Ride London 2014

sherer

Damn not good news. Bloody British weather !

dandrew

It may well change. Richmond and the Surrey Hills are currently forecast as dry. Good descending news re the latter!

deswahriff

this is a great thread, though only been following since page 20 or so!..
I got in through the ballot at second attempt...not fundraising ( our club do quite a bit already!) but best of luck to those who are...been through all that in my marathon days!
..re the hills and walking and might be the wrong thing to say (never stopped me in the past) but maybe the threat of bad weather might whittle down the numbers amongst the less well prepared? ;-)

....also, am a regular up the "Kent" hills, though never ventured out Surrey way (maybe Titsey Hill, is that Surrey?)...anyone know how Leith Hill compares with, say, Toys Hill/Carter Hill/Star Hill...?

..good luck and safe rides to all...!!

ugo.santalucia

deswahriff wrote:

....also, am a regular up the "Kent" hills, though never ventured out Surrey way (maybe Titsey Hill, is that Surrey?)...anyone know how Leith Hill compares with, say, Toys Hill/Carter Hill/Star Hill...?
!

Easier than the above. The only hill in Surrey (if it's still Surrey) which is more demanding than average is Barhatch lane... Simon Warren (probably drunk) gave it a 9/10 in his second book, probably forgetting he only gave an 8/10 to the Winnats pass in his previous book and gave 9/10 to absolute monsters in other parts of the country

Anonymous

Are you going to buy his third book Ugo?

ugo.santalucia

Carbonator wrote:

Are you going to buy his third book Ugo?

Is there such a thing?

To be honest I found the second pretty disappointing... his ratings which were OK in the first book, more or less, became bonkers in the second. Besides... are there more than 200 climbs worth of mention in the UK?
I thought many climbs in the second were already not worth being there

drlodge

ugo.santalucia wrote:

I thought many climbs in the second were already not worth being there

Agree. I did Quell Lane recently, didn't really think it was worth an "another 100 climbs" entry - there's a steeper climb nearby (Highstead Lane) and a longer climb in the form of Jay's Lane/Tennyson's Lane.

Great Dun Fell was a real challenge, why that didn't feature in the first book heaven only knows. Also why wasn't Barhatch in the first book when they included lesser climbs like Leith (why the south climb not Coldharbour Lane) and Box Hill (which isn't really a "challenging" climb IMO). Comparing all of these with Great Dun Fell well...there is no comparison!

Would like to see a more objective way of categorising the climbs, based on a combination of gradient, distance and contiguous gradient i.e. where its steep for a long distance so you don't get a chance to rest.

ugo.santalucia

drlodge wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

I thought many climbs in the second were already not worth being there

Agree. I did Quell Lane recently, didn't really think it was worth an "another 100 climbs" entry - there's a steeper climb nearby (Highstead Lane) and a longer climb in the form of Jay's Lane/Tennyson's Lane.

Great Dun Fell was a real challenge, why that didn't feature in the first book heaven only knows. Also why wasn't Barhatch in the first book when they included lesser climbs like Leith (why the south climb not Coldharbour Lane) and Box Hill (which isn't really a "challenging" climb IMO). Comparing all of these with Great Dun Fell well...there is no comparison!

Would like to see a more objective way of categorising the climbs, based on a combination of gradient, distance and contiguous gradient i.e. where its steep for a long distance so you don't get a chance to rest.

I think by greatest he means a combination of challenge, cycling heritage, views etc... I find more problematic to include half a mile lanes that are more "dangerous" than challenging.
While the mobs climb Box hill, you should try the other side of the "valley": behind Denbies Wineyard there is a road closed to the traffic, but nicely paved, except the first part which is concrete... you just have to pass two gates on the way up but it has the most stunning views. You then rejoin Ranmore common via a 100 yard brief bridleway

Slo Mo Jones

drlodge wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

I thought many climbs in the second were already not worth being there

Great Dun Fell was a real challenge, why that didn't feature in the first book heaven only knows. Also why wasn't Barhatch in the first book when they included lesser climbs like Leith (why the south climb not Coldharbour Lane) and Box Hill (which isn't really a "challenging" climb IMO). Comparing all of these with Great Dun Fell well...there is no comparison!

You would have a point if the book was called 100 most difficult climbs, or 100 most challenging climbs.

drlodge

ugo.santalucia wrote:

While the mobs climb Box hill, you should try the other side of the "valley": behind Denbies Wineyard there is a road closed to the traffic, but nicely paved, except the first part which is concrete... you just have to pass two gates on the way up but it has the most stunning views. You then rejoin Ranmore common via a 100 yard brief bridleway

Where is this exactly, is it the North Downs Way? https://maps.google.co.uk/?ll=51.24682,-0.338945&spn=0.013915,0.029697&t=h&z=15

ugo.santalucia

drlodge wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

While the mobs climb Box hill, you should try the other side of the "valley": behind Denbies Wineyard there is a road closed to the traffic, but nicely paved, except the first part which is concrete... you just have to pass two gates on the way up but it has the most stunning views. You then rejoin Ranmore common via a 100 yard brief bridleway

Where is this exactly, is it the North Downs Way? https://maps.google.co.uk/?ll=51.24682,-0.338945&spn=0.013915,0.029697&t=h&z=15

Yes, it's part of the North Downs way. It's been tarmac-ed over by Denbies as it runs just above their vineyard

drlodge

ugo.santalucia wrote:

drlodge wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

While the mobs climb Box hill, you should try the other side of the "valley": behind Denbies Wineyard there is a road closed to the traffic, but nicely paved, except the first part which is concrete... you just have to pass two gates on the way up but it has the most stunning views. You then rejoin Ranmore common via a 100 yard brief bridleway

Where is this exactly, is it the North Downs Way? https://maps.google.co.uk/?ll=51.24682,-0.338945&spn=0.013915,0.029697&t=h&z=15

Yes, it's part of the North Downs way. It's been tarmac-ed over by Denbies as it runs just above their vineyard

Ah great, thanks. I think there's some kind of Duo Hill Climb event there shortly...?

ugo.santalucia

Yep

menthel

ugo.santalucia wrote:

drlodge wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

While the mobs climb Box hill, you should try the other side of the "valley": behind Denbies Wineyard there is a road closed to the traffic, but nicely paved, except the first part which is concrete... you just have to pass two gates on the way up but it has the most stunning views. You then rejoin Ranmore common via a 100 yard brief bridleway

Where is this exactly, is it the North Downs Way? https://maps.google.co.uk/?ll=51.24682,-0.338945&spn=0.013915,0.029697&t=h&z=15

Yes, it's part of the North Downs way. It's been tarmac-ed over by Denbies as it runs just above their vineyard

Didn't realise that it was well surfaced. I usually end up going up Ranmore from Weshumble via Chapel Lane and then Ranmore Common Road. That does have the advantage of taking you past Pilgrim Cycles...

terry2708

Thought this was about ride london?? Carters hill is far worse than Leith in answer to the question ages ago!!

deswahriff

terry2708 wrote:

Thought this was about ride london?? Carters hill is far worse than Leith in answer to the question ages ago!!

..Cheers, though I enjoyed the diversion!!....that's good to know..

sherer

deswahriff wrote:

this is a great thread, though only been following since page 20 or so!..
I got in through the ballot at second attempt...not fundraising ( our club do quite a bit already!) but best of luck to those who are...been through all that in my marathon days!
..re the hills and walking and might be the wrong thing to say (never stopped me in the past) but maybe the threat of bad weather might whittle down the numbers amongst the less well prepared? ;-)

....also, am a regular up the "Kent" hills, though never ventured out Surrey way (maybe Titsey Hill, is that Surrey?)...anyone know how Leith Hill compares with, say, Toys Hill/Carter Hill/Star Hill...?

..good luck and safe rides to all...!!

If you can do those with no problem you will be fine on the ride. Left Leith was similar to the easy side of Toys Hill.

Never done Carter Hill though, assume it's in the same area, where abouts is that ?

IIRC Titsey still comes under Kent have made it up there but always have to take a rest stop after the steep section, goal for this season is to get up it in one go.

KnightOfTheLongTights

deswahriff wrote:

....also, am a regular up the "Kent" hills, though never ventured out Surrey way (maybe Titsey Hill, is that Surrey?)...anyone know how Leith Hill compares with, say, Toys Hill/Carter Hill/Star Hill...?

I reckon Star is about comparable to Leith - never found Star all that taxing though.

ugo.santalucia

menthel wrote:

Didn't realise that it was well surfaced. I usually end up going up Ranmore from Weshumble via Chapel Lane and then Ranmore Common Road. That does have the advantage of taking you past Pilgrim Cycles...

SUrprisingly well surfaced and just above the vineyard, for a moment I thought I was riding in my hometown hills in Piemonte...

menthel

ugo.santalucia wrote:

menthel wrote:

Didn't realise that it was well surfaced. I usually end up going up Ranmore from Weshumble via Chapel Lane and then Ranmore Common Road. That does have the advantage of taking you past Pilgrim Cycles...

SUrprisingly well surfaced and just above the vineyard, for a moment I thought I was riding in my hometown hills in Piemonte...

I will give it a go next time, although perhaps I should organise a holiday to Italy instead!

As for the Ride London peeps, be careful out there on Sunday if the weather turns wet and windy- a lot of the roads on the route are narrow, full of blind bends and have crappy surfaces. I rode quite a few of the bits around Ranmore, Leith and Box Hill on Sunday and there is a lot of sand/gravel on a number of the roads. I am also unsure if the route goes up or down Ranmore Common Road- if it is up then you will be ok, the surface is really crappy at present with a lot of holes and some cruddy repairs. If it is down, I would not be descending at top speed down there!

deswahriff

If you can do those with no problem you will be fine on the ride. Left Leith was similar to the easy side of Toys Hill.

Never done Carter Hill though, assume it's in the same area, where abouts is that ?

IIRC Titsey still comes under Kent have made it up there but always have to take a rest stop after the steep section, goal for this season is to get up it in one go.

..Carter Hill runs north from Underriver to Godden Green, just on the edge of Knole Park near Sevenoaks...averages 10%, one of the toughest for me round here..
http://www.strava.com/segments/1048910

Snorebens

:shock:

"Advance Weather Warning for Severe Gales / Heavy Rain / Coastal Flooding

Remnants of Tropical Storm Bertha are now showing increasing signs of interacting with a mid-latitude low pressure area to deepen into an unseasonably intense weather system for August across the British Isles during Sunday.

Initial concerns are regarding wind strength. During August with trees still in full leaf the potential damage from expected 60-70mph gusts are equivalent to 100-120mph winds during January. At present the strongest of the winds are expected across South-west, West, South and North-west England and much of Wales.

It is possible Bertha may reach peak intensity during Sunday afternoon/evening which will coincide with high Spring tides along the South-west coast leading to the risk of over topping and local coastal flooding.

Intense rainfall associated with Bertha is also likely, especially across Western and South-western facing uplands which could see 40-50mm of rainfall in a short period of time leading to increased risk of local flooding and land slips.

At present the confidence in the timing/intensity and track of Bertha is still open to uncertainty and this warning will be updated and refined during the next few days.

If you have outdoor plans on Sunday or travel plans you are advised to stay tuned to any forecast updates as significant disruption for this time of year is possible from this system.
---END---
http://www.metcheck.com/UK/warnings.asp

birdie23

High winds mid afternoon? That's an incentive to get it wrapped up as quick as possible if I ever saw one.

Don't mind a bit of rain, so long as it's not colder than a gilet and arm warmers can deal with.

deswahriff

....tempting..?..

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/castelli-fawesome-vest/

ugo.santalucia

Sounds like from the Mamil world Championships is going to turn into a proper sort-the-men-from-the-boys thing... I wonder if I can sneak in without paying... but most importantly... is Boris going to do it if it's stormy? :shock:

Dippydog2

birdie23 wrote:

High winds mid afternoon? That's an incentive to get it wrapped up as quick as possible if I ever saw one.

Don't mind a bit of rain, so long as it's not colder than a gilet and arm warmers can deal with.

Don't think that will work. Forecast for Epsom is still gusting 30mph mid morning.

surrey_commuter

Dippydog2 wrote:

birdie23 wrote:

High winds mid afternoon? That's an incentive to get it wrapped up as quick as possible if I ever saw one.

Don't mind a bit of rain, so long as it's not colder than a gilet and arm warmers can deal with.

Don't think that will work. Forecast for Epsom is still gusting 30mph mid morning.

good job we aren't going to Epsom the bit in the hills is always well sheltered so it is only the first run down to Newlands that will be bad and that is at the crack of dawn. The push back in after Leatherhead could be awesome.

veronese68

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Sounds like from the Mamil world Championships is going to turn into a proper sort-the-men-from-the-boys thing... I wonder if I can sneak in without paying... but most importantly... is Boris going to do it if it's stormy? :shock:

I thought I'd ditch my lovely 32mm Randonneurs for something a bit skinnier and got 25mm Rubino Pro, maybe I'll wish I hadn't bothered. Glad I've got disc brakes, I just hope there are no wooden bridges.
I might be tempted to stop at home for a cup of something though.

sherer

lets wait until nearer the time, may get lucky and get sun and warm weather all day long

surrey_commuter

As I commute into a headwind and return into a headwind I had factored in having a tailwind the whole way round. May have to rethink my training schedule