Friday 24 July 2009

Hills, hills, and maybe more hills

Yesterday, for some unknown reason, I decided that I would go for a ride and use quite a few of the hilly roads I know. They may not be huge climbs, or long climbs, but to me they're still climbs and climbs are what I need to get better at.

So I incorporated them into a 31.19 mile route I rode. The climbs I've noted here are generally above 5%. Like I say, they're not huge, they're probably something that most of you will think nothing off and ride all the time without even noticing the road rise.

These are in the order I rode them:


Berry Brow - 46ft in 0.12 mile. Max gradient 20%. Average 12%.
Medlock Vale - 85ft in 0.25 mile. Maximum gradient 19%. Average 10%.
Vicarage - 33ft in 0.22 mile. Max gradient 9%. Average 4%.
Gorsey Lane - 52ft in 0.19 mile. Max gradient 13%. Average 6 or 7%.
Mossley Rd - 157ft in 0.88 mile. Max gradient 6%. Average 5%.
Broadcarr - 115ft in 0.47 mile. Max gradient 12%. Average 8%.
Mossley - 164ft in 0.5 mile. Max gradient 17%. Average 10%.
Luzley - 109ft in 0.39 mile. Max gradient 15%. Average 14%.
Rose Hill - 79ft in 0.42 mile. Max gradient 9%. Average 6%.
Mill Brow - 131ft in 0.33 mile. Max gradient 20%. Average 10%.
Bardsley - 72ft in 0.17 mile. Max gradient 20%. Average 19%.
Stannybrook - 46ft in 0.1 mile. Max gradient 20%. Average 14%.


As you can see none of these are over 1 mile in length, merely kicks in the road (albeit sharp kicks) however 6 months ago 10% was my limit for a short sharp climb. So something is going right somewhere!

Stats -
Warm, muggy and eventually wet
Average speed: 13.2mph
Miles: 31.19
Climbed: 1063ft

7 comments:

  1. Very good training that, you'll be beating pantani and myself on sunday! He hates hills too though. No turning back this time!!!

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  2. Somehow I don't think I'll be beating you or Pantani up the Isle of Skye. It's the worst hill I've ever tried to get up. 1001ft of climbing in 5.65miles!

    The last time I rode that hill, i didn't even manage 1 mile of it!! It's the beginning that's the killer as it's averaging about 15% then 11%. I'm thinking of getting there the back route!

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  3. Yet more hill practice, 31miles of it too!

    You're going to find Brian Rourkes ride a piece of cake in comparison.

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  4. Ah, but these hills were only little ones! i can mountain goat up little ones. It's the big long ones that scare me!

    I guess Sunday's club run will tell me whether I can manage long climbs or not. Having said that though, if i go the planned route there'd be 1001ft of climbing in 5 miles, if i go the back route there'd be 692ft in 6 miles of climbing. Mmmm. Choices choices!

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  5. The Cat and Fiddle, which seems to be your main worry, wouldn't even feature on that list of climbs.

    Apparently according to
    http://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Cat-Fiddle&qryMountainID=7357

    The 'Cat' is 16km long and climbs just 340m. That gives it an average gradient of only 2.1% !

    If your powering up 20% climbs and hill training reguarly you should find it a walk in the park.

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  6. Bloody hell. I thought I had it hard on Saturday - some of those climbs are whopping.

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  7. Ah, but they were only little (short) hills Joby, I just about have the leg power to get up them. It's the long slow climbs that are the killers cos they're just never ending!

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