Titsey v Whitedown

A Place to idle the day away talking about anything you fancy. Expect to find cycling and non cycling topics inside

Titsey v Whitedown

Postby tel » Tue Mar 09, 2010 9:07 am

While struggling up Titsey over the weekend, my mind started to wonder if Whitedown was even harder.

What do the rest of the forum think?

Titsey or Whitedown.

Terry
tel
lives on this board 24/7!!!
 
Posts: 552
Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2005 12:30 pm

Re: Titsey v Whitedown

Postby jon avery » Tue Mar 09, 2010 9:13 am

I've never liked the first part of Titsey, once you are around the bend it aint to bad, i have always hated Toys Hill :(
User avatar
jon avery
lives on this board 24/7!!!
 
Posts: 940
Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2005 2:45 pm
Location: South Croydon

Re: Titsey v Whitedown

Postby Andrew G » Tue Mar 09, 2010 9:50 am

Whitedown's harder I think as it's steeper for longer, but Titsey goes on for a long time if you struggle to find a rhythm after the steeper part.
Andrew G
lives on this board 24/7!!!
 
Posts: 10477
Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2005 6:47 pm
Location: Selsdon

Re: Titsey v Whitedown

Postby Hal » Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:52 am

I avoid Titsey up the main road to the mini roundabout at all costs. Just too may cars whipping round the corners without seeing you.

Take the right turn after the corner and do White Lane instead, much nicer. :wink:

Hmmmm but Whitedown is probably king :D


Toys from the north is a dream, so steady and smooth.

Toys from the south thats good too, long and some steep bits, but none of them are really long enough!
User avatar
Hal
lives on this board 24/7!!!
 
Posts: 325
Joined: Fri Nov 10, 2006 2:55 pm
Location: Beautiful Croydon

Re: Titsey v Whitedown

Postby Elliot M » Tue Mar 09, 2010 1:11 pm

what about chalkpit lane, i hate that :evil:
Elliot M
lives on this board 24/7!!!
 
Posts: 1648
Joined: Mon Dec 02, 2002 10:09 am
Location: On the Merlin Extralight

Re: Titsey v Whitedown

Postby Dombo » Tue Mar 09, 2010 1:17 pm

Funny, while struggling up Whitedown on Saturday I wondered the same about Titsey.

Titsey has a good run in where you can build momentum and once past the church (steepest bit) is nice and steady so you can find a rhythm. Whitedown is too narrow, so you sometimes have to stop - happened on Saturday's Hilly 50 when a car overtook us then stopped in the passing place to let a Rangey down the hill - but the left/right bend towards the top is a good attack point. Titsey has none of those.

But, Titsey is also a versatile hill in that you can practise both climbing and fast descending; Whitedown is a nightmare to descend.

Whitedown is therefore harder - steeper going up, more dangerous coming down.
User avatar
Dombo
lives on this board 24/7!!!
 
Posts: 1853
Joined: Wed Dec 08, 2004 3:03 pm

Re: Titsey v Whitedown

Postby Andrew G » Tue Mar 09, 2010 1:21 pm

[quote="Hal"]I avoid Titsey up the main road to the mini roundabout at all costs. Just too may cars whipping round the corners without seeing you.

Take the right turn after the corner and do White Lane instead, much nicer. :wink:

Yeah that's a nice/nasty way, I can't remember the last time I rode up the main road. My preference is to go up from the other side though, either straight up the 3 steps of Botley Hill/Clark's Lane or a nice alternative is go along Pilgrims Way and turn up Rectory Rd/Lane which brings you out part way up Botley.

There's so many real nasty hills around the area I try not to rate them or I'd be put off going out! Loads of them hurt like hell and in a variety of ways but they add interest to rides. I may be a tester who likes a nice fast dual carriageway but for general riding I'd hate to live somewhere flat it would be so boring.
Andrew G
lives on this board 24/7!!!
 
Posts: 10477
Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2005 6:47 pm
Location: Selsdon

Re: Titsey v Whitedown

Postby Ivor » Tue Mar 09, 2010 2:51 pm

[quote="Elliot M"]what about chalkpit lane, i hate that :evil:

Really? I actually prefer chalkpit, I find Titsey a bit dull and monotonous whereas chalkpit's a bit more scenic and interesting to ride up.
User avatar
Ivor
lives on this board 24/7!!!
 
Posts: 1268
Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2008 5:10 pm
Location: Oxted, Surrey

Re: Titsey v Whitedown

Postby Ivor » Tue Mar 09, 2010 2:53 pm

[quote="Dombo"]But, Titsey is also a versatile hill in that you can practise both climbing and fast descending; Whitedown is a nightmare to descend.

Hmmm, not convinced. The surface is pretty shocking for speedy descents, although they did re-tarmac the bit around the bottom junction where the surface had turned into something akin to corrugated iron.
User avatar
Ivor
lives on this board 24/7!!!
 
Posts: 1268
Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2008 5:10 pm
Location: Oxted, Surrey

Re: Titsey v Whitedown

Postby Dombo » Tue Mar 09, 2010 3:52 pm

[quote="Ivor"][quote="Dombo"]But, Titsey is also a versatile hill in that you can practise both climbing and fast descending; Whitedown is a nightmare to descend.

Hmmm, not convinced. The surface is pretty shocking for speedy descents, although they did re-tarmac the bit around the bottom junction where the surface had turned into something akin to corrugated iron.


The top of Titsey always feels a bit juddery to me, although I've not been down it since November. I've yet to try it with my new carbon bars though :D.

I clocked my PB of 45mph down there, pathetic I know but I'm only a lightweight little feller.
User avatar
Dombo
lives on this board 24/7!!!
 
Posts: 1853
Joined: Wed Dec 08, 2004 3:03 pm
Top

Re: Titsey v Whitedown

Postby Andrew G » Tue Mar 09, 2010 6:11 pm

Titsey can still be fun to go down although as you say Dom a bit bumpy up top these days. My pb down there is 54mph but I tend not to pedal through the top for so long now due to the bumpiness, which if you do allows you to carry the extra few mph in to the sweeping S at the bottom. Normally a 45-48mph descent though, you need to have a clear run in to the S as that's where you always hit your max.
Andrew G
lives on this board 24/7!!!
 
Posts: 10477
Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2005 6:47 pm
Location: Selsdon

Re: Titsey v Whitedown

Postby jon avery » Wed Mar 10, 2010 8:12 am

54mph is shifting :shock: and got me thinking what would be your chances of staying upright if you had a front blow out doing that sort of speed, has it happened to anyone?
User avatar
jon avery
lives on this board 24/7!!!
 
Posts: 940
Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2005 2:45 pm
Location: South Croydon

Re: Titsey v Whitedown

Postby George » Wed Mar 10, 2010 8:15 am

All Andrew needs is for a getaway car to be pulling out of Pilgrims way :wink:
User avatar
George
lives on this board 24/7!!!
 
Posts: 2269
Joined: Fri Apr 04, 2003 10:20 am
Location: at a Conference in london

Re: Titsey v Whitedown

Postby Dombo » Wed Mar 10, 2010 8:56 am

[quote="Andrew G"] ...My pb down there is 54mph...


Clucking bell :shock:
User avatar
Dombo
lives on this board 24/7!!!
 
Posts: 1853
Joined: Wed Dec 08, 2004 3:03 pm
Top

Re: Titsey v Whitedown

Postby Elliot M » Wed Mar 10, 2010 9:31 am

[quote="Ivor"][quote="Elliot M"]what about chalkpit lane, i hate that :evil:

Really? I actually prefer chalkpit, I find Titsey a bit dull and monotonous whereas chalkpit's a bit more scenic and interesting to ride up.


It's the last hill on which I had to get off and walk!
Elliot M
lives on this board 24/7!!!
 
Posts: 1648
Joined: Mon Dec 02, 2002 10:09 am
Location: On the Merlin Extralight
Top

Next

Return to General

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest

cron