Tuesday South Hills & White Bear

All going well at work at the end of the day, I'm also aiming to be there probably quite close to 6:45

How was it?

Hilly! Great way to spend a Tuesday evening.
Nice meeting everyone!

A lot less traffic today! And I think we missed a turn.

Nice group of 5 and a couple of beers at the pub afterwards.

Do the rules of the game allow variations to the route?

Could be fun to occasionally swap in Taymount Rise (no traffic), Sydenham Hill footpath (the no cycling sign was put up by someone who believed that no cycling up it was possible, right?), the other side of Canonbie, Westwood Park, and laps of Ringmore Rise. Plus others I'm sure.

And doing it backwards so we go up through the council estate on the exciting road surfaces. Or is that too much?

Thanks to those who organised, great ride, decent beer and ace to meet some new faces. Looking forward to next week!

You can do variations, people have varied it but for some reason it’s never been quite as cohesive....

And I do like the ‘classic’ route....

However, draw a route up and there’s nothing to say we can’t give it a go and if it works, run different routes on alternative weeks?

Not bored of the classic route yet but thinking ahead to the 10th repetition :-)

• Swaps the first climb for one with fewer cars (did this by accident this week).
  
• Avoid Green Lane, don't think it saves any climbing and avoids the main road.
  
• Does the crazy footpath instead of Kirkdale for a change. Might be better to return to the classic route via Wells Park Road or Longton Ave/Grove and join Kirkdale lower down?
  
• Ends at the pub.
  
  

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28794933

Nice looking route. Wouldn't mind joining this sometime. I ride the hills to the north east section now and again. They're steep, but OK, on fixed-gear. The whole thing looks pretty tough. Does/would anyone ride fixed? I'm wondering if I could keep up ;)

There's a couple that ride fixed. If you can ride up one hill you'll be able to ride up all. I weave quite a lot up some hills. We regroup/recover at the top of each hill so keeping up shouldn't be a issue.

We should definitely try going up the estate swithbacks on an experimental week. Nice and traffic free

The steep side of Canonbie is challenging on a sensible FG ratio. I've done it on 48x19 before but I was younger and stronger.

Experimental week you say?

I think this could work. Will give it a test ride at some point.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28796097

Trying to cram as many hills into as few miles makes you realise how much of a masterwork the original is.

There's so many variants off the anerley ridge. You should definitely explore.fox hill and the south of the ridge around it has 4 streets maybe 5 up it.
Then anerley, CPP, Westwood hill, wells park, kirkdale, Eliot bank,canonbie way also has west something, the alpine pass of horniman something, something rise.
On the Streatham side if you come from Herne hill you could go over York's circus, then there's two shortish climbs back up that ridge off valley road. Hill path and valleyfield road. You could then exit at crown dale and head down to the South Croydon bit

Sorry. I'm not trying to take over, or teach you to suck eggs. I used to go up and down that bit loads.

I would come along but #dadding

This is all doable on 65 gi.
People I know have done this on 72 and 84.

I would come along but #inevercometohills

There are so many options @inappropriate_bike I am enjoying your love for the hillz

The original is great because it ‘flows’ and it has a good Hills/pub ratio.

Every 10 editions there should be an ‘experimental’ version though, I like that idea

72” is the perfect gear for this imo

Hoping to have that SS next week, if a paint booth is working.....

The original is great!

I like the bits off gypsy hill that bring you back on to crystal palace.

#diditonceknoweverythingnow

#cantgetmyducksinalinefor630

We should definitely try going up the estate swithbacks on an experimental week. Nice and traffic free

I tried out the first half of the experimental route and it does need a few tweaks.

But, riding up through the estate is great fun. There are multiple routes to the top at different gradients so you can pick what suits you best.

Unfortunately there's one kerb you have to hop up which is awkward because of the gradient. So, need to see if there's a way around it.

Folks doing this tomorrow? I'm keen.

Yep

18-45 depart from HHV pavilion

I'm in, too.

Weather looks great but I'll bring more clothes for the pub this week. Brrrr.

Working late so won't make it this week... Might swing past the Ivyhouse later and see if anyone is there though...

Retro mountain bike night?

Wanted to make an appearance but alas, my employer is conspiring against me to make me fat and slow

Don’t worry matey, I can be fat and slow enough for the both of us