I'm a rock-et man!

[downfader]

Past few days, despite the heat stopping me getting a full nights sleep and work being a bit hard on the body I've noticed I've become a little faster on the bike. My acceleration has improved too. Could it be in part due to this hill:

Abbey Hill (Google map)

Street view

Its not super steep. Bit it lasts for long enough that my heart is in my mouth and I can average 15mph until I near the top. Coming down it due to the shelter from the trees you dont have any issues with headwinds and you can reach a fair old speed. Slightly uncomfortable on the Jake with the P2 forks, LOL!

I also quite like this hill around the corner: Very short but quite steep And Weston lane is also quite good. Some steep bits, rough road though. I've been doing Abbey Hill 3 times a week, very early usually get there around 6.45am. Seems quite popular with other cyclists even at this time and they often say hello to me (apologies to the ones I've not had the breath to say it back to, but I do try to atleast nod and smile) B)

So! What are your fave hills? Got any links on google? Or do you just prefer to go down them?

 

[HLaB]

You can't get away from hills around here you've got to love them ;-) On my old longer commute I grew to like the Inverkeithing to Dunfermline Back Road (Map, Streetview); I still do it a lot but at the moment its not part of my commute. In my last job I really enjoyed cycling up Dundas St in the morning (Map, Streetview). In my current limited commute to university I think Orchard Brae is about the best hill (Map, Streetview)

 

[Matthames]

My favourite hill at the moment has to be from Hastings old town, up Barley lane to the fire hills and back down to Pett Level. You can easily forget you are in Hastings while you climb it and think you are in Cornwall. The decent is just stunning and wicked fast, in the right conditions you can easily push 40 or 50mph with views of the sea opening up in front of you.

 

[downfader]

I definately like the idea of a nice view. Seaside views are rare here, Weston Shore nearby Abbey Hill is about as close as we get - flats on one side and the River Itchen on the other. Lots of wildlife around there though. Low tide you can sometimes see a variety of birds on the mud.

HLab - that first hill looks pretty nice.

 

[jig-sore]

I'd had a couple of good fast weeks but this week my legs are like lead funny how that happens

 

[HLaB]

HLab - that first hill looks pretty nice.

It is

This is going down it last week

[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbYDbhC_U5w[/media]

 

[downfader]

I'd had a couple of good fast weeks but this week my legs are like lead funny how that happens

I had lead in my thighs 2 weeks back. I think I wasnt eating enough protein and drinking enough water. Been drinking more when at work (like a sauna in an industrial potwash), doing the odd stretching too. I fell out of the habit

 

[BrumJim]

Doesn't really capture the glory, but this is a lovely downhill stretch with glorious views of the North Worcestershire countryside.
http://tinyurl.com/2g8m8g2

 

[Jezston]

It is

This is going down it last week

[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbYDbhC_U5w[/media]

You got your hands on the brakes going down that, HLab?

Also sort your camera mounting out my neck hurts!

 

[JiMBR]

It's not my 'favourite' hill, but I always wondered whether I could do it.


North Portland Street


I've now done it a few times, and it is quite fun...in a sadistic sort of way!

 

[Sailorchick]

I do Abbey Hill a fair bit as I sail out of Weston SC (you can see all the boats in Downfaders pic). I always look at it and think thats nothing then halfway up remember that its steeper than it looks (or feels it to me anyway). Its on a nice 12 mile loop to Hamble and home route that I do when I can.

Although you'll not be seeing me on that road at 6.45am (not even when it was my daily commute - used to live in Weston) as thats just far too early for me! Enjoying my first cup of tea at that time of day if I'm awake.

 

[downfader]

It's not my 'favourite' hill, but I always wondered whether I could do it.


North Portland Street


I've now done it a few times, and it is quite fun...in a sadistic sort of way!

That looks nice and steep. Love the lazy parking!

 

[downfader]

I do Abbey Hill a fair bit as I sail out of Weston SC (you can see all the boats in Downfaders pic). I always look at it and think thats nothing then halfway up remember that its steeper than it looks (or feels it to me anyway). Its on a nice 12 mile loop to Hamble and home route that I do when I can.

Although you'll not be seeing me on that road at 6.45am (not even when it was my daily commute - used to live in Weston) as thats just far too early for me! Enjoying my first cup of tea at that time of day if I'm awake.

When I was a kid I took photos of all the boats on that section of river. There used to be icecream parlours and stuff down there too.

 

[Matthames]

I have uploaded a video descending the hill.

[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOBvy2msi2M[/media]

 

[HLaB]

You got your hands on the brakes going down that, HLab?

Also sort your camera mounting out my neck hurts!

LOL, It was my old Hybrid so not the fastest but doing quick maths its 1.2miles from the roundabout to the junction in 3min31sec that's an average of 20.47mph. I do it a lot faster on the road bike even in the dark I usually only max out at 32-34mph still in the back of mind is going round that last corner to find a WVM coming towards me, partially on my side of the road. If you didn't have to worry about other that would be the fastest bit, judging by the amount of folk who's ended up in the field

Funny enough, my neck hurts too but its not from the camera mount; I've got to do something about this pillow