Longest Hill?

I used the Holly Lodge Estate when training for La Marmotte - which finishes at the top of L'Alpe D'Huez. The road runs between Highgate West Hill and Swains Lane and is similar in length and gradient to both but is much quieter and doesn't have as many speed bumps.

As for riding L'Alpe fixed - I think it's a great idea going up if you get the ratio right. I couldn't recommend the cogs as I was f@*ked by the time I climbed it. Coming down however, I would recommend a freewheel because even if you can spin it you have to corner very sharply on the hairpins. Maybe use a flip flop with 76" freewheel for the flat bits around Bourg.

Try the Bwlch near Cardiff if you can. It's a good climb and it's got a nice long descent.

On a similar note, I used the Shropshire Union Canal to prepare for my Channel swim.
Not the length of it - I just swam across it 28,000 times while local scallies helpfully threw bricks in to simulate waves...

Scallies - salt of the fucking earth.

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.

Really it's more of a adventure cycling climb and bad call to include it in the race by the tour organisers. If you or I were to attempt that climb unprepared with no crampons, survival vest .e.t.c in case of bad weather, (your good self should no how quickly bad weather can blow in up Highgate Hill west) I would have very little sympathy if either of us ran into trouble. I don't think the teams had the risks fully explained to them hence the the tragedy which unfolded.

The tour of Briton organisers have blood on their hands and they know it. This is why they kept this years K.O.M to the rise nr tower Bridge. Thank god they did. Brish cycling could not take another hit like the Highgate disaster.

Box Hill Repeats? There aint a lot of point in using English Hills for Alpine training - I speak having done just that for this years Etape. Flat out on the flat is better but i'd suggest 1 hour efforts not 20/30mins.

lowpro has it right, head for the Bwlch and the other hills north of Bridgend.

Box Hill Repeats? There aint a lot of point in using English Hills for Alpine training - I speak having done just that for this years Etape. Flat out on the flat is better but i'd suggest 1 hour efforts not 20/30mins.

yeah wot he said, 3laps of richmond park (1hour) at 70-80% max output would be better than 8min climbs followed by a rest downhill repeated.

Chimney Bank (okay so North Yorkshire is a little outside the greater London area) but if you want hills it sure is one of them. 33% do yer?

Ffordd Pen Llech in Harlech - 40%

Everyone who’s dissing hill reps as a way to train for the Alps is right. Nothing prepares you for the sustained efforts – not even TT training, as at least then the speed gives a purpose to all the effort. Climbs like Col du Galibier will sap your will…

Highgate’s good for practicing technique and breathing though and if you can be @rsed to go back day after day for a couple of hours each time you’ll be gagging to get into the mountains for real.

Climbing fixed gives you supernatural ability for whatever ratio you choose. Direct drive and no momentum lost in springs and things. Love it.

Maybe use a flip flop with 76" freewheel for the flat bits around Bourg.

i might be missing something here, but with the right gear fixed, i.e a 41" or so, wouldn't a 76" freewheel probably require another chain?

i ride a lot round bristol, the hills down towards the mendips are good training for the alps, simply becuase it is so rarely flat. riding out of bristol towards the airport isn't as steep, but there's around 5-6 miles of climbing out of 7. then there are hills everywhere else.

the brecon beacons beckon.

[quote]
Quote:
Originally Posted by lowpro
Maybe use a flip flop with 76" freewheel for the flat bits around Bourg.

i might be missing something here, but with the right gear fixed, i.e a 41" or so, wouldn't a 76" freewheel probably require another chain? or would it work?

i ride a lot round bristol, the hills down towards the mendips are good training for the alps, simply becuase it is so rarely flat. riding out of bristol towards the airport isn't as steep, but there's around 5-6 miles of climbing out of 7. then there are hills everywhere else.

the brecon beacons beckon.

i think it would need another chain. or 6inch dropouts.

the brecon beacons beckon.

What a lovely turn of phrase mr j.

try going up biggin hill from the south without gears... if you can make that... there's hope

you'd still be a clown for trying it without gears though

I love overtakng fixies as they struggle up London's hills, seeing you on this beast would be hilarious, please film it.

^^^ You'll make friends here. Defo

I love overtakng fixies as they struggle up London's hills, seeing you on this beast would be hilarious, please film it.

Wanna race?

Dont do it BMMF, this chap just loves overtaking fixies up hills. You wouldn't stand a chance. I mean, he has gears!

Wanna race?

Please film it :)

I was on my geared today and the white guy with dreads who lives west ripped me to shreds up and down even the small "hill" that is notting hill gate. In my defence, i wasn't up for a race but still.

Wanna race?

How did you do on sunday?

I love being overtaken by fixies as I struggle up London's hills, please film it.

Even humble little me is getting quite useful up through Highate these days. I have not been overtaken by any roadies yet.

How did you do on sunday?

So-so.

So-so.

Excellent race-report!

Good luck next week.

So-so.

only just got round to reading this scarlett. excellent report and excellent ride dude.