Hill Climbs

Nope sadly not. The first climb, Challacombe put the day ahead in sharp focus for my ride buddy. It was a tough old day as was!

Bloody youth of today, no backbone. I wouldn't attempt that ride on 2 wheels without a minimum of 250cc!

Every time I watch tourists struggling to drive up those hills induces a moment of nostalgic vomiting.

Not sure this is the right place to be posting this question, but am heading up from London to the Lakes over August bank holiday weekend, staying in Millom, to give Hardknott and Wrynose a go. Having never done anything worse than Ditchling Beacon (albeit on a 46/17, which is the most pain I've ever put myself through on a hill), aim is to get up without putting a foot down, and fancy will probably struggle with that as is, 34/32 notwithstanding. Thinking of a route that goes via Bank End to Eskdale, across to Little Langdale (or Clappersgate?) then following the A593 back down to Broughton in Furness, but have never cycled in the Lake District and recall the roads being single-lane horrors with cars going by at 50mph, so was hoping someone here might have a better idea than me as to what might be a sensible route? Am fearing the roads will be absolutely snarled with cars given peak tourist season.

Apart from that, will probably have latter part of Saturday (or might have the time to do a longer ride on Sunday if we decide to jump on the bikes and head off for some pain after a 5 hour train journey) and earlier part of Monday to go off and see other parts of the Lakes and would welcome any route recommendations!

I can’t offer much on route advice.
Tough climbs, here’s the Veloviewer comparison. Are you riding much at the moment?

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Haha and I've heard Wrynose is almost as bad so that twice over. Actually looking at the comparison that seems like less of a discrepancy than I was expecting, but part of me knows the gradient definitely feels very different when actually on the road - which is why I decided I wanted to try this in the first place, since I have no idea what that actually feels like! Initial idea was to just do Hardknott but figured Wrynose is on the way so why not, but may divert off Cockley Beck if we get to the top of that and look at Wrynose smelling suicide that way.

Mostly ride to get around London and do a 50-100k (edit: ride) every month or so and realistically feel like I have a good shot at getting up this; thinking of trying Swain's Lane on the fg to try approximating what the 25% bits are going to feel like on the geared bike..

I'm not sure you're looking carefully enough at the graphic, it's nearly twice as long and twice as steep as Ditchling. Ditchling is local to me, I've gone up it on 60:28 on a tandem with a weak stoker, it isn't that tough. Those passes are a different beastie, I have been one of three who had to get out and push to get a VW camper over Wrynose. If I were you I would spend a day going up and down the climbs on the escarpment of the North Downs close to London and see how you do before tackling those. 34:32 is a tiny gear and should get you up a brick wall, but your mileage isn't that high, try some other toughish climbs first, the ones you have chosen are right bastards.

I’ve had the 100 climbs app for ages and never focussed on riding any so today I headed over to the nearest one, Swiss hill near Alderley edge.
Relatively easy climb if I’m honest (and I’m 90kg so no climber!) though it would be bad in the wet or winter when it probably stays damp all the time. Cobbles are actually relatively smooth, there’s multiple ok lines on each part.
Really enjoyed it

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TIL that a 60 chainring is a thing.. Thanks for the words of caution; have been out Surrey way but not Kent; any hills in particular you had in mind? Have seen a few vids of people cycling the Fred Whitton with 34/34s and still struggling and am acutely aware even a tiny gear may not suffice.

I like your confidence but share Colin’s caution. I’ve been putting in a fair bit and Hardknott still worries me if you look back through this thread.

Whitedown, Barhatch, Crocknorth Rd are good for Surrey.

Kent, Chalkpit, White Lane, Hogtrough, Brasted and can be done in a row. Toys Hill from the south for something longer with a bit of a kick at the top.

What I’d say I’ve found useful;
live segments, also going at them hard riding at my HR limit for a sustained time. Then going back once better and seeing how within myself I can ride the steep ones.

Do you have a PM?

More on the Kent side: Ide Hill, Westerham Hill, Yorks Hill, Exedown, anything either side of Knatts Valley near Eynsford, anything climbing away from Pilgrims Way east of Otford (particularly the Vigo).

All of these are quite close to each other and are like life in medieval times; nasty, brutish and short. A couple of 60km days climbing that lot will give you an idea of where you are currently and improve your fitness.

Climb the first group from the South for nastier gradients or from the North for a longer slog.

No PM or much in the way of structured training - am fairly low tech and just want to be able to get up and down things so I can go places and get great views along the way. Hardknott was my attempt at discovering where exactly the limits are and what they feel like, but now that I've booked the trip I figured may as well do what I can to prepare. Thanks for all the suggested hills within striking distance - will head out and figure things out!

It’s hard but it’s not that bad. Fit a lower gear, take it slow at the bottom and control your breathing. You’ll be fine

& If it is wet then stay seated over the cattle grid.

Have a great time, if the worst happens you won't make it to the top of the climbs. So what? Enjoy the views!

Cheers all. Difficulty of Hardknott aside, any roads to avoid or is going around on a bike in the Lakes generally a safe experience? Any other hills within striking distance of Broughton in Furness which would be good to get to?

if the worst happens you won't make it to the top of the climb

Is that really the worst that could happen?
https://youtube.com/watch?v=CdCUy1oFlso

Tuesday evening HC on Box Hill. Not my style but giving it a go all the same, should be fun!

https://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/club-events/view/9348

Thanks for the recs - have paid Whitedown, Barhatch and Crocknorth a visit and by the end of them decided that that's about as much hill as I would be willing to climb without undue pain (though the route sure is pretty..), so am currently reconsidering the trip up North until I get better legs!

Little depressing touring the country with no bike due to an injury :-(

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Mountain climb training advice needed. I've stupidly committed myself to going back and climbing the only mountain I've ever had to stop, give up and go back down and I've got just over six months to get myself in shape for it. My excuse for giving up last time was that I'd run out of water 8km from the top, which is fair enough as it was also 32 degrees, but that aside, I still think I was going to struggle. I was probably at least 7kg lighter back then and almost 10 years younger. So, a bit of a tall order. For reference, it's Mount Caro in Catalunya (https://climbfinder.com/en/climbs/mont-caro-tortosa).

Will be attempting at the end of March next year, so it should be a bit cooler. Any way, as well as losing a fair bit of weight, I need to get myself ready for this so I don't fail again. Current fitness levels are pretty low, so I wonder what the best course of action is. Just start climbing loads of hills near me (SE London, so Crystal Palace not far away) and combine that with a load of Zwift/Rouvy indoor leg strength exercise? Or something else.

I have done this length/difficulty of climb before, but not since 2010, so while I know how difficult it's going to be, I've also kinda forgotten the pain of it too.

Any hints gratefully received. Cheers.

Tailor the training to the duration of the target event. 22km at 6+% should take a good long time. Really you need to be targeting your threshold power - lots of 2x20 etc.

Zwift / Rouvy will have a 50km TT training plan, I'd go for that.

Looks like a beautiful climb - don't forget to enjoy it!

Nice one. The first bit is fairly easy, so 6% belies how difficult the climb proper is. Though one thing that did hamper me was the horrendous road surface in the lead up - worse than cobbles - so at least that's no longer an issue thanks to the resurfacing.

And yeah, it is a terrific climb and the views from the top on a clear day are said to be amazing. I appreciated a bit of it when I was limping my way back down it with the driest mouth any man has ever had and lived to tell the tale.

Extra bottle cage for extra fluids.
Riding around SE London is probably not going to be much real help, the hills aren't really long enough and I'm not sure getting buzzed by the 356 / 354 is going to help you out in Spain.

The long game is definitely the one to play here. You've got six months, or 24 weeks if you prefer. Which probably gives you 72 sessions of "training" to do what dbr suggests. Long, slow, steady, is going to get you up the climb so you can enjoy it. A bit of strength work is always good too.

It's totally doable.

Cool. Ta. Bottle cage is dependent on the bike shop I'm hiring from, but should be two and I'll have 800ml bottles.

A bit of strength work is always good too.

Any particular recommendations for this? I've never done strength work. At least, I don't think I have.

https://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/strength-training-101-where-do-i-start/

The beginner bodyweight/dumbell/kettlebell things are good and not scary.