Recommend me a hill to climb near Reading

Woodwings

Have decided I really need to address my sustained hill climbing as the weakness to work on this year, so I'm looking for hills to climb, either as an interval to repeat, or for some recommendations of good routes with plenty of climbs in them.

Am currently climbing little (?) bumps in the Chilterns, but any further ideas would be a plus. I'm more looking for long climbs, which i'd be doing mainly on a fixed wheel.

Roadie Rods

You could try the road from Streatley to Newbury. That has a couple of "lumps" in it. If memory serves me correctly, it's a longer climb out of Newbury, but the one out of Streatley (or is it Goring) is quite steep.

Alternatively, if you can get out that far, the A40 from Postcombe up to Stokenchurch isn't far away - about 5-6%, usually taking between 6 and 9 minutes.

a_n_t

the only chevrons on the OS map seem to be around the upper basildon area

thetrotter

Some years since I lived and raced in that area but IIRC the climbs from Watlington to Christmas Common and Cookley Green (through Howe Wood) are steep and testing. One of my favourites was out of Henley through Stonor and Pishill - never too steep but hard if you pushed it and steeper near the top. Alternatively, go along the A4155 between Henley and Marlow and turn off through Hambleton, Skirmitt and Fingest. Some long climbs out of Marlow as well on B roads and interesting bumps between Wantage and Newbury. Of course if you want real hills then you need to move to the Peak District :twisted:

softlad

Been a while since I lived in the area, but head towards Pangbourne on the A329 and then take the B471 signposted to Whitchurch, over the bridge, through the village and then up.

Alternatively, stay on the A329 to Streatley and take the B4526 singposted to Goring Heath - another useful climb out of Goring village...

Don't know where around Reading you are, but I used to live in Wokingham and one of my favourite training routes was a loop taking in Arborfield, Mortimer, Pangbourne, Streatley, Christmas Common, Henley, Cockpole Green, Knowl Hill and them home - plenty of climbs on that one. If you're interested, I will post up the route (if I can remember)..

a_n_t

thetrotter wrote:

Of course if you want real hills then you need to move to the Peak District :twisted:

softlad

or mid Wales...

FAT_ROB

I to am trapped in Reading (and originaly from the peak district. Let me assure you there are no hills in reading.

However there is a fairly short but sharp climb which I do reps on occasionaly Heading out from Caversham (cross the bridge going away from Reading and turn first right) Its not particulary steep but hit it in a high enough gear and it can be a good little pull.

Otherwise head for wales!

softlad

do you mean over Caversham bridge and turn first 'left' - not right..?? If so, that is St Peters Hill...

FAT_ROB

Yep sorry that will be the one, No wonder I always get lost

jeepie

Don't think you need to go to Wales....Can you actually do Streatley Hill? I can just do it on a double....This hill is an absolute brute.

Leave Reading on the A329 through Purley. Then when you get to the Bull pub turn left on the B4009 and up the hill and enjoy.

Other hills:

1) Whitchurch hill mentioned - I did it a few weeks ago and my bike wheel was very skittish on the ice as it's very steep at the top! Go to Pangbourne and cross the river. Then follow the B471.

2) The Reading road from Goring to Cray's Pond (B4526).

3) Remenham Hill (A4130) out of Henley

4) Watlington Hill is quite long and quite steep at first but then steady. Take the left (Hill Road) off the B4009.

5) Britwell Hill - turn off the B4009 before Watlington at Britwell Salome.

There are quite a lot!

DaSy

I live in Pangbourne and can assure you there are plenty of hills in this area. My short 1 hour ride is 22 miles and has over 550m of ascent. I have plenty of routes that are around 60 miles and get around 1500m of ascent in.

I ride in South Wales a lot (generally once or twice a month) and don't exceed that by that much even when climbing Rhigos, Bwlch and Cimla in one ride, so the Chilterns have lots of climbs. They are generally only around a mile long but usually around 12 - 16% (sections of quite a bit more than that often) so fairly steep.

Climbs worth a visit would be Streatley Hill, Chinor Hill, Kingston Hill (Kingston Blount), Chain Hill (Wantage), Walbury Hill (from Inkpen side).

softlad

Jeepie wrote:

Don't think you need to go to Wales....Can you actually do Streatley Hill? I can just do it on a double....This hill is an absolute brute.

true - Streatley Hill is a bit of a killer....but I think the OP mentioned riding on a fixed/SS, so I'm not sure how practical that would be..

Another nice long climb is the road past Stonor Park, just north of Henley - can't remember what its called...

jeepie

Good point softlad.

Yeah - I think the stonor stuff is great (I think I do similar but a bit towards Henley). Turn off the B480 at Middle Assendon after heading out from Henley and pottle up towards Turville Heath....this is more gradual so more likely on a fixed.

Simon Notley

This isn't a single hill, but a whole bunch... the Reading CC torture 40 (which isn't 40 miles, but is torture)

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/RC ... 2008-1400m

Simon

Woodwings

Thanks for the responses. A lot i'm familiar with, and some I'd forgotten about!

I've crawled up Streatley hill many a time, on a double though! It's always a good way to check your max HRM... I was quite glad to see the Tour of Britain routed up it this year, although the guy who won it looked like he was going a bit quicker than I normally would.. i'm looking for a few longer ones for sustained work. Chinnor, Watlington and Henley-Maidensgrove are probably more the thing.

Anyone have any recommendations in North Hampshire direction? Might be more the thing for after work.

Ta.

bahzob

Live in Newbury, lots of climbs just to south of us in N Hants. Steepest is Watership Down (going N>S, going S>N its a longer drag). Parallel to going S>N are a couple of long drags up to Hannington.

Highest village in all Hants (just south of us) is Ashmansworth and this provides plenty of opportunity for climbing practice. There are a number of ways up to it and if you link to Facombe/Coombe Gibbet nearby you can easily knock up the metres ascent with plenty of variety. e.g. here is the equivalent of climbing an Alp on the Hants/W Berks border

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/L-Alpe-de-Newbury

Monty Dog

I can vouch for Streatley Hill being a significant proposition on fixed gear and if coming from Pangbourne, swing right over the toll bridge and head up and to Whitchurch and over to Goring before Streatley for added effect. The lanes around Upper Basildon and Ashampstead are hilly too. There's certainly a number of long rolling hills is you head over the Hampshire downs - between Kingsclere and Hannington or further west towards Ashmansworth. Despite the highest point being just over 200m it's quite easy to take in over 2000m of ascent in about 100km if you plan your route

ugo.santalucia

thetrotter wrote:

Some years since I lived and raced in that area but IIRC the climbs from Watlington to Christmas Common and Cookley Green (through Howe Wood) are steep and testing. One of my favourites was out of Henley through Stonor and Pishill - never too steep but hard if you pushed it and steeper near the top. Alternatively, go along the A4155 between Henley and Marlow and turn off through Hambleton, Skirmitt and Fingest. Some long climbs out of Marlow as well on B roads and interesting bumps between Wantage and Newbury. Of course if you want real hills then you need to move to the Peak District :twisted:

Yeah, these are the ones. Watlington to Christmas Common is probably the closest to you and the hardest of the lot as well

normanp

Try starting at Hambleden lock - go up the valley doing every hill (start with the first right) and returning back to the valley each time. I think there are 13 climbs - 3 are really hard. Be very careful on the narrow winding descents as you may meet the occasional Range Rover / tractor blocking the road

Russell Smith

Try Winter Hill between Marlow and Cookham Dean , which has a 180 Bend halfway up or down dependent on what you fancy, Dell Road in fichmapstead is a short climb but steep too. I did start a thread some time ago on here called Thames Valley Climbs, also pop yourself up to Legoland in Windsor, nice view from the top too

ugo.santalucia

Russell Smith wrote:

Try Winter Hill between Marlow and Cookham Dean , which has a 180 Bend halfway up or down dependent on what you fancy, Dell Road in fichmapstead is a short climb but steep too. I did start a thread some time ago on here called Thames Valley Climbs, also pop yourself up to Legoland in Windsor, nice view from the top too

I like winter hill, on top there's also a Sequoia tree! It's not a hard one or a long one, but it's good to push yourself to the limit without fear of getting stuck mid way. If they only bothered to resurface the road where the hairpin is, that looks like has been bombed by B 52s... rest of the surface if perfect

ugo.santalucia

Russell Smith wrote:

Try Winter Hill between Marlow and Cookham Dean , which has a 180 Bend halfway up or down dependent on what you fancy, Dell Road in fichmapstead is a short climb but steep too. I did start a thread some time ago on here called Thames Valley Climbs, also pop yourself up to Legoland in Windsor, nice view from the top too

I like winter hill, on top there's also a Sequoia tree! It's not a hard one or a long one, but it's good to push yourself to the limit without fear of getting stuck mid way. If they only bothered to resurface the road where the hairpin is, that looks like has been bombed by B 52s... rest of the surface if perfect

eh

Since very few UK races go up anything longer than can be found in the Chilterns why look for longer hills?

Just head out and use Stockenchurch for long-ish reps at a fairly steady gradient and something steeper for short sharp blasts e.g. Streatley or Christmas Common area.

JohnDouglas

if you want something actually in reading go for hill repeats on alpine road! cars though. i used to think that was steep till i moved out to west berkshire. when i lived in reading i tended to cycle out past green park. i never really found any hills till i got to watership down.

btw if the hill directly out of streatley is too steep (i suspect it will be on a fixie) & a bit busy traffic wise then you can always head south from that junction and ride up stichins green (i think that's what it's called i'm new here!). also the hill out of compton, applepie hill, is reported by signposts as 16% although i've calculated it as 6%. i haven't ridden it yet, partly due to crazy countryside traffic, partly due to being overweight and unfit!

DaveyL

Sorry for the mild hijack - can any of you chaps recommend a decent 35-40 miler that can be done from Reading in the morning or early evening, avoiding heavy traffic? I live pretty much in the centre of Reading near the Berkshire hospital.

Been up Stokenchurch hill once, keen to get over there again. The hill out of Watlington on the road back to Nettlebed is vile.

JohnDouglas

this is a good 40 mile loop around basingstoke:
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Basingstoke-Loop

i've tried to draw the route to it on bikely but i can't get used to the new autorouting. but basically head out south on national cycleways route to basingstoke. you'll be on cycleways to green park. i adjust the cycleways route a little. after you go over the bridge over the M4, stay on the main road that brings you around to near three mile cross roundabout. then turn right (this is not a nice road, but at least it's wide and the traffic has always been respectful to me anyway). head down to grazley, (once there it's traffic free) then stick on cycleways route till you get to this loop. all those roads are good around there anyway. some of them might be a bit on the narrow side if you're a fast cyclist ie 18-22mph.

DaveyL

Thanks for this, but going from Reading, it'd be an awful lot more than 40 miles.

Ideally I'm looking for something between 30 and 40 miles from central Reading, and one which preferably gets you off busy roads as qucikly as possible, so you could ride it, say, early on a weekday morning or evening.

fnegroni

For my weekend training ride, I usually go to Benson and back from Wokingham:
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Wa ... afe-Benson

through Crazies Hill and then Pishill, which is part of the Reading CC torture 40 which was mentioned by an earlier poster, but in the opposite direction: Pishill is a good climb, with an increasing gradient: so the more tired you get the harder it gets, making it doubly hard.