Hilly rides

Frank the tank

If you go on a hilly ride (Derbyshire for me) do you think you get more out of it than a ride on the flat?

If I do 70miles in Derb's 5-10miles wil be going downhill, whereas on the flat 70miles are 70 miles of turning the cranks and when it's windy there is absolutely NO hiding plce

Airwave

Yes i allways feel i get more out of a hilly ride than a flat one.The hills are resistance training&i find it easier to really push myself tackling hills.But as you say keeping the pace up into a headwind can be murder&can last for mile after mile.So i suppose you could choose your ride depending on the weather conditions.You can make it as hard as you want that way.
You do get the best veiws from on high though!

Frank the tank

TBH for me both options are tough, but I always say Derbyshire miles are tough miles. I think it's 'cos steep hills really do make you feel every rotation of the crank.

Having said that I've been on the Lincolnshire fens and been screaming (literally) at the wind "God stop this fu*kin' wind" Never done that in Derbyshire.

gergusmcbergus

Frank the tank wrote:

Having said that I've been on the Lincolnshire fens and been screaming (literally) at the wind "God stop this fu*kin' wind" Never done that in Derbyshire.

i live near cambridge and on the few occasions where i've ridden out into the flat fenland....i totally know what you mean, when thewinds up in your grill....it really grinds you down

guilliano

Just plotted a medium length route (for me, I'm unfit) on Memory Map for tomorrow. 398m of climbing in 36k..... would that be considered a lot of climbing for the distance?

Wappygixer

I lived in Lincs nearly all my life until 18 months ago when I moved to Stockport.
I never used to think anything of 100+ mile rides out on the flats.Your right about the wind and having no where to hide.I always used to plan my route into a head wind on the way out so as to have a back wind on the way home.
Now I'm in Stockport I find 60-70 miles a good workout, but do have to take into count that I don't ride as much now and I'm a good few years older.
I do prefer the hills though and always try to find the steepest I can.Its more of a challenge.
The Linclonshire wolds were ok but nothing like Derbyshire or Yorkshire.


398m in 36k would depend on your terrain.Round where I live that would only be one climb but in Lincs etc that could take all day.
I did an 80 mile ride last week and did nearly 2000m of climbing.Thats the most I've done in one ride.

gbs

guilliano wrote:

Just plotted a medium length route (for me, I'm unfit) on Memory Map for tomorrow. 398m of climbing in 36k..... would that be considered a lot of climbing for the distance?

That is equivalent to 3 laps of Richmond Park plus 70m of climb; lumpy rather than hilly I would say. Should be enjoyable but not exhausting.

Barkiesnake

I did a ride last week from Harrow to Amersham via Harefield, Chalfonts & Coleshill and my partner reckoned we did about 1000 - 1200m ascent over the 28 miles. While it was hard and did feel like a lot, I'm not convinced it was that much. I know it's in the Chilterns and we covered about 15 hills. Does anyone know what the height gain actually is for that route? Neither of us had GPS so pure guesswork on our part. :?:

Feltup

Plug it in to www.bikehike.com and click show elevation. Voila!

nasahapley

Barkiesnake wrote:

I did a ride last week from Harrow to Amersham via Harefield, Chalfonts & Coleshill and my partner reckoned we did about 1000 - 1200m ascent over the 28 miles. While it was hard and did feel like a lot, I'm not convinced it was that much. I know it's in the Chilterns and we covered about 15 hills. Does anyone know what the height gain actually is for that route? Neither of us had GPS so pure guesswork on our part. :?:

If you plot the route into bikehike.co.uk that'll give you a figure for total ascent; may not be super accurate but it'll give you an idea. 1000m of ascent in 28 miles is a lot - almost 120 ft/mile in old money - quite a bit hillier than the Fred Whitton course! But then you don't need whopping great climbs for a big total ascent figure - four 50 metre climbs in a mile will give you the same ascent as one 200m beast.

Edit - Feltup got there before me!

Feltup

One line wonder!

Barkiesnake

Thanks Guys,

never heard of this site before but very useful, plotted course last night and actual ascent was only 1700ft so a little over 500m not as much as my partner thought but still not bad.
cheers

Aggieboy

Barkiesnake, I've just read your blog -

Rest day planned for tomorrow and then on Monday i plan to time myself up our local hill. Only about 1/3 mile but gradient varies with 1st third about 10%, next third 3% and final third 15 - 20%

Old Redding?

Barkiesnake

You Know Old Redding? must be a local boy...
I dont know what the gradient there is haven't been up it yet :oops:

I was actually talking about Harrow hill going up from South Harrow, using Middle Road, Castle Street and then the last half of West Street.

If your in the area and fancy doing a ride together then let me know.

Aggieboy

Barkiesnake wrote:

You Know Old Redding? must be a local boy...
I dont know what the gradient there is haven't been up it yet :oops:

I was actually talking about Harrow hill going up from South Harrow, using Middle Road, Castle Street and then the last half of West Street.

If your in the area and fancy doing a ride together then let me know.

Wasn't sure as Old Redding is just under 1/2 mile to the flat top. It's my 'training' hill when I'm short of time. I'm usually out at the w/e sometime through Sarrat,Flaunden,Chesham etc by myself. I'll PM you my number.

Sorry for hijacking thread everyone