Longest Hill?

What's the longest decent hill in/around London's famous London?

I went to l'alpe d'huez this summer (sans le vélo) and I fancy a crack at it next time I go back. What do you reckon would be the best hill to practice on?
I wouldn't mind doing it fixed too..... what gearing do y'reckon?

(p.s I would have somewhere to stay at the top, so wouldn't have to come down fixed)

Would be impressive training for the alps in Londres.

Flip-flop wheel for the descent?

I s'pose. 25t fixed on one side and a freewheel on t'other.

There's no point climbing to the top of that if you don't get to roll down the other side!

fixed alps?

why would you think that's a good idea?

what do you think geared bikes are for?

Off the top off my head I would suggest stupidity. Any other suggestions?

I agree with pj - geared all the way in the Alps.

You don't need to climb hills to get fit enough to climb hills. You basically need to be able to cycle close to your anaerobic threshold for an hour or so and can train for this on the flat, i.e. by doing time trial type efforts for 20-30 mins.

here's a suggestion:

do it geared. your easiest gear will probably be around 38". if you're particularly foolish, you might try ventoux with a 41" at the bottom.

either way you'll die, and be grateful that whilst dying, you did it geared, and not fixed.

why did you go to alp d'huez in the summer without bike? is there anything else going on?

Riding up hills is stupid.

Le Bourg d'Oisans to Alpe d'Huez is about 15k so train by riding up Dartmouth Park Hill and Highgate Hill about ten times in a row. Aim to complete this in about an hour and you'll be ready.

on a 41".

without the downhill bits.

Le Bourg d'Oisans to Alpe d'Huez is about 15k so train by riding up Dartmouth Park Hill and Highgate Hill about ten times in a row. Aim to complete this in about an hour and you'll be ready.

By the same token; Ben Nevis is 4,000ft, so if you climb it ten times you're more than ready for Everest. Your stairs take you up 15ft - you can do the maths...

<--- Deadpan FAIL

<--- Deadpan FAIL

Sorry - it's been a long day... ;-)

Meh, it's now a drunk night. Whiskey is a good chain sub

What's the longest decent hill in/around London's famous London?

I went to l'alpe d'huez this summer (sans le vélo) and I fancy a crack at it next time I go back. What do you reckon would be the best hill to practice on?
I wouldn't mind doing it fixed too..... what gearing do y'reckon?

(p.s I would have somewhere to stay at the top, so wouldn't have to come down fixed)

If you head South to Otford I have a 100km Grimpeur route that consists of two 50km laps with 850m of climb each lap total 1700m using several hills on the North Downs;
Row Dow, Exedown, Ightam Mote, One Tree, Riverhill, Hubbards Hill, Baileys Hill and Yorks Hill.

I usually route check it on 68" fixed and walk up One Tree and Yorks allthough at a stone heavier I might be walking more than that if I don't gear down next year.

It is organised on the 8th of March next year details on the Audax UK site nearer the time.

a raft of negetive comments. hmm

maybe i'll just do it geared. although...... not having a geared bike might put the stoppers on that.

You may think we're being negative but it's for your own good. Your original premise was a seriously bad idea. At least we've achieved something - like saving your life...;-)

not negative, realistic.

high gate hill is pretty damn long! :)

a raft of negetive comments. hmm

maybe i'll just do it geared. although...... not having a geared bike might put the stoppers on that.

Wasn't meaning to be negative - but Alpe d'Huez, like all Alpine climbs, is a very different beast from anything you'll find in London. An average gradient of 8% may sound pretty easy but when it's 14 kms long you need low gears. I've ridden it fresh and done it in under an hour but I've also done in at the end of the Marmotte, having ridden 100 miles and 3 cols, and it's taken me an hour and a half. The weather is a big factor too, especially if it's very hot or very cold. I'm sure it's possible to do it fixed but I think you'd need a gear of around 40 inches for it to be pleasurable.

There is an alternative, the bike shop in Bourg d'Oisans, at the foot of Alpe d'Huez, rents out pretty decent bikes by the day so you can always go for that option.

well ok, but do the hire bikes have Deep-Vs? hmm? and i'm prepared to bet my soft downy moustache they aren't pink.

high gate hill is pretty damn long! :)

Yeah, I remember during the Tour of Britain stage a year or so ago there were riders weaving all over the road, half the peleton cracked and got swept up by the broomwagon, and GB's great hope sadly died of oxygen deprivation and too many SIS energy gels. Cyclists still make the pilgrimage from all over Europe to leave their water bottles as a tribute by the memorial outside The Flask.

That was two years ago, BMMF. Don't you remember the one year anniversary memorial ride this time last year?

I couldn't make it up there, I had to push the bike two thirds of the way up.