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.
[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.
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.
[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.
[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 .
I clocked my PB of 45mph down there, pathetic I know but I'm only a lightweight little feller.
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.
54mph is shifting 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?