What do you consider a decent climb?

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Comments

  • stevie63
    stevie63 Posts: 481
    rpherts wrote:
    Websta24 wrote:
    I live in east anglia, a decent climb for us is a 25m gain over about 1km haha :)

    Gedney Hill is my favourite, altitude 8m.
    Or Shippea Hill which is 16 foot above sea level (I think that's about 5m)
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,325
    rpherts wrote:

    I'd take a long, gentle climb (< 4%) over riding into the wind any day. At least the hill doesn't constantly batter you in the face.

    I suggest Tan Hill from the east then... :lol::mrgreen:
    left the forum March 2023
  • svetty
    svetty Posts: 1,904
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    rpherts wrote:

    I'd take a long, gentle climb (< 4%) over riding into the wind any day. At least the hill doesn't constantly batter you in the face.

    I suggest Tan Hill from the east then... :lol::mrgreen:

    That's not a hill it's a false flat ;)
    FFS! Harden up and grow a pair :D
  • rpherts
    rpherts Posts: 207
    stevie63 wrote:
    rpherts wrote:
    Websta24 wrote:
    I live in east anglia, a decent climb for us is a 25m gain over about 1km haha :)

    Gedney Hill is my favourite, altitude 8m.
    Or Shippea Hill which is 16 foot above sea level (I think that's about 5m)

    Get into a low gear and spin up it.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,325
    Svetty wrote:

    That's not a hill it's a false flat ;)

    If you say so... :roll:

    First time I did it, 40 mph wind in the face, I was going up with a 36 x 34 gear. Second time only 20 mph wind in the face, so a much more manly 36 x 28
    left the forum March 2023
  • ZMC888
    ZMC888 Posts: 292
    I like iconic famous climbs, but anything over a cat 3 can be 'decent'.

    Think about maybe the most famous climbs in the UK such as Cheddar Gorge, Haytor Vale etc. They've been used in numerous Sportives and pro races therefore that gives them 'something' that other longer climbs that are not as well known do not have. Obviously in Europe the Stelvio, Ventoux etc.

    You can go to many places in the world and find HC monster climbs with almost no cycling history. I think it's a mixture: Length, grade, history, altitude gain, location, road surface, weather, time of year, vistas.
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,493
    I would suggest Cat 4 and above.
    Strava kindly tells you if your climbs are in this category. No mention, not a real climb. :wink:
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • scott5
    scott5 Posts: 83
    Anything you come home from in 1 piece
  • burnthesheep
    burnthesheep Posts: 675
    ZMC888 wrote:
    You can go to many places in the world and find HC monster climbs with almost no cycling history. I think it's a mixture: Length, grade, history, altitude gain, location, road surface, weather, time of year, vistas.

    The iconic climbs matter because of what other people have done on it, not what we have. Also, remember, many of the famous pro climbs occur near or at the end of a 90 mile stage. It's not something like a rec rider driving to Ventoux's base and warming up for 5 min then heading up.

    Also, not everyone has the luxury of a destination biking vacation.

    Here on the east coast US, this is what I'm after. I still have some work to do before trying.
    https://www.strava.com/segments/695873
  • w00dster
    w00dster Posts: 880
    that looks awesome Burnthesheep. The gradients don't look too silly, though its hard to say for sure looking at a strava profile.

    This is the largest hill I get to tackle, will be riding it this coming Sunday. The best thing about it is the lack of traffic, when I rode up it in April I had just the one car coming towards me, none from behind. Its pretty much single track, steep in places but as its not too long its actually quite nice. I actually prefer the ascent to the descent. In the wind and the wet of North Wales it can be a tad sketchy doing 50 mph downhill.

    https://www.strava.com/activities/935187605

    Amusingly that was the second time I'd done the climb that day, I've climbed it on a previous trip with the wife, we were very low down on Strava, so I thought I would really go for it - loaded the map on my garmin but forgot to press the start button - went up it as hard as I could! As the loop I did was only 30 odd miles I thought I'd go back around and try again. I was pooped, probably only moved up about 10 places!

    Most of my riding is rolling typical UK rolling countryside, approx. 50 miles and 3000 feet of ascent. The odd leg burner but nothing to severe.
  • reformedfatty
    reformedfatty Posts: 543
    Rather than using elevation I'd go by time... for me a decent climb is one that takes more than 15 mins to complete.
  • w00dster
    w00dster Posts: 880
    Living here in Bucks there really isn't any 15 min hills. The below are probably the best climbs I get to ride regularly, obviously no where near Alp level, but as good as it gets here in Middle England.

    https://www.strava.com/activities/95445 ... 3358359444
    https://www.strava.com/activities/94466 ... 3096907597
    https://www.strava.com/activities/91513 ... 2326820765

    I'd consider all of these to be decent climbs but they are less than 10 minutes for each one.
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,493
    w00dster wrote:
    Living here in Bucks there really isn't any 15 min hills. The below are probably the best climbs I get to ride regularly, obviously no where near Alp level, but as good as it gets here in Middle England.

    https://www.strava.com/activities/95445 ... 3358359444
    https://www.strava.com/activities/94466 ... 3096907597
    https://www.strava.com/activities/91513 ... 2326820765

    I'd consider all of these to be decent climbs but they are less than 10 minutes for each one.
    Neatly describing the difference between a hill, and a climb.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • ZMC888
    ZMC888 Posts: 292
    burnthesheep wrote:
    ZMC888 wrote:
    You can go to many places in the world and find HC monster climbs with almost no cycling history. I think it's a mixture: Length, grade, history, altitude gain, location, road surface, weather, time of year, vistas.

    The iconic climbs matter because of what other people have done on it, not what we have. Also, remember, many of the famous pro climbs occur near or at the end of a 90 mile stage. It's not something like a rec rider driving to Ventoux's base and warming up for 5 min then heading up.

    Also, not everyone has the luxury of a destination biking vacation.

    Here on the east coast US, this is what I'm after. I still have some work to do before trying.
    https://www.strava.com/segments/695873
    Well it is an iconic climb in many ways. A huge 1500 meter HC climb, amazing vistas. It's just lacking some history due to the population density of the location. I meant more that you can have a cat3 or cat4 with a great deal going for it despite its lowly 100-300m altitude gain.

    Check out one of my local climbs in China, (that I logged and I'm KOM). https://www.strava.com/segments/14868694It's a punishing Cat2 with great visats, some pretty intense climbing and a real test. In the UK it would be in the top 10 climbs in the country, but in China it's only ever had 4 people go up it on Strava, none of them female and never been used in a competition! (as far as I'm aware). :)
  • imafatman
    imafatman Posts: 351
    WOW Mt. Mitchell is a serious climb. That's epic. Good luck! What a great climb to aim for.
  • courtmed
    courtmed Posts: 164
    Definitely feel like I'm pretty lucky living in South Wales. These climbs are the main ones within 40 minutes or so from me

    https://www.strava.com/segments/7097687
    https://www.strava.com/segments/1551580
    https://www.strava.com/segments/6697363
    https://www.strava.com/segments/6670960
    https://www.strava.com/segments/6670929

    But then the entire area is peppered with ones like these which are around 10% for 1km

    https://www.strava.com/segments/3401745
    https://www.strava.com/segments/693321
  • drlodge
    drlodge Posts: 4,826
    Now that I've done them, the climb up Mont Ventoux from Bedoin or Malaucene is certainly a decent climb. The road up from Sault is for pussies :lol:
    WyndyMilla Massive Attack | Rourke 953 | Condor Italia 531 Pro | Boardman CX Pro | DT Swiss RR440 Tubeless Wheels
    Find me on Strava
  • philbar72
    philbar72 Posts: 2,229
    drlodge wrote:
    Now that I've done them, the climb up Mont Ventoux from Bedoin or Malaucene is certainly a decent climb. The road up from Sault is for pussies :lol:
    all 3 in one day?
  • burnthesheep
    burnthesheep Posts: 675
    Been riding about a year. Wanted to try some real climbing after just doing local hills and a few repeats of a little Cat III climb in a town I had to travel for work to.

    So, I went ahead and went full crazy and took on the highest point in the eastern US. :D

    It was slow going, but I made it. Didn't stop except to make a turn onto the parkway. Had to play "domestique" and carry all my water up like a camel as there are not places to get any until the top.

    Not of French fame, but is an HC and has multiple other "climbs" of cat 4 thru HC "within" the largest part of the HC climb. The average grade is a bit deceiving on the long HC piece, 4% avg includes a 2mi and a 1/2mi descent and then starting back up. You start off thinking "ahhh, 4% avg isn't so bad!!", then realize this fact and reality sets in.

    Just a hair short of 7000ft on the day. Mt. Mitchell NC.
    https://www.strava.com/activities/1073991110

    Pardon possibly worst kit ever...it's kind of unbecoming :lol:
    35805939665_bc5ab9d712_z.jpg
  • bflk
    bflk Posts: 240
    I've ridden up to Scotland's highest village but not the extension up to Lowther hill which apparently is the UK's 3rd biggest climb. Had to get a train to Sanquhar anyway but if I was in good shape maybe doable riding home afterwards.

    viewtopic.php?t=13034636
  • drlodge
    drlodge Posts: 4,826
    philbar72 wrote:
    drlodge wrote:
    Now that I've done them, the climb up Mont Ventoux from Bedoin or Malaucene is certainly a decent climb. The road up from Sault is for pussies :lol:
    all 3 in one day?

    Nope, different days. I was hoping to do all in one day, but temperature was way too hot. 36 degrees!!!
    WyndyMilla Massive Attack | Rourke 953 | Condor Italia 531 Pro | Boardman CX Pro | DT Swiss RR440 Tubeless Wheels
    Find me on Strava
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,325
    burnthesheep wrote:
    Been riding about a year. Wanted to try some real climbing after just doing local hills and a few repeats of a little Cat III climb in a town I had to travel for work to.

    So, I went ahead and went full crazy and took on the highest point in the eastern US. :D

    It was slow going, but I made it. Didn't stop except to make a turn onto the parkway. Had to play "domestique" and carry all my water up like a camel as there are not places to get any until the top.

    Not of French fame, but is an HC and has multiple other "climbs" of cat 4 thru HC "within" the largest part of the HC climb. The average grade is a bit deceiving on the long HC piece, 4% avg includes a 2mi and a 1/2mi descent and then starting back up. You start off thinking "ahhh, 4% avg isn't so bad!!", then realize this fact and reality sets in.

    Just a hair short of 7000ft on the day. Mt. Mitchell NC.
    https://www.strava.com/activities/1073991110

    Pardon possibly worst kit ever...it's kind of unbecoming :lol:
    35805939665_bc5ab9d712_z.jpg

    Great to see a different part of the world, interesting to see so many trees at that elevation ,there aren't any in the Alps at 2000 mt... nice climb by the look of it and yes, terrible kit, but who cares... :lol:
    left the forum March 2023
  • bendertherobot
    bendertherobot Posts: 11,684
    courtmed wrote:
    Definitely feel like I'm pretty lucky living in South Wales. These climbs are the main ones within 40 minutes or so from me

    https://www.strava.com/segments/7097687
    https://www.strava.com/segments/1551580
    https://www.strava.com/segments/6697363
    https://www.strava.com/segments/6670960
    https://www.strava.com/segments/6670929

    But then the entire area is peppered with ones like these which are around 10% for 1km

    https://www.strava.com/segments/3401745
    https://www.strava.com/segments/693321

    Who the hell is that Paolo bloke?
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,325
    bendertherobot wrote:

    Who the hell is that Paolo bloke?

    Not me, sadly... :(
    left the forum March 2023
  • bendertherobot
    bendertherobot Posts: 11,684
    :D coming over here taking all our KOM's
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
    https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • cycleclinic
    cycleclinic Posts: 6,865
    A decent climb last sunday morning after 170 miles over night was a 1% gradient. Sufolk is not blessed with climbs.

    If you live in the fens any climb is decent and welcome. The biggest climb I have done is 13km and 855m of climbing.
    its here. I will try it again in october but with more sensible gearing 41:27T was no fun at all. Oddly though hardly anyone rides in calabria. It's lovely down there empty roads and more hills than I can shake a stick at.
    https://www.strava.com/activities/17425 ... 4067601739
    http://www.thecycleclinic.co.uk -wheel building and other stuff.
  • courtmed
    courtmed Posts: 164
    bendertherobot wrote:
    courtmed wrote:
    Definitely feel like I'm pretty lucky living in South Wales. These climbs are the main ones within 40 minutes or so from me

    https://www.strava.com/segments/7097687
    https://www.strava.com/segments/1551580
    https://www.strava.com/segments/6697363
    https://www.strava.com/segments/6670960
    https://www.strava.com/segments/6670929

    But then the entire area is peppered with ones like these which are around 10% for 1km

    https://www.strava.com/segments/3401745
    https://www.strava.com/segments/693321

    Who the hell is that Paolo bloke?

    If only I knew. I've just done a bit of snooping & seen he's done nearly 17,000km this year :mrgreen:

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