Best time for Ditchling Beacon?

[Robh]

[quote="Seanieh_LanterneRouge©"]A mate at work has done it from the junction at the base to the car park at the top in less than 5mins 30seconds.

Anyone done it faster?

[Andrew G]

Take your stopwatch on the next CBC.

[tel]

Just a thought, but how does Ditchling compare to the Cols in jthe Alps.

I know that the Euro mountains are a lot longer but how about steepnest wise.

Ditchling always nearly kills me.

Terry

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

Best time to climb Ditchling is in the Summer

[-Adam-]

[quote="tel"]Just a thought, but how does Ditchling compare to the Cols in jthe Alps.

I know that the Euro mountains are a lot longer but how about steepnest wise.

Ditchling always nearly kills me.

Terry

[Stu Merckx Man]

adams right, they are major. but the good thing about them is, you may have an uber steep part for a mile or so, but then you may get a flat bit, or a slightly down hill section that lets you recover a bit. i recon if you took it slow enough anyone could get up them. once you get into the zone nothing can stop you

[George]

I'd say that the alps are not as steep as Ditchling Beacon.

Ditchling is short and sharp, most of the alps are just a little steeper than Box hill, but are at least 10 times the distance.

Ditchling's steepness average% is in the high teens whereas the most difficult/steep climbs in the alps only average 10%.

Chalk and Cheese

[Jon H]

[quote="George"]Chalk and Cheese

[Robh]

Sign post for Ditchling says 10%

[Andrew G]

I think there's a mental aspect Terry. In the UK the hills are all relatively short so you tend to go harder at them.

In the Alps (1st trip this year ) I knew I had between say 10km (climb back up to chalet) and 31km (Croix de Fer) ahead of me so I put it in a lower gear and settled in to a rhythm. I'd never climbed for so long before so didn't want to blow up, having climbed say Alpe h'Huez I know I could climb it quicker next time, but first time out (and first mountain) I didn't want to get to bend 6 and run out of gas knowing I still had 5 more hairpins and about 4km left to go.

The "worst" climb was the Saulude on PVT's adventure, but that was only because I didn't know how long it was. It was 9% just about all the way for 9.5km but having been told "climb a bit" I'd gone too hard at the bottom. Once I'd translated the "bit" it was a very nice climb as I "settled in" a bit. It was a tough one as well because it was a steep gradient all the way, no easy 3-5% sections to recover, I think it was 9.5% or 9% for most of it with a couple of "easy" bits at 7.5%.

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

I don't think there is much between the gradient of Ditchling and sections of the Croix de Fer, and the ramps on Alpe D'Huez at times equal that gradient, but the length of them is relentless.

Don't believe Stu, there are NO flat bits - ask Adam....

[Stu Merckx Man]

on the col du mente, half way up theres a 500m section of down hill, and on the col du pyresourde there was a mile or so of level ish road, probably 1 or 2%....but i spose that might still be a struggle you sprinters ....im looking forward to the up hill finish at hillingdon

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

There is a drop on the Col de Croix de Fer, but you end up climbing higher anyway, so hardly costitutes a "rest".

Where exactly is uphill at Hillingdon?

[Stu Merckx Man]

thats it paul, if denial stops the fear stick with it

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

Oooohhh errr, have I touched a nerve there?