Hills

[Dan_K]

Picked up this book the other week:

[url]http://www.amazon.co.uk/100-Greatest-Cycling-Climbs-Cyclists/dp/0711231206[/url]

Does what it says on the tin really and certainly gives some ideas for places to visit.

Looking at the list of some of the hills in the South-East it rates them as follows for difficulty:

Box Hill 3/10
York’s Hill 6/10
White Lane 5/10
Leith Hill 6/10
White Downs 8/10
The Wall 5/10
Toys Hill 7/10
Ditchling Beacon 6/10

Agree/disagree?

Any missed off the list that you think should be up there?

I’ve only cycled up a couple of them. The worst hill I’ve ever ridden is Chalkpit Lane. Where do people think this rates against the above?

[Snoop Doug]

Cool. I've done a few of these. I used Ditchling as training for Ventoux. Three reps at a time. I used to hate the way it twists and you're never quite sure...is this the top....dangflabbit another little bit, grrrr....etc.

Toys Hill - I love it when you get to the phone box and it goes almost vertical - yeah baby!!

Only done the wall once - looks worse than it is....somehow...

White Lane - blur of pain - Bec CC Hill Climb

The climb from Coulsdon home to Wallyville post CR warrants a mention - I'm always shot by then

[Dombo]

[quote="Sean Hogan"]Toys Hill Only made it halfway.

[Andrew G]

I think my new way up Toys Hill is harder than just going straight up it, and prettier.

[Snoop Doug]

[quote="marco"]I'd put succombs hill on the list except maybe with all the cars going up it it isn't the most pleasant one to test yourself on.

[Maria David]

I would have given a higher score to White Lane and Yorks Hill - more like 7. There are definitely sections of both where people end up walking. They are not as long as Toys Hill but equally hard. Not sure how the climbs are formatted in the book but Toys Hill via Brasted Chart is not particularly difficult. It's only when you are heading North that it's tough - from Four Elms or via Puddledock.

I agree that Succombs and Chalkpit should be on there, as well as Gangers and Titsey. Then there's also that trio of Sundridge, Brasted and Hog Trough. Those three would 9 as they are harder than Whitedown. Straight up 20%. Even riding down them is tough work!

Sounds an interesting book.

By the way, you probably are aware that Rollapaluza are putting on a hill climb competition next week in celebration of hills (and the launching of this book!). It'll be up Swains Lane - a steep road that runs alongside Highgate Cemetery. Scary stuff!

[adrian]

I'd be interested in this book. It's my chance to finally learn what the hills are called. I'm sure I know them all (or rather, in the biblical sense, they know me) but have always been too busy gnashing my teeth to note their names.

Lots of nasties in our area - Marco, I agree with you about that one up to Cudham. Worst hill I've ever ridden up is Cleeve Hill as part of the Circuit of the Cotswolds - 25% for ages

[Roy Green]

I'm putting in a claim, as the oldest club mmber to climb Toys! Last summer, and Snoop, Pete and Rob Q were there to confirm it!

[Rob Q]

[quote="Roy Green"]I'm putting in a claim, as the oldest club mmber to climb Toys! Last summer, and Snoop, Pete and Rob Q were there to confirm it!

[Dombo]

[quote="marco"]Goodness. Do people still make comedic comments relating homosexuality to lack of strength? I thought that finished around the time Jim Davidson went bankrupt.

[Maria David]

I know the one you mean Marco in Cudham. The Dulwich Saturday club run goes down that hill - Church Hill, I think it's called. I once rode the club run in reverse so ended up riding up it. It's not the sort of hill you'd want at the start of a ride. To be honest it wasn't that bad because the 25% section is very short. It reminded me of having a jab - just at the point when you begin to feel the pain everything suddenly eases off! Well, that or you just fall off if you are in the wrong gear!

[Dan_K]

[quote="adrian"]I'd be interested in this book. It's my chance to finally learn what the hills are called. I'm sure I know them all (or rather, in the biblical sense, they know me) but have always been too busy gnashing my teeth to note their names.

[Andrew G]

It is Church Hill Maria and it's a toughie. Berry Hill in the same area can be a nuciance to get over depending on how your legs feel.

I've got this book and it's okay from a general interest point of view but the scores are odd as it's difficult to rate short and viciously steep against longer but more gradual, and different types of hill suit different people.

I agree about Sundridge etc too as they are very hard but there's tons of hard climbs around the Downs and I suppose he picked his favourites or those he knew.

Sadly Ganger's like a number of lanes is getting more cars as sat navs send them the shortest route, even if far from the best in a car. Succombs I steer well clear of as it gets a lot of traffic and the hairpin left is a real pinch point.

[Dombo]

Is Crockham Hill in the book? After a 60 mile Sunday ride with Andrew ("Lost another one off the back, Bunty. Dombo's bought it"), I'd rank it 11 or 12

[Sylv]

DON'T BUY THIS BOOK

it's written by a Norwood Paragon