Energy sapping hills

[Rickshaw Phil]

The thread about "when is a hill a hill" got me thinking, does anyone else have particular hills that they hate because they look easy but seem to take all your energy?

My bugbear is Pulley Lane to the south of Shrewsbury. Here: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en...oid=Vys9SdWRS2AT8CZGeA_3sA&cbp=12,254.76,,0,0
It climbs about 80 feet (25 metres) in 1 mile which is nothing special, yet I always get to the top a sweaty mess and have to go slow for a bit to recover.

By comparison, Porthill in the town (here: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en...oid=6nUrtTEaLJEsKDN6igWIDQ&cbp=12,235.43,,0,0 ) which climbs about the same height in less than half the distance I find fairly easy.

Before anyone says MTFU I ride the Longmynd regularly so I know what a big hill is.

Which hills give you more trouble than they ought to?

 

[dan_bo]

Holme Moss. Although not from Holmfirth- that, for me at least, is the relatively easy route over. If you come over the tops from Greenfield that means you've just been climbing for twenty minutes- half an hour, then descending for five or ten minutes, so you're already a bit tired AND your legs are cold. Then take a right take a right at the Ford pub, and you have heavy, undulating roads for 500 yards. Then a REALLY steep descent with a few 90 degree bends with added drystone walls to keep you on your toes, then another mile or two of the same heavy, undulating roads. Then Holme Moss. If you're lucky there'll just be a headwind.

 

[Edge705]

This one here 22 miles @ about 45k managed 17 miles last time going again in June to see if i can crack it

 

[martint235]

Toys Hill in Kent pushes me close every time. It's not always on the hill that I'll notice it, it may be trying to chase someone down 10 or so miles further on that I realise I've got nothing left.

Currently I'm beating Toys Hill 5 - 3 (number of times I've completed without stopping v a stop half way up. Disclaimer: It'd be easy on a triple rather than 39 - 25)

 

[Edge705]

Should of mentioned in my kneck of the woods weve got a couple but nothing worth a mention as such but crag wood trough of Bowland Lancs. Jubilee Hill out of Lancaster (quernmore) , and oakenclough over bleasdale near Garstang Lancashire - they tip up enough to get even the fittest of of the saddle but they dont last long enough to do any punishment to your legs However combine them all and it makes a great hilly sunday 50

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

This one here 22 miles @ about 45k managed 17 miles last time going again in June to see if i can crack it

Not quite what I meant. I suspect most people would consider that a hard climb.

 

[CopperCyclist]

So far, I haven't had that. I've actually grown to like hills.

That said, I live in a rubbish flat part of the country so don't have many hills to admire! I have found a strange 'opposite' sensation though...

Sometimes when climbing a decent hill, with head down maintaining an even cadence, plugging away I'll come to a part where the hill lessens slightly. It's still a climb, but its not quite as steep. If I haven't noticed this coming, it's such a hit to the sense it really seems as though I've started coasting uphill, and it gives such a mental boost, the rest of the hill just seems to melt away

It never happens if I expect it though...

 

[Col5632]

This one

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=KY1...=T_xfl2uMDM5DvxoyA-AJpA&cbp=12,337.78,,0,6.31

It continues round the corner and there is a smaller hill just before this one which gets me a tad sweaty then i tackle this, No idea about gradient or how long it lasts but its a nightmare

 

[ianrauk]

The B245 the climb from Hildenborough to Sevenoaks.
There's a great viewing point half way up........

 

[threebikesmcginty]

The B245 the climb from Hildenborough to Sevenoaks.
There's a great viewing point half way up........

Is that at the same place that your mobile always rings and you have to stop to take the call?

 

[ianrauk]

Is that at the same place that your mobile always rings and you have to stop to take the call?

You thinking the one where one always seems to have a mechanical of sorts?

 

[threebikesmcginty]

You thinking the one where one always seems to have a mechanical of sorts?

Yeah, that's it and it's also where you have to get your jacket or something out of your saddle bag.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Is that at the same place that your mobile always rings and you have to stop to take the call?

 

[colly]

I think it's a mental thing. If you have an obvious hill then you get yourself ready for it, maybe not consciously, but if it's a climb that is surrounded by landscape that makes it seem less steep than it is then you aren't in the right frame of mind.

Harewood Bank north of Leeds coming from Harrogate is a steady old climb 230 odd feet in about 3/4 of a mile with a maximum gradient of just under 14%. It looms large as you approach it and although it makes you work a bit it's not so bad.
Just after Harewood house still on the A61 the road dips and then climbs through some trees. It looks like nothing much but I always found it a real drag. Much worse than Harewood bank. In fact it climbs 190 feet in .6 of a mile with a maximum of just over 8%.
When I began to treat it like a climb suddenly it didn't seem so bad.

 

[fenlandpsychocyclist]

On my usual 30 miler loop ride around the fens i have a combined total of 230 feet of climbing.
(Several flyover bridges and two steep river bridges to get over).

Its a miracle to find that sort of hill climbing material around these parts!!
Mind you, the winds that blow round here can have you go from 15mph to 5mph over 30 feet when you stop
pedalling, i have 11 miles of that sort of riding every time i go out on my route.