Is this hilly?

[Cubist]

Round here it's virtually impossible to find a route that doesn't climb 1000 feet for ten miles ridden.

Think ill pop out in half an hour or so and try that one actually as i havent done it with the new bike yet, i do wish i had the option of a 32 rear though as far as i know my sram red mech only goes up to 28 rear anyway its a good training tool having to push that bit harder, once i can freely spin up some of the really steep bits on the 28 ill know im improving then ill gradually work my way down a cog

Yep, my Cube has an 11-32. With a compact chainset I need it. A 105 med cage mech will handle up to 32.

 

[Glenn]

I take it you are prepared for the culture shock, it's hard to think of two more diverse areas than Sandhurst and Consett.

I've been up there many times over the past 20+ years so know what to expect. I did Consett - Parkhead Station - Blanchland - Kiln Pit Hill - Whittonstall - Ebchester - Consett last time I was there on my bike

 

[montage]

Think ill pop out in half an hour or so and try that one actually as i havent done it with the new bike yet, i do wish i had the option of a 32 rear though as far as i know my sram red mech only goes up to 28 rear anyway its a good training tool having to push that bit harder, once i can freely spin up some of the really steep bits on the 28 ill know im improving then ill gradually work my way down a cog

It can probably handle at least a 30

 

[jack smith]

The rear mech seems quite stretched out on 28 i dont know if id risk a 30 :/ chain length is correct

 

[edindave]

Definitely hilly in my book, but I consider more than 1% ascent over the overall ride distance as hilly.
More than 1.5% is very hilly, and beyond that is extreme.
398m / 25.9km = 1.53%

 

[jowwy]

The rear mech seems quite stretched out on 28 i dont know if id risk a 30 :/ chain length is correct

I added a 32 to my Tarmac sl4 but I'm running full 105 group set with fsa sk-light carbon cranks

 

[HovR]

Another vote for 1000 feet every 10 miles, so your ride was pretty close to that mark! I guess a persons definition of hilly really depends on where they live, as for me every ride will contain a fair bit of climbing down Cornwall way! Definitely a challenge as I have a lowest gear of 46x27!

 

[jack smith]

Another vote for 1000 feet every 10 miles, so your ride was pretty close to that mark! I guess a persons definition of hilly really depends on where they live, as for me every ride will contain a fair bit of climbing down Cornwall way! Definitely a challenge as I have a lowest gear of 46x27!

I feel your pain! Well actually i dont as i havent rode that ratio but i can imagine it will be terrible!

Hit 18% today and managed it fine so im really pleased with myself as a few months ago i wouldnt dare do stuff like that because i knew id have to walk id rather ride an extra 10 miles than have to do a steep hill but now im going out just for hills and i love the challenge!

 

[Mapplebeck]

I would describe that as 'lumpy', 'undulating' or 'moderately hilly'. Many of the routes round here are about 25% lumpier than that and I would call them hilly. The really hilly ones are more like 50% lumpier, for example ...

I agree, West Yorkshire is not cycling terrain for the faint-hearted! One of these days I'm going to find a route without any massive hills, until then, I'll keep looking!

 

[NorvernRob]

80ft per mile is pretty hilly in most places, but riding in the Peak District that's about the minimum you can get away with.

We did a ride last week From Bakewell to Cat & Fiddle pub and back. To get there was 28 miles and over 4,000ft of climbing, nothing massively steep but just relentless hills one after another.

The one good thing is it's surprising how quickly you get decent at climbing, you've got no choice!

 

[nickyboy]

Definitely hilly in my book, but I consider more than 1% ascent over the overall ride distance as hilly.
More than 1.5% is very hilly, and beyond that is extreme.
398m / 25.9km = 1.53%

Of course the downhills balance out the uphills so the average gradient is 3.06% which isn't too bad. I did a 60 mile ride in the Peak District that was the equivalent of riding 30miles up a 5% hill and then back down again. Purgatory

 

[BSRU]

I use this table to determine "hillyness"
0-5m/km of climbing = flat
5-10m/km = rolling
10-15m/km = slightly hilly
15-20m/km = hilly
20-25m/km = very hilly
>25m/km = insanely hilly
Your ride at 15.4m/km is hilly.