Hills

[jonny jeez]

Why is it that some hills look really monstrous…but in reality are quite tame while others that look tame, but are "bleedin 'orrible"!

I've been swithching my route around a bit of late (not properly settled on an alternative yet) but have tackled a hill that I originally avoided as I thought it was a bit long and a bit steep…turns out all along that it is a LOT easier than the "diverted" hill that I rode to avoid it.

I feel so cheated!

 

[mr_cellophane]

I'd rather do a short steep hill than a long incline.

 

[Paulus]

It depends on what mood you are in when approaching the hill.

 

[BentMikey]

I went and rode up Pepys Rd on Sunday. Not so bad at all actually, I was expecting a monster from the comments on here.

Haven't got round to riding Succomb's Hill yet, I might go out a bit later today and ride that one.

 

[ianrauk]

What hills are those Jonny

Why is it that some hills look really monstrous…but in reality are quite tame while others that look tame, but are "bleedin 'orrible"!

I've been swithching my route around a bit of late (not properly settled on an alternative yet) but have tackled a hill that I originally avoided as I thought it was a bit long and a bit steep…turns out all along that it is a LOT easier than the "diverted" hill that I rode to avoid it.

I feel so cheated!

 

[ttcycle]

depends on whether you ride them out the saddle - ie short sharpies or sit in the saddle for long haul ones- all down to mentality and tecnhique

Maybe your fitness has just improved over time...I keep hoping for this myself...err not happened yet!

 

[jonny jeez]

What hills are those Jonny

I went over the hill at Lewisham (loampit), I've always thought that this looked the same as the incline at the Bromley Hill section on the A21 (you know, by the beadles garage).

But in reality, it's a tiny hill. I had avoided it by riding around the back of hilly fields (Brockley) and always struggle on the this section which I always thought looked "super tame"...Loampit is soooo much easier despite the look of it.

depends on whether you ride them out the saddle - ie short sharpies or sit in the saddle for long haul ones- all down to mentality and tecnhique

Maybe your fitness has just improved over time...I keep hoping for this myself...err not happened yet!

I never stand up (well, hardly ever)...and the "old" hill still hurts so it cant be a fitness thing...may be a mental thing

 

[ttcycle]

No I don't get out the saddle either...too unpractised and ultimately lazy in that respect!

When you say it hurts - in what way muscle ache/lactic acid building up or just lungs feeling sore? That will tell you if it's your fitness...

 

[jonny jeez]

No I don't get out the saddle either...too unpractised and ultimately lazy in that respect!

When you say it hurts - in what way muscle ache/lactic acid building up or just lungs feeling sore? That will tell you if it's your fitness...

Oh I meant sort of generally...ie...it's a pain .

It always leaves me out of breath and really glad when I'm over it and on the run down!

 

[BentMikey]

If you're using the A2/A20, btw, you can avoid the uphill on the return journey (Amersham Rd) if you stick to the A2 until Brookmill Road. I need to get back to using Amersham Rd though, need to get more hills in if I'm gonna do Hell of the Ashdown in January.

 

[jonny jeez]

If you're using the A2/A20, btw, you can avoid the uphill on the return journey (Amersham Rd) if you stick to the A2 until Brookmill Road. I need to get back to using Amersham Rd though, need to get more hills in if I'm gonna do Hell of the Ashdown in January.

Interesting..... that Amersham section is surprisingly harsh. I generally jump off the new cross road and use the lights to take the shared path up and opposite Goldsmiths (here) which takes me to the top of amersham. Never thought to stay on the new cross road to brookmill. I'll take a look at that tonight.

 

[Molecule Man]

Loving the south-east London nerdiness!
I don't find Loampit Hill too bad either.
If I'm in the mood, Amersham Road is fun to ride up as fast as I can, just short enough not to completely knacker me.

Somehow I don't really like Brookmill Road, it's just narrow enough so that there isn't enough room to be overtaken safely if something is coming the other way, but just wide enough and straight enough that a lot of drivers can't see that that is the case.
On the way into town I like to take it easy and follow the river through Brookmill Park, I've been getting regular sightings of a kingfisher there, as well as herons, grey wagtails, and currently a mandarin duck.

Vicars Hill up past Hilly Fields from Ladywell is pretty steep, and nice at the top.

 

[BentMikey]

Loampit is hardly noticeable, surely?

Yes, Brookmill is a bit challenging, but not too bad. I take the lane through the first section, and again past the shops due to the bumpy surface on the left side, and again lastly through the pinchpoints as you rejoin the A2.