Box Hill Obsession

[Pale Rider]

So it seems my strategy is to simple chuck it into granny gear and just strum away until I get to the top - think this is will be my routine for all the hills

That's what I do on hills.

It's less demotivating when there's no other cyclists about to go past.

 

[Tim Hall]

For a less crowded but hillier experience might I suggest Ranmore Common from the north side? If starting at Ryka's car park, head over the A24, past Box Hill and West Humble Station, then left left onto Ranmore Common Road. Out of the saddle as you take the corner, out of breath by the time you get to the top. On towards the church, then right at the T, followed by a left into the car park. If you do it on a Sunday (or Thursday and Friday apparently) the lovely Sheryl will be there with her van. And over the hedge is a giant mouse.

 

[Sittingduck]

As above, try Ranmore from the Westhumble side. Much more testing than Box and you'll certainly know about it by the time you reach the hairpin lefthander up the top section.

https://www.strava.com/segments/629773

 

[Simontm]

Thanks guys. Have to map a route out that gets me home again as I cycled the fifteen miles to Box Hill this morning.

I did accidentally* go over Coombe Lane heading for Green Dene, Effingham, Cobham not that long ago, making imaginary voodoo dolls of those happy cyclists coming the other way as this blithering, sweaty idiot wondered what the eck he was doing
*accidentally as in "well I need to head North at some point and this looks nice"

 

[benb]

Yeah, Ranmore is a bit of a pig.

 

[Smurfy]

And over the hedge is a giant mouse.

Bit of a tease to post that with no picture!

 

[Dogtrousers]

Inspired by this thread I rode up Ranmore Common and Box Hill. I'd forgotten just how attractive Box Hill is. Because the hill itself is very steep even if the road isn't, you get great views. And there's a nice café at the top and more spiffing views. Ranmore is pretty similar - relatively gentle gradient plus a hairpin so you can briefly pretend that you are going up the Alpe d'Huez. It's enclosed woodland with ramsons and bluebells at the roadside.

Ranmore is the one on the left

 

[PK99]

Inspired by this thread I rode up Ranmore Common and Box Hill. I'd forgotten just how attractive Box Hill is. Because the hill itself is very steep even if the road isn't, you get great views. And there's a nice café at the top and more spiffing views. Ranmore is pretty similar - relatively gentle gradient plus a hairpin so you can briefly pretend that you are going up the Alpe d'Huez. It's enclosed woodland with ramsons and bluebells at the roadside.

Ranmore is the one on the left

One of my regular circuits is over the Downs, up to Headly Little Switzerland, Ranmore, Box Hill, Bike Beans @ Ashtead for coffee and home (SW19) 40 miles/2170 feet - sometimes with an extension over Leith hill

 

[MichaelO]

Took in Box Hill on my way home from doing a Coldharbour/Coombe Lane/Crocknorth loop yesterday morning - never seen so many cyclists - clearly 10-11am on a Sunday is popular!! Mini pelotons of 15-20 cyclists every few hundred yards!

 

[ColinJ]

Anyway - to further my 'blimey, you Southerners eh!' schtick - it's the Sheffield half marathon on Sunday. One section climbs 725ft in 3.25 miles.

You Southerners and your 'hills' eh!

Pah - you South Yorkshirers and YOUR hills, eh ... Here's one of the routes out of the local valley to get away from the traffic on the A646 - 670 ft climbed in 1.15 miles. By no means the hardest of the local climbs!

Ooh, the sun has just come out and I have been slacking so I think I will go along and ride up that! See y'all later ...

 

[Simontm]

.

Ranmore is the one on the left

That's not Ranmore...

Tell me, have you seen strange lights in the sky?
An urgent need to get somewhere?
Five notes playing in your head?

Whatever you do, stay away from the mash!

 

[Pumpkin the robot]

Pah - you South Yorkshirers and YOUR hills, eh ... Here's one of the routes out of the local valley to get away from the traffic on the A646 - 670 ft climbed in 1.15 miles. By no means the hardest of the local climbs!

View attachment 89842

Ooh, the sun has just come out and I have been slacking so I think I will go along and ride up that! See y'all later ...

On the forum ride I did with you, it was the Southerner getting up the hills first

I am riding back down South next month, I will do Boxhill again, as it has been about 17 years since I last did it!

 

[Pumpkin the robot]

I will be up Holme Moss tomorrow for some hill repeats.

 

[Cuchilo]

I have family in York so I think I'm going to have to pay them a visit soon and see these hills you northerners are talking about . I'll borrow my Mums shopper

 

[TheJDog]

I did Box Hill yesterday but my GPS trace looks like a toddler was running around at the bottom then doing some crazy cross countrying up to the top.