Steepest climbs in central London

[ianrauk]

That little hairpin going onto Foxgrove always catches me in the wrong gear, cos it kicks up again after a slight levelling.

I had KoM for 2016 for the Beckenham Hill climb for quite a while, before someone smashed it. Having seen my time obliterated, I took a detour to go and defend it, laden with a heavy backpack.... I managed to shave a couple of seconds off my time, but didn't get anywhere near the new mark.

I sense some hill repeats next weekend... HotA training, of course

Actually, near you is A232 from Coney Hall up to the Police Club. Not only a nasty thigh burner. It's not great due to the one lane and traffic who like to squeeze past.

 

[Dec66]

Actually, near you is A232 from Coney Hall up to the Police Club. Not only a nasty thigh burner. It's not great due to the one lane and traffic who like to squeeze past.

Yes, nice to pump the thighs up and down that one with a 44-tonner up the chuff

Not far away, too, are the delights of Jewels and Saltbox Hills. The top bit of Salty is a particular "why am I doing this?" fave of mine.

 

[ianrauk]

Yes, nice to pump the thighs up and down that one with a 44-tonner up the chuff

Not far away, too, are the delights of Jewels and Saltbox Hills. The top bit of Salty is a particular "why am I doing this?" fave of mine.

Saltbox is a killer. Though I would say it's not London. It is in the LB of Bromley.

 

[User482]

There's a climb up to Farthing Down, and a short dig in Nunhead, if memory serves.

 

[Dec66]

Saltbox is a killer. Though I would say it's not London. It is in the LB of Bromley.

Yeah, it's Biggin Hill really. Woolyback territory

Might as well throw things like Sundridge Hill in the mix if we're going that far out.

 

[swee'pea99]

Tower Bridge can provide one of the steepest climbing challenges known to man, provided you time it right.

Watch out for the wet bit at the end.

 

[Blue Hills]

There's a climb up to Farthing Down, and a short dig in Nunhead, if memory serves.

The steeper climb to Farthing Down is from the south side I think. I well remember leading the remnants of a ride up there - it had been chucking it down - as we reached the top, the skies cleared to blue. Beautiful.
Couple of weeks ago I went DOWN it at about 5:30 in the morning - was glad of my Hope Vision 1.

 

[Blue Hills]

Got to ask - what went through your mind as to what it was, before you almost hit it?

 

[Pale Rider]

When I lived in London I had an Indian acquaintance who lived near Farthing Corner.

Nothing to do with hills, but when he told people where he lived, he pronounced it as 'farting corner'.

Oh, how we laughed.

 

[ianrauk]

The last time a night ride went over Farthing Down I almost rode into a cow that was ambling across the road in the darkness. It was wearing reflective ankle bands, which I saw but could not work out what on earth they were.

From a ride over Farthing I did recently

I had to wait for these ladies to cross the road before I could continue. They weren't in a rush.

 

[Tin Pot]

I work near there. I must confess, I've never heard of the "Bullshit London Walking Tour".

Good spot!

 

[Tin Pot]

Yeah, it's Biggin Hill really. Woolyback territory

Might as well throw things like Sundridge Hill in the mix if we're going that far out.

Hey now, careful...

I vote for the mayor of London, I'm still a Londoner.

 

[mjr]

Swains Lane on Bike Channel now.

City Guide episode 4, London, might get repeated later.

 

[outlash]

In the city itself, I can only think of Snow Hill, the roads connecting Eastcheap & Lower Thames St (Fish St Hill, Pudding Lane, Botolph Lane etc) and Mount Pleasant that could be classified as any kind of gradient. Outside of that you'd be looking at Highgate (Swains Lane) and beyond (Milespit Hill), High beach (Mott St) and whatever the badlands have south of the river.