Alpine-style hills somewhere near London? Help!
FHKJ
Posts: 151
Hi all
Trying to find a few long alpine style hills within a couple of hours (in a car) of London, something that might come close to simulating the long drags of France, rather than the short-sharp hills around Surrey/Kent?
Wales might be a tad far for a day trip, but does anyone know anywhere suitable?
Thanks, Francis
Trying to find a few long alpine style hills within a couple of hours (in a car) of London, something that might come close to simulating the long drags of France, rather than the short-sharp hills around Surrey/Kent?
Wales might be a tad far for a day trip, but does anyone know anywhere suitable?
Thanks, Francis
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box hill surrey
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Thanks, but want a bit longer!!!0
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Damn and blast. It's just that the hills in wales are so FAR away!!!0
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Damn and blast. It's just that the hills in wales are so FAR away!!!0
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Riding a big gear on a flat road (e.g. time trial type effort) will be good training for alpine ascents so I've been told....More problems but still living....0
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+1amaferanga wrote:Riding a big gear on a flat road (e.g. time trial type effort) will be good training for alpine ascents so I've been told....
Get thee to richmond park and do 2hrs at tempo intensity. You may go dizzy but it works0 -
I can't think of any "apline style" climbs in Wales either to be honest. The closest I can think of is the Rhigos but it needs to be 3 or 4 times longer! I was thinking about this driving through Snowdonia last week, we just don't have roads that go through high mountains here (albeit far lower than the Alps) is there's no reason for them. The hilliest parts of the country have no population. The areas where we do have population and hills are lower so we tend to end up with short, steep climbs (relatively speaking).0
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It's a bit like asking for white water rafting in East Anglia or vertical ice climbing close to the M20.
Considered one of the longer Welsh climbs while towing a lawn roller?0 -
Anyone know where I can go ice climbing close to the A3? The M20's a bit far from home...0
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You could pretend your ice climbing with a pick axe on streatham ice rink
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Its a longish drive but something like the Snake Pass (3 and a bit miles at 7%) or Holme Moss (3 and a bit miles at an average of around 7%)http://www.ledomestiquetours.co.uk
Le Domestique Tours - Bespoke cycling experiences with unrivalled supported riding, knowledge and expertise.
Ciocc Extro - FCN 10 -
Thanks mrc10
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The climbs in this country are pathetic. Get used to it.-- Dirk Hofman Motorhomes --0
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phil s wrote:The climbs in this country are pathetic. Get used to it.
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23 copies of the Yellow Pages under your front wheel on the turbo might help! 0
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NapoleonD wrote:phil s wrote:The climbs in this country are pathetic. Get used to it.
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I've bitten the bullet and I'm off to the alps tomorrow.
Nothing in UK anything like an alpine climb.
>1hr hard, sustained turbo trainer sessions can be excellent prep for long Alpine climbs. It's the easiest way of simulating the unwavering effort, without any let-up, interruption or free-wheeling, that's required on those sorts of climbs. 25 mile TTs might be good too, though obviously position on the bike wouldn't be representative.0 -
rdt wrote:NapoleonD wrote:phil s wrote:The climbs in this country are pathetic. Get used to it.
+2
I've bitten the bullet and I'm off to the alps tomorrow.
Nothing in UK anything like an alpine climb.
>1hr hard, sustained turbo trainer sessions can be excellent prep for long Alpine climbs. It's the easiest way of simulating the unwavering effort, without any let-up, interruption or free-wheeling, that's required on those sorts of climbs. 25 mile TTs might be good too, though obviously position on the bike wouldn't be representative.
I'm sorted for training advice, ta.0 -
PM me your postcode...I'll send you some down.
Keep your eyes open for a bloody big white van.. lol!0 -
I wouldn't say the hills in this country are pathetic, just not like the Alps. I've found plenty that have made me take to my feet (although I am overweight and unfit :oops: ). They tend to be the short but very steep. The Rhigos (from Treherbert) is probably the closest in appearance to what I think of as an Alpine climb with hairpins and a drop into a valley complete with lake and forest. It even has a little shrine on the side of the road! All it needs is to be 3 or 4 times longer 0
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As already said, its mainly about riding at a certain intensity for a certain length of time. You can do this on the flat. 3 laps of Richmond Park = 1 ascent of the Col de Joux Plane - simple! Box Hill and some of the other Surrey Hills are good training for climbing e.g. working out whether to sit or stand, spin or grind and so on. Far too short to simulate an Alpine climb, but I've done 4 or 5 consecutive ascents of Box Hill before and the overall effect is pretty similar!0
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MatHammond wrote:As already said, its mainly about riding at a certain intensity for a certain length of time. You can do this on the flat. 3 laps of Richmond Park = 1 ascent of the Col de Joux Plane - simple! Box Hill and some of the other Surrey Hills are good training for climbing e.g. working out whether to sit or stand, spin or grind and so on. Far too short to simulate an Alpine climb, but I've done 4 or 5 consecutive ascents of Box Hill before and the overall effect is pretty similar!
+1. Other than a climb putting more stress on your lower back, etc it's all about putting out a sustained effort with no freewheeling, etc. You need pretty good discipline to do it, but it is possible.0 -
Try High Wycombe Town to Handy Cross, Or Marlow to Lane End, Or the Renmenham Hill i mentioned in the other thread.
*EDIT*
All are sustained climbs over a mile or so, ranging from 5-10% and you could get them all into a good distance ride if you head from Wycombe > Lane End > Marlow > Henley > Hurley > Marlow > Wycombe > Recovery Position.0 -
Well, just got back from th'Alps. Did Alpe d'Huez, Lauteret, Galibier.
There really is nothing like it in Britain, yes there's the length (Lauteret/Galibier was epic!) but there's the altitude too. It really makes a difference. To me anyway,
Also, there was the difference in climate. At the foot of the Lauteret it was nice, hot and sunny. The top of the Galibier was freezing. Literally. The road to the very top from the tunnel was shut, we had to get off our bikes and walk with them to the top through rather deep snow!0 -
I just did the Bealach na ba, in Wester Ross, Scotland, this is probably the closest to an alpine climb I know of. Probably easier to go to the actual Alps though!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bealach_na_Ba0 -
These photos are from the same ride...
Setting off
Getting water at La Grave
En route to the Lauteret
Start of the Galibier
To the top of the Galibier
Nowt like that in Britain!0 -
Who was the Sky rider on the Tour recce with you 0
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Maybe this is too far for you, but anyway just in case.
A flight up to Prestwick is cheap these days on Ryanair, then take the road past Loch Lomand up and down various Lochs until you come to a place called Carradale (near Tarbert) (its about three hour drive) .There are loads of drag climbs arround this area.
Also if you have a mountain bike , there are incredible forestry commision tracks which climb over the mountains and are very good for training.
You are not going to get 1900 meter altitude but as near as you can get in the UK.
If you are lucky and get nice weather this place is paradise.
For info of this village and surrounding area take a look at www.carradalegoat.co.uk
Gavin0 -
I'm more impressed that he appears to be riding with Cadel Evans.Pross wrote:Who was the Sky rider on the Tour recce with you 0
