Highgate Hill Thursdays

RAIN doh all those nice parts getting soggy might have to cry of

My daily commute takes me up Highgate West Hill every day!

I set out in the morning from Bromley-by-Bow to Belsize Park, which is about 10 miles. After an hour there I ride up to Muswell Hill via Highgate West Hill, which is about 4 miles. I'm running 49/18, which I find a good balance gear for my needs. Then it's 10 miles back to Bromley-by-Bow at the end of the day, on a route that takes me up Crouch Hill. I think I've earned my dinner when I get home!

I'm so very happy that I live in Tooting and going to highgate on a thursday night is never gonna happen!

have to get back out for this one, but yet again can't do this week. i'm running 48:16 (i think, although i am confused and need to go back and count the teeth, because i 'presumed' it was an 18, but have my suspicions. i've been up it a few times lately and it's never defeated me.

i went to toys hill in kent today and i know for a fact that there is no way i could climb that beast (evil side, not gentle side) on anything other than the granny gear on my geared condor.

Toys Hill is a bastard - just keeps ramping up, saving the worst for last. I've done it on 60" fixed with drop bars, and about 65" on my fixed mtb with wider bars, but I remember being a newbie and cracking on a 36x19 geared (having been through the bonk about an hour before).

It's one of those climbs where as you approach the final 50m, you get an overwhelming urge to shit yourself - all that forced expiration. Possibly something like giving birth...

Have you done Yorks Hill and White (Titsey) Lane? Seminal climbs in the same area... I'm not suggesting you get an overwhelming urge to splurge in your lycra though as you approach the final 50m :-)

docus Highgate West Hill

I FECKIN DID IT!
I've been meaning to give it a go since this whole thursday thing first started.
I work too late to ever make the race, and wasn't convinced I'd make it up it anyway.
So finally got round to having a go this morning, and it was hard, but despite slowing to a snails pace at one point i got up it first time!
had to sit down for 5 mins at the top though!
and coming down Archway Road was interesting, thank god it was wide, smooth and empty!

so 30 mile loop round south london in the sunshine yesterday and quick blast round highgate and finsbury park today, I'm trying to work out if it'd be suicide to try L2B next weekend...

Nah, the L2B will be a blast. Want a practice sesh on Tuesday or Wednesday evening? I could do with 30 or 40 miles one evening this week.

velocity boy Nah, the L2B will be a blast. Want a practice sesh on Tuesday or Wednesday evening? I could do with 30 or 40 miles one evening this week.

if i'm seriously considering attempting next sunday, I'd definately need another longish ride to see if I'm up to it, would be interesting to see how I compare against others too, as I normally ride alone.

So if someone else reasonably unfit (smoker prefferred :) ) is also intrigued about next sunday,
and David you don't mind being held up a bit,
and work isn't too busy,
then yes a longish ride mid week would be good...

Well, let's get a thread going! ;)

i think i've done pretty much all the hills in that part of kent now.

most of them at the weekend, including sundridge, ides, westerham, and toys.

hmmmm, what fun, hills are your friend.

Anyone playing this evening?
Not entirely sure of the meeting point or kickoff time either - my geography's duff.
Also riding a biggish gear, so not sure about doing it at all !

So lpg, how does the Ditchiling Beacon compare to HGWH on fixed? I've been beaten by the beacon on gears and can't imagine it on a 70+" gear...

It's a bit longer, that's all. I eat hills like that for breakfast.

Now that we have a few more members maybe we could get the highgate hill thursdays going again 6 - 6.30pm gloucester gate regents park

can we do it Highgat hill Fridays? that way i'll be able to come along.
Just joking but if anyone goes today, i'm planning on going too

hmm i would but my current bike isn't so hot up hills ;).

I would join in, but I took the tube today, to give my legs a rest for Calshot session tomorrow.
I hate the tube - using it occasionally reminds me of why I cycle !

I might head out to Chertsey next Thurs for the 10mile TT and do it fixed, if I don't make it I'll certainly come out to conquer the High Gate.

lpg and i will be doing highgate hill on thurs 6 - 6.15 gloucester gate regents park just inside the gates sitting on the grass drinking a stella

any takers ?

Quite possibly, weather I will hav e gotten round to finish rebuilding my rear wheel is another matter so I may beon my road bike.

Count me in, it's on me way home!

Yup, got the week off work so I reckon I'll give it a go. However cycling in Brighton yesterday the thread went on my lockring so I had to flip it over to a very rusty and unused SS. Looks like I'm gonna need to get some new wheels...

photoben However cycling in Brighton yesterday the thread went on my lockring so I had to flip it over to a very rusty and unused SS. Looks like I'm gonna need to get some new wheels...

same thing happened on my langster, go for goldtec

excuses excuses

lpg will take any of you up that hill geared or not

( i'm not setting you up big style here am i renan you are quite confident about your hill climbing abilities !! )

as for me hopefully i'll make up the gap to the leaders round the rest of the course ! i haven't walked up yet but it's got to happen one day soon

That'll be the same pace I'm riding up it then!!

Do we get a handicapping system based on body weight? If that's the case I should get a 5k head start..