The Perfect Climb...

pottssteve

Where is it? Does it exist? What makes it perfect?

For me it would be a challenge but do-able. Regular changes in gradient with some flat sections to get my breath back. Not too hard that I can't look at the stunning, snow-capped mountains and lush valley below. Excellent paved surface and traffic-free. By the top my legs would be pumped, but it's OK because there's a great tea stop at the summit where I can sit, eat ginger cake and enjoy the view....

And you......?

softlad

one of my local climbs comes close - goes up just over 1000ft in 5 miles, the road starts by winding through the trees, then a long straight open section, followed by more turns in the trees. Stunning views over the Teifi valley at the top. No cafe, but there is a picnic area...

stabilised

Don't know if it's perfect (perhaps perfectly horrible), but I have one that is on my 'at least once a year' list (just to show I can still do them despite the advancing years) that I think stands out.

It's Well Bank, a minor (single track) road branching off north from the A689 in Ireshopeburn in Weardale, within the North Pennines AONB. It climbs through the hamlet of New House, gaining about 700 feet in a mile and half. 14 minutes of misery and ultimate satsifaction.

The bottom (past New House - actually early eighteenth century and very pretty) is brutally steep - touching 20% by my computer - before turning right after about 250 yards and easing to about 10%. Get your breath back, if you can, as the left turn sees the gradient go up again to mid-teens, then another left and steeper still. Then a right by a house and the steepest bit is done, but you're only about half way to the top in distance. You can, though, start to admire the view over your shoulder across Wesrdale, which is lovely, especially in the late spring when the wild flowers in this high grassland are at their best. You've also now got hay meadows on your left as the gradient drops to single figures before the first of three 'steps' where it steepens briefly. This is caused by the underlying geology - layers of harder rock layered over softer ones that have eroded at different rates. You count every step and after the third it's finally a chance to relax a bit as you come to the conifer plantation on your left that marks the top. No cafe, or anything at all, in fact, but a chance to look across the next valley and back over Weardale. It's one of the finest views in the North Pennines, in my opinion, made better by having got there under your own power and chances are you'll be the only person enjoying it - this is a very quiet road indeed. If you carry on, the road then turns right and drops like a stone (my fastest ever speed on a bike - 56.5mph - came down here), turns left and climbs again to another summit and another view across the Pennine valleys.

There are longer climbs nearby (that to Harthope Fell on England's highest road also runs out of Weardale, south from St John's Chapel and gains 1000 feet), but Well Bank has your mix of gradient, and a sense of challenge without being impossible for any but the very fittest (like some of the Lake District 30% climbs).

andyp

BeaconRuth

Is that the Stelvio, Andy?

Ruth

mrushton

Stelvio,Galibier,Iseran,Colombier?

nolf

To me a perfect climb is really consistent and constant but gradual.

It kind of depends as well, in a race a bit steep and long suits me as I'm light and have a good power to weight ratio, so thats preferable.

However on my own or training a long gradual climb is very nice. The Bwlch from the West side in Wales has to be on my faves list.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is that it has to have a good descent!
Long and steady with nothing dangerous!

DaveyL

Add the Col d'Izoard to that list. The Casse Deserte is one of the most stunning places I've seen.

Chaz.Harding

andyp

Where is that? I'd LOVE to do it (Or try anyway... :oops: )

Be great on my *cringes and waits for abuse* MTB. I have some 2.5'' slicks - would be hell going up, but worth every second on the down!

8)

knedlicky

Ruth and Bigchazrocks, as Andyp doesn’t appear around tonight, that is the Stelvio.
I’ve done it twice, both times early July, and it can be pretty cold up top, especially if there’s been a cold spell and there’s a few feet of summer snow in the days beforehand. Andyp’s pic only shows the road after the village of Trafoi, so above the tree line, and to get that high you first have to climb over 600 m from Prad. From Prad to the top of the pass, it’s 1844 m in 24.6 km.

For anyone interesting in hiking, I can recommend going off to the left from the building shown almost halfway up the pic.You can eventually then reach, at 3000 m and perched at the top of a very high rock face, the Payer mountain hut, which faces the Stelvio. It’s a good start hut for a high altitude hike in the Ortler Massif.

Doom

Without a doubt my favourite climb ever is the Cormet de Roselend.

Steady gradient for the most part through beatiful Alpine forests and then suddenly the view opens up to this



Its a false high though as you ride round the glacial dam and the climb really kicks up from here to the summit but the descent makes it all worthwhile.

knedlicky

My 'perfect' (more famous) climb is the Telegraphe, on the way to the Galibier, because its length and gradient really suit me. The similar Mollard in the same area and the Portillon in the Pyrennees are also good for me, as is the Montvenier climb off the Maurienne valley although that’s more open and shorter - but exilherating with its curves and views (although you don’t stop to look at the views, when going up). See pic below.


Of even bigger famous climbs, I like the Glandon coming from the north best, because it has two totally different landscapes separated by a faux plat. I like the sweep at the end too, as you reach the top ... although getting up the Bonette or the Galibier also have their own special satisfaction.

In the UK, it’s harder to select. I like the Wrynose and the Hardknott but they are too difficult to easily propose as 'perfect', while the Cat & Fiddle and the Horseshoe are usually too full of traffic.

So I’ll go for tiny Clieves Hill near Ormeskirk, between Liverpool and Wigan, because you can quickly whip up it (6% slope ?) and immediately feel high to the surrounding flat landscape, so feel that you've achieved something. Actually at the top you’re only at about 60 m above sea level but everything you see to the west is only 10 m above sea level ... and who cares when you've climbed the highest hill within easy reach of the coast!

(More locally around where I now live there are three climbs of over 300 m in 3.5 km which I really like, perhaps because they are like mini-Telegraphes or Montveniers, and because all with serpentines and a nice 8-10% gradient, but in the sense of 'perfect' they are too short.)

What about ‘perfect descent’ thread too?

mrushton

perfect descent? Poss. the drop from the Petit Col St.Bernard to Bourg St.Maurice or the run to the Lauteret from the Galibier (fast). The Caisse deserte as mentioned above is good. There must be plenty in Spain/Switzerland/Germany.

pneumatic

+1 for the Telegraphe. What a neat little climb that is and, if you feel inspired when you get to the top, you can push on to the Galibier which is a total brute.

BeaconRuth

knedlicky wrote:

Ruth and Bigchazrocks, as Andyp doesn’t appear around tonight, that is the Stelvio.

Thanks knedlicky. I have been there, with Andyp as it happens. But I don't specialise in remembering every climb I've done. I admit the Stelvio was one of the more memorable though. Geez, must be 11 years ago now........... :shock:

Ruth

agnello

Not wild about the Telegraphe as there is not much to see on the way up.

I'm quite fond of Sestriere.

Or there is an off road climb in the Grand Bosco national park (near the ski resort of Sauze D'Oulx in Italy) that goes to the Col De Genevris. On the way up you have the Val De Susa, when you're at the top there are valleys both sides and you can cycle miles along the ridge.

Nearly weep every time I do it... Last time was in September and I only saw 2 sheperds and a Motocross bike in 3 hours.

DaSy

You guys have made my day, I leave tomorrow morning for a tour across the Grande Alps, and doing many of the cols mentioned above, including Cormet de Roseland, L'Iseran, Telegraphe, Galibier, Izoard, Vars, Cime de la Bonnette etc.

Although the amount of stress I feel outweighs the excitement, as I cannot help but feel I have left an essential bolt or pedal or something out of my bike box!

I have packed and un-packed it about 3 times, and each time I find I have packed the thing I was stressed about, only to then think I have now left something else out in the last un-packing ceremony. Last time I went to France to ride Ventoux, I drove just so that I could chuck the bike in whole into the back of the car, and still managed to mislay a spring from the QR on my front wheel, so that just set the scene for this debacle!

agnello

have fun in the Alps - really nothing like it for the keen cyclist.

Those French have bikeshops too if you leave anything behind

DaSy

agnello wrote:

Those French have bikeshops too if you leave anything behind

I'll be stressed that I'll forget my credit card too, and will see the thing I want but won't be able to pay for it!

Last time I flew my bike out was to the Sierra Nevada's in Spain, and my mates took the piss for weeks about the fact that I had bubble wrapped individual bolts, and had cornered the market in packing materials...

Still, it'll all be behind me in less than 24 hours...woohoo! (tempered by the sound of chattering teeth!)

andyp

BeaconRuth wrote:

Thanks knedlicky. I have been there, with Andyp as it happens. But I don't specialise in remembering every climb I've done. I admit the Stelvio was one of the more memorable though. Geez, must be 11 years ago now........... :shock:

Ruth

It was, 1998 as I recall. Seems like a long time ago now, eh Ruth?

We did the other side though, and descended the side shown. I went back the following year and did this side as part of my preparation for the Dolomite Marathon. It's a long, long climb that steepens as you get higher.

Truly epic.

andyp

P.S. Ruth - I learnt the hardway that you don't remember every climb you've done. I attempted the Bwlch y Groes (sp?) on a 39x23 lowest gear after you said it wasn't that steep! :shock:

BeaconRuth

andyp wrote:

BeaconRuth wrote:

Thanks knedlicky. I have been there, with Andyp as it happens. But I don't specialise in remembering every climb I've done. I admit the Stelvio was one of the more memorable though. Geez, must be 11 years ago now........... :shock:

Ruth

It was, 1998 as I recall. Seems like a long time ago now, eh Ruth?

We did the other side though, and descended the side shown. I went back the following year and did this side as part of my preparation for the Dolomite Marathon. It's a long, long climb that steepens as you get higher.

Truly epic.

Yeah, I know we came down that side rather than went up - and I remembered you'd gone back another year to do it the other way. Great trip - in fact probably the best one we did? I should go back to some big mountains really as I haven't done any big climbs since I started to train properly. Last time was the TdF trip in 2002. :shock: It hasn't even crossed my mind to do the Marmotte or anything but maybe I should think about it.

Ruth

BeaconRuth

andyp wrote:

P.S. Ruth - I learnt the hardway that you don't remember every climb you've done. I attempted the Bwlch y Groes (sp?) on a 39x23 lowest gear after you said it wasn't that steep! :shock:

Was that in 2002 when you and Tony were doing back to back Audaxes one weekend in prep for the TdF trip? Didn't you turn back on the Sunday having worn yourself out on the ByG on the Saturday, and Tony and I continued with the rest of the event? I don't think I was even planning to come on the TdF trip at that stage - I only signed up when Dave Allen was unwell and I took his place.

Ruth

eh

Both Descent and Ascent: Sa Calobra, Mallorca

NB: It is in effect a dead end road, only other option out is by ferry. Hence, you descend first, then climb back up it later.

celbianchi

Too many to pic just one:

Col De Turini from Menton, 42km to the summit at 1607 from sea level, some lovely views on the way up. Includes a short descent

Climb to Oulles out of Bourg D'Oisan. Often overlooked by the more famous climbs.

Glandon from Bourg D'Oisan side, something about it when you hit the barrage, wonderful.

One of my absolute favourites is the climb to Tanneron in the Alpes Maritimes, it is neither long (10km) nor steep, but something about it just enchants me. When I go down to our place on the Cote, I make sure I get over one of the three faces of it. Sometimes do hill repeats on it to take them all in.

D'Huez was the first famous TDF climb I ever did, so that one will always stick in my memory as well.

dodgy

I'm quite partial to the Horseshoe Pass (keeping to UK roads as they're more accessible for most of us ). If I'm riding up the Shoe I get there nice and early, well before the fatboys on big bikes arrive anyway. I like it because it's completely do-able, just a steady grind with some mini Alpine flavour halfway up when you can see a cyclist (sometimes) on the other side of the horseshoe after the switchback, a good target to chase :twisted:

Shame the cafe at the top isn't much cop (in my opninion).

The Old Horseshoe is quite a bit harder and I don't think I've ever seen motorised traffic on it when I've been going up or down it, either.

I find Wrynose and Hardknott too far the wrong side of painful to be enjoyable.

bompington

I keep meaning to go up Glenshee & back, it's about 40 miles each way from Dundee & you only have to retrace your route for the last few miles up the glen. It's one of the highest roads in the UK at 665m, there is a cafe at the top which is at least adequate, the scenery is great & the final 250m climb is a bit less than 10%.
Of course it would be even better as a round trip through Braemar & back via the Cairn'o'Mount, 140-odd miles with I don't know how much climbing...

synchronicity

DaSy wrote:

Last time I went to France to ride Ventoux, I drove just so that I could chuck the bike in whole into the back of the car, and still managed to mislay a spring from the QR on my front wheel, so that just set the scene for this debacle!

Those springs only help centering the QR in the dropouts; you can ride a bike without them.

(the real reason for post is I wanted to see some more awesome climb pics)

iain_j

dodgy wrote:

I'm quite partial to the Horseshoe Pass (keeping to UK roads as they're more accessible for most of us ). If I'm riding up the Shoe I get there nice and early, well before the fatboys on big bikes arrive anyway. I like it because it's completely do-able, just a steady grind with some mini Alpine flavour halfway up when you can see a cyclist (sometimes) on the other side of the horseshoe after the switchback, a good target to chase :twisted:

Shame the cafe at the top isn't much cop (in my opninion).

The Old Horseshoe is quite a bit harder and I don't think I've ever seen motorised traffic on it when I've been going up or down it, either.

I find Wrynose and Hardknott too far the wrong side of painful to be enjoyable.

The Horsehoe's one of my faves too, along with the Snake Pass, Holme Moss and the Milltir Cerrig, cos they feel like "proper" climbs - 4-5 miles long, and a grind all the way. I'd say the Snake from Glossop is my best one, but I keep going back to the Horseshoe cos it's so easy to get to for me, and the views up at the top are fantastic.

Same goes for the descents - the longer I can do 40mph+ for the better :twisted:

nick hanson

BeaconRuth wrote:

Is that the Stelvio, Andy?

Ruth

Definately the Stelvio,been there got the tee shirt (well,bike top!)
It certainly fits the bill,ace views,cafe at the top.
A slightly more 'do able' one is the Tourmalet,which i did for my 40th (from Luz st Sauvier side)
Absolutely awesome,family waiting for me at the top,where we all retired to the cafe,they even did a version of egg & chips,which i rounded off with a coffee & bun....Mmmm

daviesee

bompington wrote:

I keep meaning to go up Glenshee & back, it's about 40 miles each way from Dundee & you only have to retrace your route for the last few miles up the glen. It's one of the highest roads in the UK at 665m, there is a cafe at the top which is at least adequate, the scenery is great & the final 250m climb is a bit less than 10%.
Of course it would be even better as a round trip through Braemar & back via the Cairn'o'Mount, 140-odd miles with I don't know how much climbing...

I did from Spittal of Glenshee to Braemar and back one day, too many years ago than I'd like :shock:
It was easier than I thought it would be. Overtaking cars on the return descent was fun :P but the cattle grid at the bottom wasn't. Very scary jump at around 40 mph :shock:

I am thinking that the Applecross circle would be more of a challenge, one day maybe