The legend of the 17% hill

_Brun_

TopSpin wrote:

Steve Kish wrote:

I can take in Nightingale Lane on the commute home, which kicks up to about 18% at the top. It's about 300 yards long, with a bend.

Is this the one parallel to Highgate West Hill? If so, can be a bit of a bee-atch. My 38 x 26 at snails pace allows me to reach The Flask without collapsing .... just about!

I think the one parallel to Highgate west is Swains Lane. I ended up on it once when taking a wrong turn on the way home. Couldn't quite manage it & had to get off and walk :oops:

Did Swains Lane last week on the new single speed. 48:18 was hard work, but the thought of pint(s) at the top just about got us up there.

Going back down Dartmouth Park Hill on that ratio could only be described as 'spinny'.

roger_merriman

cjcp wrote:

Yep, both are very different hills. I can get up Broom Hill in a 53x19, but I'm out of the saddle. Nightingale, I'm in the 39 right from the start :P - it's a tricky ol' turning off Pertersham Rd (the road condition isn't great at the turning :? ) and I seem unable to turn in at speed. I was told that Nightingale kicks up to 18%, which must be that bit athe end. t's about the same as Whitedown, I think. No idea about Broom Hill - it's always a great work out though because of the drag leading up to it.

Actually, while we're in that area, do you chaps know what Star & Garter's gradient is?

I find Rchmond Hill a good work out at the end of the commute because of it's length, and King's Road.

it's marked at 10% which is about right, star and garter that is.

cjcp

cheers - it's about that length and gradient which is ideal for reps (just a shame about the traffic) if you do a loop around Richmond so you burn the brakes out going up and down each time

Petromyzon

Hi CJ, you mentioned a hill road going up to Ranmore common earlier in the thread. I wondered if you ever ride the other direction up to there, the one which passes a school. I think my way is Ranmore road and your way Ranmore Common Road. How do they compare in toughness? It is certainly the hardest one on my Surrey loop 8)

greg66_tri_v2.0

Broom HIll and Dark Hill are short sharp shocks. But they shouldn't really cause that much pain; they're short enough that you can go anaerobic to get up them, then recover past the top. Broom's got quite a deceptive gradient leading to it, which can sap the legs of the unwary, making it seem harder than it is. Dark Hill has almost a standing start due to the roundabout at the bottom, but there's the little recovery stretch halfway up with is very welcome.

Swain's Lane, and the other approaches up Highgate Hill are, by contrast, as steep but much longer. You certainly don't want to go anaerobic going up there. A more measure effort is needed. Crystal Palace is not so steep but likewise is long enough to require you to measure your effort.

As for the steepest I know of in London: top of Jackson's Lane, where it narrows for the width restrictions. That pitch from Highgate Tube to the village is short, but sufficiently steep to put you in the red quickly. Must have been fun in the snow!

EDIT: this is a hill rep workout I haven't done for a couple of years. Some of you younger enthusiastic types should try it. Up to Crystal Palace from Dulwich Village (College Road/Fountain Drive); down to the junction of Alleyn Park and Park Hall Road; up from there (DUlwich Wood Park/Upper College Road); down to Penge West Rly Stn; up from there (Crystal Palace Park Road); down Anerley Hill til it flattens, up from there.

Three reps of that set. Middle set is always the easiest, strangely.

cjcp

Petromyzon wrote:

Hi CJ, you mentioned a hill road going up to Ranmore common earlier in the thread. I wondered if you ever ride the other direction up to there, the one which passes a school. I think my way is Ranmore road and your way Ranmore Common Road. How do they compare in toughness? It is certainly the hardest one on my Surrey loop 8)

I don't think I've been up Ranmore Road. What's it like? It's ages since I've been on a club run out that way (Chuckcork will probably know much better) and, when I have or been out on my own, I'm pretty sure it's been up Ranmore Common Road from Chapel Lane or White Down.

Does your loop take in Radnor Lane? If not, very worthwhile. It's about a mile long climb through the trees around Peaslake. The descent takes you down onto the Horsham Road.

jonginge

cjcp wrote:

Petromyzon wrote:

Hi CJ, you mentioned a hill road going up to Ranmore common earlier in the thread. I wondered if you ever ride the other direction up to there, the one which passes a school. I think my way is Ranmore road and your way Ranmore Common Road. How do they compare in toughness? It is certainly the hardest one on my Surrey loop 8)

I don't think I've been up Ranmore Road. What's it like? It's ages since I've been on a club run out that way (Chuckcork will probably know much better) and, when I have or been out on my own, I'm pretty sure it's been up Ranmore Common Road from Chapel Lane or White Down.

Does your loop take in Radnor Lane? If not, very worthwhile. It's about a mile long climb through the trees around Peaslake. The descent takes you down onto the Horsham Road.

It's also been a while since I went on a KW clubrun (too lazy to get up early on a sunday). I do remember a 21% road sign on one run, though, but can't remember the name of the village the road went up through. I remember the climb vividly, though*

* It was similar in length and severity to the climb just before the first feed on HOTA for those who did that event

roger_merriman

JonGinge wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Petromyzon wrote:

Hi CJ, you mentioned a hill road going up to Ranmore common earlier in the thread. I wondered if you ever ride the other direction up to there, the one which passes a school. I think my way is Ranmore road and your way Ranmore Common Road. How do they compare in toughness? It is certainly the hardest one on my Surrey loop 8)

I don't think I've been up Ranmore Road. What's it like? It's ages since I've been on a club run out that way (Chuckcork will probably know much better) and, when I have or been out on my own, I'm pretty sure it's been up Ranmore Common Road from Chapel Lane or White Down.

Does your loop take in Radnor Lane? If not, very worthwhile. It's about a mile long climb through the trees around Peaslake. The descent takes you down onto the Horsham Road.

It's also been a while since I went on a KW clubrun (too lazy to get up early on a sunday). I do remember a 21% road sign on one run, though, but can't remember the name of the village the road went up through. I remember the climb vividly, though*

* It was similar in length and severity to the climb just before the first feed on HOTA for those who did that event

ah snap about the not getting to KW club runs....9am can be very early some morns....

Bassjunkieuk

@G66 - I might have to give that hill rep set a go as they are only about 5 minutes ride from my house! One of my commute routes incorporates the College Road/Fountain Drive section which is always great fun, especially considering that I need to bear right at the roundabout to come along Crystal Palace Parade so I have to contend with the steeper section of road, whilst moving into the RH land all whilst trying to get some speed up to hit the roundabout ideally without stopping!

I used to do Dulwich Wood Avenue and then Farquhuar Road as well which was a nice bit of work at the end of the commute, I can still remember doing Farquhuar on the old roadie and having a right struggle then due to the less then ideal gearing :-(

cjcp

JonGinge wrote:

It's also been a while since I went on a KW clubrun (too lazy to get up early on a sunday). I do remember a 21% road sign on one run, though, but can't remember the name of the village the road went up through. I remember the climb vividly, though*

* It was similar in length and severity to the climb just before the first feed on HOTA for those who did that event

That climb was The Wall, I found out later.

Staples Lane? It brings you out at the top of Coombe Bottom (if it makes any sense to come out at the top of a Bottom).

cjcp

Herncrest or whatever it's called is another that gets the lungs going. The very top is close ot Leith Hill.

gbs

roger merriman wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Yep, both are very different hills. I can get up Broom Hill in a 53x19, but I'm out of the saddle.

Chapeau!. I failed on 39x13 and fell because of the cleats - my first day in the b8gg88s. Inexperience and age count against me. Anyway, the Bianchi is back from surgery and now has a granny ring. If I do not succeed tomorrow more cursing to follow.

cjcp

ta, but it's not fast progress in that gear! OTOH, JonGinge gets up - and at a fair lick - in 52x16!

Yep, I was in the same boat as you when I first tried it. Supposed to be a nice day tomorrow too.

Petromyzon

cjcp wrote:

Petromyzon wrote:

Hi CJ, you mentioned a hill road going up to Ranmore common earlier in the thread. I wondered if you ever ride the other direction up to there, the one which passes a school. I think my way is Ranmore road and your way Ranmore Common Road. How do they compare in toughness? It is certainly the hardest one on my Surrey loop 8)

I don't think I've been up Ranmore Road. What's it like? It's ages since I've been on a club run out that way (Chuckcork will probably know much better) and, when I have or been out on my own, I'm pretty sure it's been up Ranmore Common Road from Chapel Lane or White Down.

Does your loop take in Radnor Lane? If not, very worthwhile. It's about a mile long climb through the trees around Peaslake. The descent takes you down onto the Horsham Road.

Ranmore road is quite wide and fairly tough with some gradient changes, and some lovely views out down the hill to the left as you climb up and approach the top. Worth a try.
I suspect that my loop does take in a Radnor road, I think I approach it on Peaslake lane and then it is a sharpish left turn just past a shop, with a bench thingy on the right where riders have often stopped for a breather. Kicks up quite steeply to start with but is a bit steadier nearer the top, tree cover and the odd car park to the right. Great climb.

I'm new to this game and feel a bit limited in my loops because I don't know the area, only the turns from my clubrun:( Need to learn some loops from other clubs, methinks.

cjcp

Petromyzon wrote:

I suspect that my loop does take in a Radnor road, I think I approach it on Peaslake lane and then it is a sharpish left turn just past a shop, with a bench thingy on the right where riders have often stopped for a breather. Kicks up quite steeply to start with but is a bit steadier nearer the top, tree cover and the odd car park to the left. Great climb.

That's the one. Yep, great climb.

I'm new to this game and feel a bit limited in my loops because I don't know the area, only the turns from my clubrun:( Need to learn some loops from other clubs, methinks.

There are some routes on the Kingston Wheelers website. Serpentine Tri also have some.

CiB

Hills? Ditchling Beacon on the London - Brighton ride is a bit of a challenge that most riders give up at within the first 10 yards so it's worth keeping going just to 'make the point'. There's also the monster from the sea front at Brighton up to the race course where the trucks & buses are sent to park. As I won't be doing L2B again I'll probably never conquer that one. Shame.

Personal favourites of mine are Poundon Hill, just outside of Bicester; a short sharp affair going up, now no longer a 40+ mph downhill due to the pot holes that have appeared over the last few weeks, and Blackstone Edge on the A58 Litleborough - Halifax road, another big climb going up - there's a pub on the apex - and well worth the effort just to go back down again at a decent pace. No idea what the incline is on any of these though.

clarkson

ive climbed a 30% hill in the lake district. hardknott pass. i think it was that one anyway.

did that on my merlin hardtail. see sig. VV

Clever Pun

ChrisInBicester wrote:

Hills? Ditchling Beacon on the London - Brighton ride is a bit of a challenge that most riders give up at within the first 10 yards so it's worth keeping going just to 'make the point'. There's also the monster from the sea front at Brighton up to the race course where the trucks & buses are sent to park. As I won't be doing L2B again I'll probably never conquer that one. Shame.

the hardest bit about that was avoiding all the people walking up it. I would like to do that again while actually being able to see the road

I think cycling down there without tonnes of others and having a choice of getting the train back or cycling would be nice

il_principe

Clever Pun wrote:

ChrisInBicester wrote:

Hills? Ditchling Beacon on the London - Brighton ride is a bit of a challenge that most riders give up at within the first 10 yards so it's worth keeping going just to 'make the point'. There's also the monster from the sea front at Brighton up to the race course where the trucks & buses are sent to park. As I won't be doing L2B again I'll probably never conquer that one. Shame.

the hardest bit about that was avoiding all the people walking up it. I would like to do that again while actually being able to see the road

I think cycling down there without tonnes of others and having a choice of getting the train back or cycling would be nice

It's a great ride. Did it with 2 mates last summer as part of our Etape training. LBL.

*digs around in computer...

Here we go:

Moving Time (h:m:s) 5:51:19
Distance (mi ) 101.13
Moving Speed (mph) 17.3 avg. 37.9 max.
Elevation Gain (ft) +6,325 / -6,366

Highly recommended and easy enough to pick a quiet route. We turned round at the top of Ditchling.

bigmat

Did the same for etape training last year, my mate rode up in the big ring - now that is proving a point. Out sprinted him at the top then turned round straight back down to do it again - he didn't look happy on that second ascent!

itboffin

Attn Marlborough SCRer's you will be visiting this particular 17% down hill section, be sure your brakes work as there's a sharp left quickly followed by a sharp right half way down :shock:



The old 105 brakes on my tourer DO NOT have enough stopping power so it's serious MTFU time, feet unclipped ready to jump off and commando roll away which from the uninitiated view might look like a middle aged man flying head first off his bike and sliding along the road face first.

Ooo bikehike says it's a drop of 238ft :shock: :roll: :twisted:

roger_merriman

talking of hairpins there is story nr my folks about one such on a very steep hill.

some one asked directions which the locals gave, (what they didn't know is he/she was a bus driver...which was full of retired americans)

the hill up the side of a gorge so there very little sign of impeding steepness until you go over the brow, at which point it goes to very silly steep, shortly getting to you have to be kidding, so the bus went into free fall, brakes gears where pritty nackered by the time, it not so gently came to a rest at the house at the hairpin.... still the local farmer got the chance to show of his new tractor by pulling the bus back up the 200 or so foot it had freefalled

Steve Kish

Talking about Brighton, I went to see the Wincanton a few years ago. We thought that we did quite well getting up Wilson Avenue (straight climb from the sea front) in 42 x 21 .... until we saw Gianni Bugno break away here on the last lap in 53 x 13!! :shock: :shock: :shock:

Bassjunkieuk

ITB - I'm hoping the snow has cleared on that hill! Looks like it'll be fun as as we're needing our brakes I'm assuming we go down it ;-)

il_principe

I found a cheeky 17%er at the weekend, was doing battery hill as per (which is steeper than I remember, hitting 15/17 in parts an over 10 for nearly all.) Anyway passed this a lane off Battery hill that looked sodding steep so on my way back I descended the lane, turned round and climbed back up it. The Garmin registered a steady 17 with a patch of 20%.

When I hit the Bottom of Battery there was another cyclist about 400 metres ahead, a little part of my brain yelled "SCALP" and I'm pleased to report that I hunted him down. Gave him a cheeky "mornin'" as I passed him, then noticed he was riding a Mortirolo identical to my old one, so we had a chat for the rest of the climb. Not often I see other roadies down in Sussex, nice fella - was training for the David Lloyd Mega Challenge, nutter. I'm claiming a scalp though. Here's a couple of pics taken on the descent.







The sea in the background. Perfect day for cycling.

antfly

I went up a steady 24% the other day in Brigsteer near Kendal.Ther are 2 hills one after the other and both over 20%.I was very glad of my big 32T ring.

itboffin

jashburnham what make is your winter bike?