]

How about Hindhead? Up the old A3. Only 4% average, but it's 4k long. Very quiet and it's all paved.

https://www.strava.com/segments/910091?filter=over...

[yellowjack]

Jacobyte said:

How about Hindhead? Up the old A3. Only 4% average, but it's 4k long. Very quiet and it's all paved.

https://www.strava.com/segments/910091?filter=over...

...sorry to be negative, but It's a bit narrow in places, criss-crossed by Bridleways and footpaths, and almost always busy with ramblers, dog walkers, and large family groups enjoying the scenery. Add in the other (non participant) cyclists who cannot be briefed to ride on one side or t'other, and I can't see it working there. Can't see the NT/local council going for a closure either, not on a PROW that is realistically the principal alternative to the Hindhead Tunnel, which cyclists are banned from using.

Sorry...




Although I've not ridden 'up' that climb myself, only ever gone downhill in the opposite direction, but I can't recall ever getting a "clear run" free from other users.

[louiebaby]

Hi Gruffy,

Seems you don't follow me on Strava, so I can't challenge you to a segment, but try searching for "Dhustone Lane to Radar Station" near Ludlow.

Does that work? I take it my hill climb course wasn't interested?

Lewis

[Jacobyte]

yellowjack said:

...sorry to be negative, but It's a bit narrow in places, criss-crossed by Bridleways and footpaths, and almost always busy with ramblers, dog walkers, and large family groups enjoying the scenery. Add in the other (non participant) cyclists who cannot be briefed to ride on one side or t'other, and I can't see it working there. Can't see the NT/local council going for a closure either, not on a PROW that is realistically the principal alternative to the Hindhead Tunnel, which cyclists are banned from using.

Sorry...




Although I've not ridden 'up' that climb myself, only ever gone downhill in the opposite direction, but I can't recall ever getting a "clear run" free from other users.

Indeed, it's shared with the public, as are any of the routes suggested, although not really narrow for a few dozen riders strung out over an 8k loop; but is it over-optimistic to think the necessary authorities might easily grant permission for some simple marshalling/tape/signage/first-aid/etc on the top half of the hill (at least from the mini-car-park halfway up)?



Being local, I'd chose it over Wales I sometimes MTB down the trails beside it. Still got got some root rash from a couple of weeks ago

[Gruffy]

louiebaby said:

Hi Gruffy,

Seems you don't follow me on Strava, so I can't challenge you to a segment, but try searching for "Dhustone Lane to Radar Station" near Ludlow.

Does that work? I take it my hill climb course wasn't interested?

Lewis

Unfortunately none of the hillclimb courses we contacted were available for us.

Clee Hill looks interesting but there's quite a bit of housing around so we'd cause quite a nuisance.

[Barga]

I think the rules state no loops,so up and down same hill.

[Daveyraveygravey]

Gruffy said:

Unfortunately none of the hillclimb courses we contacted were available for us.

Clee Hill looks interesting but there's quite a bit of housing around so we'd cause quite a nuisance.

Clee Hill is very exposed, and I think there are cattle grids top and bottom.
150m of altitude gain rules out anything closer to London as far as I can think?

[mcelliott]

Barga said:

I think the rules state no loops,so up and down same hill.

Correct - if you were to include loops then you'd qualify for something called the High Rouleurs society ride, which I think would be better and safer for a large group, and quite fun too. You have to exceed 10,000m over the course of 36 hours.

[millen]

Might be worth looking at Staple Lane, running SSE from the A246 in East Clandon? It's used as a closed road just once a year for the (motor) Shere Hill Climb which is a fun event. Appreciably wider than Box Hill, with good sight lines. 300-350 ft ascent, depending where the turnround area is designated and decent, consistent gradient. Very light traffic from what I've seen, as the roads it feeds into aren't much used for cut-throughs.

Pictures on the Shere HC website should give a feel for the terrain https://www.sherehillclimb.co.uk/ (To avoid any names confusion, Shere Road itself is a parallel climb close to Staple Lane but gnarly and twisty and not suitable! Likewise Coombe Lane which leads down from the ridge into Shere village and has a 'hard' gradient. )

One downside is that, by Surrey standards, it's back of beyond with no infrastructure. But Caroline, a keen cyclist who runs https://www.allezmobilecatering.co.uk/ tends at weekends to park her van in the car park at the top (flat) section of Staple Lane and I'm sure would be prepared to help out with catering. The Hill Climb organisers take over the large field at the foot of the hill (next to A246) for car parking, HQ, stalls etc - no doubt they'd put you in touch with the farmer who owns that field.

[Gruffy]

Thanks millen. Lack of infrastructure isn't a problem for the tail end of summer. We'd be able to bring in something temporary and hopefully pull in food offerings from friends like G!RO cafe. On the list for further investigation.

[yellowjack]

Gruffy said:

Thanks millen. Lack of infrastructure isn't a problem for the tail end of summer. We'd be able to bring in something temporary and hopefully pull in food offerings from friends like G!RO cafe. On the list for further investigation.

Staple Lane is a good call. You can see London's skyline from there too. In fact great views in all directions, as it's more open farmland either side than the close-in woodland on most of the other Surrey Hills climbs. One business (flowers, I think, grower not Florist) near the bottom, but a closure uphill of this might be of no great consequence to them?

[J886ATV]

yellowjack said:

Staple Lane is a good call. You can see London's skyline from there too. In fact great views in all directions, as it's more open farmland either side than the close-in woodland on most of the other Surrey Hills climbs. One business (flowers, I think, grower not Florist) near the bottom, but a closure uphill of this might be of no great consequence to them?

Don't forget the brewery 3/4 of the way up the hill
http://www.tillybeer.co.uk/contact/