Surrey Hills Road Riding Questions
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Soni
Posts: 1,217
Hi Guys, anybody know of any routes around the Surrey Hills for rodies?
I'm from North Kent and normally ride around the North Downs/Trottiscliffe/Vigo area and also Marden/Cranbrook etc., however I fancy trying out the Surrey Hills tomorrow morning.
Don't know the area so would be grateful for any advice, i've stumbled accross a website that claims:-
'The lanes on which most of the ride is run are tiny, steep and treacherous, with gravel drifts and sharp flints a persistent threat long after heavy rain, let alone during it.
Read more: http://www.roadcyclinguk.com/richards-b ... 11lLL3LXK'
Is the Surrey Hills very scenic?
I'm from North Kent and normally ride around the North Downs/Trottiscliffe/Vigo area and also Marden/Cranbrook etc., however I fancy trying out the Surrey Hills tomorrow morning.
Don't know the area so would be grateful for any advice, i've stumbled accross a website that claims:-
'The lanes on which most of the ride is run are tiny, steep and treacherous, with gravel drifts and sharp flints a persistent threat long after heavy rain, let alone during it.
Read more: http://www.roadcyclinguk.com/richards-b ... 11lLL3LXK'
Is the Surrey Hills very scenic?
My Road Bike:-
http://i531.photobucket.com/albums/dd35 ... G_3654.jpg
My Mountain Bike
http://i531.photobucket.com/albums/dd35 ... G_2642.jpg
http://i531.photobucket.com/albums/dd35 ... G_3654.jpg
My Mountain Bike
http://i531.photobucket.com/albums/dd35 ... G_2642.jpg
0
Comments
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Try Bikely for Surrey Hills routes - there are plenty to choose from or varying difficulty. I'd certainly recommend not using lightweight race tyres/wheels, particularly if there's been recent rain. Some roads, particularly following last winter are still pretty pot-holed. If coming from the east, suggest you head towards Dorking as your start point. Many of the roads are tree-lined but you do get some good, open views at the top. It's possible to string a number of hills together to suit your abilities - my fave includes a 200km 'monster' from home which has over 4000m of climbing which I use as prep for hard sportives.Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..0
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I went over to try some of the hills in Surrey around the Boxhill area.....I appreciate I probably need to go back to find more, but initially the terrain wasn't as interesting as i had hoped for?
Have you tried some of the hills around other parts of Kent near the A25?
Part of my usual loop, anything from 30-80 miles on lightweight tyres...
Definitely out tomorrow morn as the forecast looks encouraging?
examples of hills here;
http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12693779
Just a thought0 -
porker33 wrote:I went over to try some of the hills in Surrey around the Boxhill area.....I appreciate I probably need to go back to find more, but initially the terrain wasn't as interesting as i had hoped for?
Have you tried some of the hills around other parts of Kent near the A25?
Part of my usual loop, anything from 30-80 miles on lightweight tyres...
Definitely out tomorrow morn as the forecast looks encouraging?
examples of hills here;
http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12693779
Just a thought
Hi Porker, where abouts you from mate?
I've rode the area you are talking about quite often, through Wrotham Village, along Kemsing Road, Pilgrims Way, into Otford, then out through Shoreham, Eynsford, up Bower Lane? (have you climbed that hill?) then descend down into Knatts Valley and around the hills of West Kingsdown.My Road Bike:-
http://i531.photobucket.com/albums/dd35 ... G_3654.jpg
My Mountain Bike
http://i531.photobucket.com/albums/dd35 ... G_2642.jpg0 -
Hi,,,I am not too far from Bromley.....I know the area you have ridden well....but the section I am referring to is effectively between where you mention and the Surrey part of the A25 and beyond.
You need to head West a few miles......I have encountered a few riders when in Surrey who have complained about the lack of spending on the roads....nowhere is perfect, but the Brasted chart route into and around Penshurst has some decent and recently tarmacced surfaces to ride on.0 -
Have a look on the Kingston Wheelers club website - they have a number of route maps for Surrey hills rides, IIRC0
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No they're very overrated stay away from them, there's nothing to see here!
In all honesty if you go with a local and they're feeling brave, multiple teens % climbs and a couple of 20's can be included, many back roads hold clay, sand, flint and regular fodder for ages, some can be streams for weeks after heavy rain, and on a good day yes they are very scenic.
I guess it depends what your looking for though, views are generally limited in distance on most routes, Surrey is the most wooded county in England! Long climbs are few and far between, Leith Hill and Box Hill being the exception, the biggest problem I find is having to cross or follow main roads at far too regular intervals.0