Part of the Sky Ride stuff, they're looking for the 'Perfect Hill'.
However, unlike our hill thread and thinking of the steepest hills to ride up, this is the perfect hill to descend.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Cycling News
Nominate your favourite hill
(33 posts)-
Posted 12 years ago #
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Easily peasily, it is the climb up to the Granites from Middleton, on the NCN1. about 1.5 miles of just about perfectly constant gradient, with great views over the Lothians and to Fife. I find ascending more rewarding than descending. Once I'm up, I like to stay up! However the zoom down into Glen Tress on the other side is great fun, good sight lines to watch for oncoming traffic and with just enough turns to make it interesting.
Posted 12 years ago # -
"to descend", hmmm there are a few but the run down the other side of the Granites is pretty good.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Fulletby Top to Low Toynton. Gradual, not requiring too much intensive brake-gripping, plenty of time to observe the view, no need to stray from the left-hand side of the road, good sightlines above hedges for oncoming tractor-spotting, reasonable road surface and the ideal way to return to the flattish central section of Lincolnshire for the ensuing cool-down seven miles home after some pootling up and down the lumpier Woldier bits, including any of the steeper approaches to Fulletby from any other direction.
I must take my bike with me next time I go to visit my parents.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Agree with Kaputnik on this one, the road between Middleton and Innerleithen is the tops. Great views, good surface, smooth bends, quiet and good gradients.
My all time favourite (non-UK) was off-road down the back of the Kitzbüheler Horn in Austria. The only down side is the cycle up - one vertical mile up switchbacks of lung busting, quad quivering pain.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Kirkstone Pass - the descent towards Windermere on the A592. Did it last week, despite my gammy leg, and it reminded me how much fun it is:
1. Starts at a pub - the Kirkstone Pass Inn;
2. Glorious views to Windermere over the top of The Struggle;
3. An initial twisty bit, with a variety of gradients where you can go fast, but need to watch out on a few corners as the surface is pretty heavy going (with the added bonus of a few belties and herdwicks grazing in the adjacent fields); you can go faster than the cars on this bit;
4. The second section starts with a sharp 16% drop which takes you onto some new smooth tarmac, and then it's a fast (c40mph) descent, with views to the Troutbeck valley opening up on the left;
5. A little bit of levelling off at the Queen's Head, then a straight drop to Troutbeck; you can go faster than the cars on this bit;
6. That's 4 miles of pretty much continuous, sinuous descent.After that there's then an uphill section to get you to the next leafier and less steep descent, but worth mentioning as you get a mgnificent view over Windermere to the Langdales from here. I'd post a link to Google Streetview, but it looks like the Google car went through there on one of those wet Lake Ditrict days which limit visibility somewhat...
[Edit] I should also add that the descent from Kirkstone Pass Inn the other way down towards Patterdale is good fun too. It has the benefit of a beautiful view to Brothers Water down a twisty descent, but it's much steeper and over too soon.
I haven't plucked up the courage to take the third way down: The Struggle to Ambleside. I fear my brake blocks would burn...
Posted 12 years ago # -
More locally, the descents in the Lammermuirs once you go over Redstone Rigg are pretty good too, but they're not as technical/involved or (I think) as long as Kirkstone Pass.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Even more locally, has anyone tried the Esplanade to Leith freewheel yet?
Posted 12 years ago # -
@cb I've not tried. It would have to be a late night attempt I think.
@kaputnik I agree with your hill choice. I think the ride down to Innerleithen from the top of the granites (okay there's small rise in the middle) is my favourite descent.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I've changed my mind. After riding over Redstone today I think I prefer the descent from Whitecastle past Nunraw into Garvald and then on through Morham to the Gifford Haddington road.
Posted 12 years ago # -
...has anyone tried the Esplanade to Leith freewheel yet?
That sounds a lot like a 0500 CCE Sunday Challenge. Mind you, those sorts of shenanigans only ruin my sleep pattern!
My favourite descent was probably the A841 where it drops a hundred or so metres in one mile to Margnaheglish. I may have done this with rather a lot of enthusiasm.
Posted 12 years ago # -
That sounds a lot like a 0500 CCE Sunday Challenge.
Indeed. I think we should just set a date and try to give it a go!
Posted 12 years ago # -
"I think we should just set a date and try to give it a go!"
The days are drawing in.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I particularly enjoyed the descent from White Pass in the Cascades, Washington down to Packwood.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Pass_(Washington)
It was so steep at points that there were roads back up the mountain for runaway trucks.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Not to be confused, of course, with the White Pass & Yukon Route, at Skagway in Alaska.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Let's get the ball (or bicycle wheels) rolling:
Edinburgh freewheeling ride thread.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Campsie Fells. All 45mph whooosh and no braking*. It is a great climb as well.
*Until you get to Lennoxtown at the bottom where braking is strongly advised.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Top of Bealach na Ba to Applecross and lunch at the hotel. Best views - EVER.
http://www.cyclestreets.net/journey/907320/Posted 12 years ago # -
I just popped out to film mine. Whilst twisting the camera about to catch the odd thing of interest I knocked the focus ring; adding that to the extremely poor sound and over-exposure I'll not be in a rush to upload it.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Short and pretty -
Posted 12 years ago # -
Looks like a good thread to resurrect. I'd nominate descending from the summit of Moneynut to Cockburnspath, in the Border country between Dunbar and Abbey St Bathans. Spectacular views north and enough uppy downiness and farm through-going to make it interesting.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Nice resurrection @paulmilne, especially on Halloween!
My favorite descents tend to be well surfaced, straight, long and 1 to 5%.
A bizarrely favourite hill is the one between Ettrick and Eskdalemuir. I'm not sure what it's called. But in both directions the incline is nice and moderate. To the north it is in forest but with a lovely river by the side and you pass a hunting lodge. The surface is good. On the south side, the surface is less good but it is open with lovely views. And the cafe is not far away. Negible traffic.
When I have my hill legs on, steeper hills become much more attractive and there are many candidates for favourites. But it's always good if there's a cafe nearby :)
Posted 5 years ago # -
Another favourite is Devil's Beeftub. The gradient from Moffat is perfect. You get fantastic views all the way up (you could even make a diversion to see the Roman road and watchtower). The descent to Broughton is long and sustained. And you see the source of the Tweed running into a good sized river.
Posted 5 years ago # -
West Binny woo-hoo is a good one.
Cleish Hill down to Townhill is a lot of fun as well, a couple of wee uphills in the middle but still great.
Also like several descents on Arran e.g. to Lochranza and one I want to descend - it was a pleasure to go up, was the West side of the Ross.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Mount Matalan
Posted 5 years ago # -
Damon
Posted 5 years ago # -
[code]kingscavil (descent only) the one I was trying to recall on the other thread. Also do like West Binny as I said yonder.
West Kip I can see put my kitchen window and I am fond of it.
Sulvein is something else away up in Assynt. The great MacCaig likens it to an elephant of course he can't say thAt he has to be very distinct in pronouncing exact syllables of pachydermatous.
Posted 5 years ago # -
@paddyirish - agree about Lochranza in Arran. Terrific views as well.
Posted 5 years ago # -
My favourite blacktop hill is the Cairn O'Mounth. The view from the top and the descent of the east side are properly thrilling.
Posted 5 years ago #
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