Hilly UK Road Race Courses - your suggestions please

andyedwardsster
andyedwardsster Posts: 30
edited February 2010 in Amateur race
I am planning to return to road racing next year after a LONG absence.

I used to love hillier/ longer road race circuits but am sad to see so many courses I used to ride no longer around. Can you please give me suggestions for road races/ circuits I might enjoy.

Previous favourites included: Barnoldswick, Lancashire; Axe Edge circuit, near Buxton; Windy Hill circuit, over the M62; Cannock Chase; Gwent Two Day (Junior stage race); there was a Peter Buckley in Warwickshire with a big hill in it and the Hermitage circuit in the West Midland.

I now live in the South East, but will be reasonably free to travel around the country. I'll be looking for accessible races (i.e. 3rd cat, not Premier Calendar). Would appreciate suggestions.

Thanks,

Andy

Comments

  • Dess1e
    Dess1e Posts: 239
    Try riding a few of the Surrey League events. Cutmill, Bletchingly are two of the lumpier ones that spring to mind. Although it is difficult to sustain any attack on the hils over the rest of the course for most breaks.
    www.kentonrc.co.uk
  • Tom Butcher
    Tom Butcher Posts: 3,830
    The Derby Merc race in September is fairly long, lumpy with a big hill finish - I'm not the organiser this year but I think the guy that's taken over is keeping the same course etc
    it's a hard life if you don't weaken.
  • rjeffroy
    rjeffroy Posts: 638
    I've raced a few in Wales:

    Ystwyth Road Race (out of Aberystwyth) - my favourite of 2009
    Gateway to the Beacons (Brecon Beacons, hasn't run for a couple of years but might be on for 2010)
    Etape Defonce - 2 day stage race near Cardiff, 2nd day is pretty hilly
    My Bikes
  • Tom Butcher
    Tom Butcher Posts: 3,830
    Another I've done is the Elizabethan RR - that's long and properly hilly - not sure if it was on this year or not ?
    it's a hard life if you don't weaken.
  • Simon Notley
    Simon Notley Posts: 1,263
    The Archer Road Race (or Junior Road Race for 3/4 cats) has Whiteleaf Hill which is a killer. The Reading CC Spring RR is also moderately lumpy, but not to the same extent.

    These races are near West Wycombe and Woodcote respectively.
  • Bronzie
    Bronzie Posts: 4,927
    Simon Notley wrote:
    The Archer Road Race (or Junior Road Race for 3/4 cats) has Whiteleaf Hill which is a killer.
    Don't think they'll be using the same circuit for 2010 due to police complaints - new HQ is now near Maidenhead/Slough so not sure what the circuit will be like...................

    .............but I can confirm that Whiteleaf was horrendous for the vertically challenged such as myself. :wink:
    It's a Lifestyle! -+-+- Coggan Training Levels
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    The Ras De Cymru, 30/06/10 is quite hilly and covers a few of the roads on the old Gwent 2 Day (you'll need a few days off though as it runs over 5 days). Tour of the Mining Valleys (05/09/10) - not got any experience of this but by the name and it being based Aberystwyth way it will be hilly! There are usually a few in the Forest of Dean or the Mendips that are a bit bumpy. Don't know your own area though sorry!
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,553
    The South East Road Racing League, offers some good, challenging courses. They run an extensive calendar too;

    http://www.serrl.co.uk/calendar-2010.html
  • JC.152
    JC.152 Posts: 645
    wrekinsport 2/3/4 was really hilly this year, 11% finishing climb,another 11% halfway round the lap and a 15% climb as well.i was just glad to finish this year after i think 50something miles
  • andyedwardsster
    andyedwardsster Posts: 30
    Cool. Thanks so much for your replies - some great suggestions there.

    Best,

    A
  • andyedwardsster
    andyedwardsster Posts: 30
    Actually, sad about the Ras De Cymru, it clashes with La Marmotte!
  • jibberjim
    jibberjim Posts: 2,810
    andyedwardsster wrote:
    Actually, sad about the Ras De Cymru, it clashes with La Marmotte!

    Hopefully the Pearson 5 day is the week before still, and we can do that one - hopefully has the nice Leith Hill finish again too.
    Jibbering Sports Stuff: http://jibbering.com/sports/
  • sub55
    sub55 Posts: 1,025
    rjeffroy wrote:
    I've raced a few in Wales:

    Ystwyth Road Race (out of Aberystwyth) - my favourite of 2009
    Gateway to the Beacons (Brecon Beacons, hasn't run for a couple of years but might be on for 2010)
    Etape Defonce - 2 day stage race near Cardiff, 2nd day is pretty hilly

    so what made the ystwyth so good?

    which event did you ride? the spring 3/4 or the autumn 2/3.
    constantly reavalueating the situation and altering the perceived parameters accordingly
  • rjeffroy
    rjeffroy Posts: 638
    so what made the ystwyth so good?

    A epic mountain route through beautiful scenery, hard enough to break the race up (I'm not a fan of bunch sprints), hardly any traffic, point to point route felt like a 'real' road race.

    I rode the Autumn 2/3. Would definitely go back next year + tempted by the Spring 3/4 as well.
    My Bikes
  • sub55
    sub55 Posts: 1,025
    rjeffroy wrote:
    so what made the ystwyth so good?

    A epic mountain route through beautiful scenery, hard enough to break the race up (I'm not a fan of bunch sprints), hardly any traffic, point to point route felt like a 'real' road race.

    I rode the Autumn 2/3. Would definitely go back next year + tempted by the Spring 3/4 as well.

    I`m glad you enjoyed it. it is abit of a classic, if you like lumpy races.
    Remember climbing the 49`er (the long one up to devils bridge) feeling absolutely stuffed, i`m not really built for courses like that but out of all the events that i have won over the years , thats one of the ones thats right up there in the chuffed department. i suppose that i better own up to actually being a member of the ystwyth.
    theres a change of organisers for next year, but the events will stay the same.
    constantly reavalueating the situation and altering the perceived parameters accordingly
  • Bonno
    Bonno Posts: 69
    No one's mentioned the Redbridge Hog Hill circuit?
    Not ridden it myself but sounds pretty tough by all accounts.
    There's winter training races over there on saturdays if you can't wait till next year!!
    http://www.redbridgecyclingcentre.co.uk/
  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    Not sure if it's the same as Axe Edge, but Bole Hill around Buxton is also quite hilly.
  • disgruntledgoat
    disgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
    Bole Hill was immense, my favourite result I ever got was on there.

    Dolphinholme is hard too, the longer of the two Bashall Eaves circuits, Old Hutton and Cockermouth up my way are both good hilly circuits too.
    "In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"

    @gietvangent
  • andyedwardsster
    andyedwardsster Posts: 30
    When does the Bole HIll race take place? Is there one for 2010?

    Will try and look up Old Hutton and Cockermouth.

    Keep the suggestions coming, this is great stuff!!
  • dangerousdescent
    dangerousdescent Posts: 12
    you could try one in God's country

    http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/si ... ley_RR.asp
  • sheffsimon
    sheffsimon Posts: 1,282
    dangerousdescent wrote:
    you could try one in God's country

    http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/si ... ley_RR.asp

    I remember riding at Oxenhope as a junior 20yrs ago, wet, windy and f***in hard!
  • andyedwardsster
    andyedwardsster Posts: 30
    Can't see the Aire Valley RR in the BCF diary yet, anyone know if it is running

    @sheffsimon - post some pics if you have them to the FB group 80s Cycling Remembered, there's some of the Axe Edge circuit and Peak Forest RR.
    http://www.facebook.com/photo_search.ph ... =&view=all
  • dangerousdescent
    dangerousdescent Posts: 12
    They will know at the shop as they organise it
    http://www.airevalleycycles.com/index.php
  • robjhp
    robjhp Posts: 21
    Arthur Caygill near Richmond N Yorks or Clifton CC Road Race both v hilly
  • ozzzyosborn206
    ozzzyosborn206 Posts: 1,340
    anyone know what the course for the south regional champs is like?

    http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/si ... 1&club_id={ECAB1D57-7083-4CD7-AE6A-A34D6C0207E3}

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