Bushcombe lane Cheltenham.

2»

Comments

  • Bobbinogs
    Bobbinogs Posts: 4,841
    Spoilt for choice really as there are lots of climbs that are a challenge but all slightly different. The toughest one will depend on one's own climbing attributes (some folks are ok with steep but suffer with length, other folks can sustain effort but struggle on 20%+).

    Stockwell Lane is generally reckoned to be easier than Bushcombe. As above though, there are some nice kicks round by Stroud and Dursley, e.g.:

    Cockshoot
    http://www.strava.com/segments/1261333

    The Vatch
    http://www.strava.com/segments/938877

    Haresfield Beacon
    http://www.strava.com/segments/6913771

    Etc., etc.,

    However, most of the steep ones don't go on too long round here. One of the hardest climbs I have tackled recently was Dunkery Beacon in Somerset as that was fairly steep and long, not a good combination!
  • Schleck's Chain
    Schleck's Chain Posts: 31
    I agree with Bobbinogs; a lot will depend on the sort of climber you are. I live nearby and know I would struggle with Bushcombe (20% plus is tough) but can cope with Sudeley (2.5km @ 8.4%, backloaded: http://veloviewer.com/segments/3899583). To be fair, I think anyone would struggle with Bushcombe.

    Totally agree with Dunkery Beacon but I found Porlock Hill even harder (again, length v excessive steepness).
  • woody0010
    woody0010 Posts: 27
    I know the hill I dread every time I come to ride it. Its mainly because its the last effort before I'm home. Its the Racecourse hill coming from Bishops Cleeve to Chelt. After a hard ride of any distance this always gets me. Mainly because I see this as the last chance to push hard on a ride so try to get up as fast as I can. This had left me really blowing a few times too.
  • carbonclem
    carbonclem Posts: 1,784
    I got round to riding Bushcombe Lane today. I was doing the Sufferlandria challenge on Strava, so thought id build it into a ride, so I did Haresfield Beacon, Bushcombe Lane and Birdlip Hill en route. Its hard to judge the toughest as i went into Haresfield after just a couple of miles so fresh, but hardly warmed up. I got lost looking for Bushcombe and had gone up Cleeve Hill twice before I found it. Its tough but equally matched by Haresfield Id say. Birdlip Hill was a pice of cake as my final climb ... well, it is only 16% after all! :lol:
    2020/2021/2022 Metric Century Challenge Winner
  • Peddle Up!
    Peddle Up! Posts: 2,040
    Ole Bushcombe's getting to be quite a celebrity. I passed it on Friday and a cyclist had propped his bike against the gradient sign and was taking a pic of it. I wonder if he got up it? :)
    Purveyor of "up" :)
  • del1962
    del1962 Posts: 5
    Done Bushcombe Lane thi week, on a 34 / 30, made it to the top but it was tough, kept wondering when the steep stuff woud finish, did do it with fresh legs though, I was defeated by Caper Hill in the North York Moors after previously doing Sleights Moor and Egton High Moor at my full effort but that is another story.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    The steep part of Bushcombe lane is like Hardknott at 25-30%, just doesn't last anywhere near as long as Hardknott. I normally use a 36 x36. Bushcombe has a sister just south of it, Stockwell lane, same 25% sign, but probably more like 20-22% and a bit wider
    left the forum March 2023
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Only had one attempt and failed at the last steep bit that looks like you are cycling up a roller coaster.

    Have done Stockwell and Gambles though.

    Regularly cycle past it and keep meaning to give it another go some day.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    Carbonator wrote:
    Only had one attempt and failed at the last steep bit that looks like you are cycling up a roller coaster.

    Have done Stockwell and Gambles though.

    Regularly cycle past it and keep meaning to give it another go some day.

    it's more in the mind than anything... you have to believe you can go up, otherwise instinctively you put your foot down and that's it. Small gears help keeping the momentum going... 34 x 32 or even smaller
    left the forum March 2023
  • frisbee
    frisbee Posts: 691
    A fun challenge is to climb all 3 routes up Cleeve Hill - Buscombe, Stockwell and then Gambles. You can do the two main routes as well if you want.

    I say fun, I haven't actually tried it!
  • Jude89
    Jude89 Posts: 1
    Bushcombe is local to me and a bit of an obsession, so I thought I'd add a few comments.

    Bushcombe Lane has 575ft of climbing and maxes out at 25% (I'm sad enough to have measured it). Stockwell Lane is next along at 19% with slightly less climbing, and then there's the baby of the three: Gambles Lane is the smallest climb but has a good kick at 22%. If you're feeling really masochistic, there are a few segments around which take in all three - my favourite being "The Three Bears".

    If you need to go down I'd strongly recommend Stockwell (my daily commute) as it's wider and safer than the other two.

    When you've climbed any of them, and feel in need of a reward, the Rising Sun at the top of Gambles has a beer garden out front with great views (but ironically is facing totally the wrong way to see the Rising Sun).

    As previously mentioned, Bushcombe is the start of the Cotswold Corker - this is still a perm Audax, but is also ridden annually by the Cheltenham CTC in mid Feb. Guest riders welcome.

    As to other good hills in the area, Sudeley Hill, Corndean Lane and Salters Lane (all over the Winchcombe side of Cleeve Hill) are a challenging trio. Coming back towards Cheltenham, Cleeve Hill from Winchcombe is less steep, but does have the cache of being a KoM section on the 2017 ToB.

    Have fun!

Categories