Fish Hill, Broadway

skyblueamateur

It looks a fairly busy road. Is it safe to do on a bike?

Also, how tough is it? Looks like a decent hill but nothing too taxing gradient wise?

PercyFlage

Haven't ridden it for a few years but don't remember it being too bad, enjoyable though and I think my 850 Mini found it tougher.
Take care on the way down, there's been some bad car accidents there.

Bobbinogs

Some in the local club will do it but I avoid it like the plague. If you want a much better/safer challenge then just keep going from Broadway to Willersley for the climb up Camden Lane or why not try the climb up Dovers from Weston Subedge which has been used for the Nationals? Then again, if you want a proper challenge, you are only a stone's throw from the Snowshill Rd climb out of Broadway...that will get you warmed up.

BobScarle

I agree with Bobbinogs, there are much nicer climbs in that area. Fish Hill, as I remember, is around 10% but that road is busy and I tend to avoid it. My favourite is Dovers Hill, although Saintbury is a bit steeper. One I climbed last year was a little road by Hailes Abbey which takes you up to the top of Sudeley Hill, that was good. Talking of Sudeley, that's widely acknowledged to be a bit of a beast.

skyblueamateur

Thanks for the replies.

Staying in Stowe. Anyone any idea's for a lumpy 35 miler from there?

simona75

The routes for the Bike Blenheim Palace Sportive (sadly no more) would give you a good start as that used to split in Stow. One half goes up near Broadway and the other goes south and east across flatter terrain Here's a somewhat sketchy map

http://www.blenheimpalace.com/assets/fi ... 202012.pdf

Bobbinogs

It is always hard coming up with routes unless one knows the cyclist (road preferences, ability, etc.). How about I list a few climbs that I know well and then you can see what takes your fancy and link some together?

Sudeley. Tough one that seems to go on for ever and the woods can mean varying surface debris but climbs out from a nice town (Winchcombe) and takes you up on top of the Cotswolds:
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/3978834

Cleeve Hill. Medium climb on a road that can get busy. It will take you up from Winchcombe over to Cheltenham where you can then head back to Stow via a very undulating route with lumps a plenty:
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/3978839

Bushcombe. Very tough...so you could do a loop from Winchcombe up the nice side of Cleeve Hill, drop into Prestbury and then climb back up via the iconic Bushcombe. This hill gets a 10/10 in the 101 Hills book and is not pleasant in any way. Poor surface, 25% sections and an apex at the end which will get you grunting. Even the current Hills champ found this one unpleasant!
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/3978843

Snowshill. Tough. Excellent challenge rising from Broadway up to a very pretty Snowshill village or bear left (as per the link) and keep climbing to the top:
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/3978854

Stanway. Medium but with a decent length and an even gradient...and the odd nice bend:
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/3978848

Selsley Hill. Medium/Tough one but can follow a nice visit through Broadway:
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/3978857

Dovers Hill. Medium/Tough (although only a 5/10 in the 100 Hills) but can take you on a nice loop up to Broadway tower or Chipping Camden (very nice) so can be combined with a longer route:
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/3978859

The Bourton dipper. Medium. Start with a nice descent (careful of the busy main road at the bottom!!) and then swish through lovely Bourton before climbing up a punchy hill:
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/3978870

The finish up to Stow? Medium climb that will provide a nice summit finish:
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/3978872

Most main roads are ok but I would avoid the A40 and A429 as both are busy with a lot of lorries.

Failing all that, I have a friend who lives in Stow so if you want to ride with a club from Moreton drop me a PM.

skyblueamateur

That's fantastic. Thanks very much.

Will look at some of longer hills as we don't have many round Coventry. Are any of the climbs steeper than Edge Hill? Although scoring 1/10 in the 101 Hill Climbs the gradient always has me blowing out if my censored .

Bobbinogs

I don't know Edge Hill so cannot comment I'm afraid. You might want to look at this route I put together for a recent Retrobike ride last year, it seemed to work well and took in most of the nice towns/villages around and some lovely climbs without being too brutal. A mixed group got around ok with no one walking although one or two noisily regretted using standard double with small cogs at the back.

If you wanted to make it shorter then you could avoid the loop into Chipping Camden (I added that loop in because the town is so nice and there is a nice cafe to stop at). You could just turn right after Dover's Hill and head up to Broadway Tower where there is also a very nice cafe that is bike friendly:

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/3588953

Be careful on two major descents though: The one into Winchombe down Castle St (some tight bends, adverse cambers and poor surfaces) and the one down Snowshill (very fast, good surface but a well hidden bumpy mid-section).

skyblueamateur

Mr Nogs you're a star. Thanks very much.

Looks like the weather's going to be foul at the weekend. Should this route still be ok?

Thanks again

lawrences

I recommend dovers hill from the weston subedge side. If you get to the top and go left then left again there's a really smooth, fast and safe descent that takes you down to the bottom so you can repeat the climb if you're that way inclined. The descent is fun enough to make the idea of going up again seem almost appealing.

xavierdisley

Fish Hill is alright, there's enough room for cars and the Bromsgrove Olympique reliability trial use it halfway through too. We spanked up it last year

Xav

kingrollo

Bump !

Ive signed up for the birmingham bikeathon - and apparently this takes in fish hill -

Can anbody tell me how long and how steep it is - Im hearing conflicting gradients \ distances !!!!!!

Schleck's Chain

Strava segment has it at 3.2km at 6%. This is a little misleading; it starts with a long drag before steeping to 9% for the second half.

For what it's worth, I agree with bobbinogs that it is not a pleasant climb. Too many fast-moving cars going close. I only really use it as a descent on my routes.

Good recommendations above. In addition to those flagged by bobbinogs, I recommend Saintbury Hill (scenic through the village and steep ramps) and Salters Lane (from Halies - very little traffic, scenic and unrelenting gradient).

captain_chaos

I rode up Sunday (5 June) about 10 am

I had my Garmin Virb running so here (by coincidence) is a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qSWb7o72I4

I wasn't particularly quick but not as slow as the video suggests

I wouldn't necessarily want to ride at a busier time though - although its 2 lanes its quite fast. The descent is great though

frisbee

Its a good descent, I haven't quite developed the guts to not brake for the bends yet but its an easy 80+km/h top speed descent.

kingrollo

Captain Chaos wrote:

I rode up Sunday (5 June) about 10 am

I had my Garmin Virb running so here (by coincidence) is a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qSWb7o72I4

I wasn't particularly quick but not as slow as the video suggests

I wouldn't necessarily want to ride at a busier time though - although its 2 lanes its quite fast. The descent is great though

Thats a great vid - thank you very much - I haven't got my route map yet - so don't have an estimate of when I hit that section.....hope its early on...

ugo.santalucia

frisbee wrote:

Its a good descent, I haven't quite developed the guts to not brake for the bends yet but its an easy 80+km/h top speed descent.

That seems a bit optimistic... I wouldn't think you can reach 80 Km/h down Fish hill, even without brakes or carrying a few exhaust car batteries on your rack