Toughest hill in the 'ham, thoughts?

that hill into selly from northfield is irritating but so is that stretch in general, mind numbingly boring

Other savage hills are Barnes Hill (long...), the Bristol Rd into Selly Oak from Northfield way, Great Charles St.

These two always get me but I dread Barnes Hill more though. It's pretty much unavoidable for myself as well, it's a killer.

When's this race happening then?!

Can we make it October, when I'm back. I've made a list of hills to visit to see if they are truly mega enough for the race and I'll happily put the effort in to reccy a route and organise prizes etc

I haven't experienced most of these hills but happy to help Stu!

Got a rough route starting and finishing in town. Would be pretty tough, takes in some bad hills.

Start by the Bullring markets, then head to Moor Street station, up that hill to the road past the station, then down towards Matthew Boulton. Turn left at the Masshouse junction up towards the childrens hospital to the fire station island, then head towards snow hill up to Great Charles St, straight up there to paradise circus, up to Broad street. Up BS to 5 ways, straight over onto calthorpe rd, past botanical gardens along Harborne Rd, straight up Harborne Hill, up the high st and over the RAB at the top down War lane. Follow the road to California way and up barnes hill, down the other side and up the big hill into Northfield. Onto the Bristol Rd at Northfield and run straight into town - turn onto Pershore Road at the Maccy junction and follow that road back to the markets for a fairly fast finish.

Will be puking lactic acid by the end of it.

I think it would be better if we keep the riders together by doing an eliminator or simple points system, that way it's more social. I was thinking take a couple of hours and cruise round all the really demon hills, including those out in the countryside (can include a pub stop) having short races at each one. Top half of the field at each hill get 1 point. That way we can have a few people tied on points for the 'winners final' somewhere in town

Rose Hill is a tough one. I had to turn round half way up during a training ride the other day. Just stay in your easiest gear and pace yourself. It gets steeper about halfway so don't be fooled; go easier than you think you need to.

Is this going to be fixed or geared? Totally want in either way, but I need more excuses to ride the new road bike!

I don't know what to do about that, it's a tough one. Peeps on fixed would surely be at a disadvantage. How about separate prizes for 1st geared and 1st fixed rider?

This is the fixed gear forum. Fuck road bikes* entering this race/other races organised on here.

*Disclaimer
I like road bikes. My brother has several. Please don't make a spoke card about me.

Anyone who doesn't have a sikk fixy but too much pride to enter on a suitable bike for climbing hills can do it on my polo bike.

^^Ha. People do quite regularly for the london based stuff, but as I said I'll happily do it either way as long as I can get the time off work

I'm all for people coming and riding, don't get me wrong. I didn't mean to come across as anti anything! A separate classification/results for geared/fixed riders would be cool with me.

it's a tough one. Peeps on fixed would surely be at a disadvantage.
surely not.

I'll put up £50 for the first rider on FIXED !

But I'll be taking part too. Don't want to be left out !

Better get a new sprocket on order then!

Better get a new sprocket on order then!

Thats fighting talk where I come from.....

So I moved.

42/16 standard

urghhh my fixed is in bits but I would much rather do it on that bike :(

^put it back together then.

Also, you should check the hills out on http://www.strava.com and see if any of them are categorised. If they are then you could do a points system that takes into account difficulty of the hill like a real kotm competition. Also it would give people a better idea of what they're up for.

Also, you should check the hills out on http://www.strava.com and see if any of them are categorised. If they are then you could do a points system that takes into account difficulty of the hill like a real kotm competition. Also it would give people a better idea of what they're up for.

This looks great. Just signed up, serious lack of rides/climbs etc logged for Birmingham, UK.

If a few people put some times down, for in and around brum it would be fun.

Yeah, especially seeing as it has iPhone and android support as well as just garmin. You might find that if you go out and ride some of the climbs have already been logged, to be honest the search feature isn't that great, needs some way of viewing all categorised climbs on a map. Anyway hopefully someone can use it to track the recce route then it can all be figured out from there.

^put it back together then.

When I get paid I can afford to! Counting down the days.