RideLondon-Surrey 100 (2014!!!) Anyone?
- Thread starter jdtate101
- Start date
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Beebo
Firm and Fruity
- Location
- Hexleybeef
How did you find the hills?
w00hoo_kent
One of the 64K
- Location
- Maidstone or Greenwich
I used my Garmin. Sorry, I tried to resist, honest :-)
I've done a longer write up on the whole thing here. Short version, they were within my capabilities but not easy, the general hillyness of the whole area makes me wonder what state I'll be in by the end. Of the three named, Leith was my worst, Box probably the easiest although felt long. I can imagine being overtaken a lot up it (and was overtaken on Sunday by someone much faster). I'd probably highlight the hill between Abinger Common and Leith as being worthy of note too, as high as Newlands with the profile of Box.
Has strengthened my resolve to try and hold back on the run out and if I'm going to hammer it do it post Box (probably post Wimbledon.)
sleaver
Veteran
If I'm thinking of the same place, there were cyclists going through last weekend but they did have to get off and carry their bikes for about 10 meters as there were gaps in the barriers. They may have been closed but I can't see that being a solution for 20,000+ riders.
On the subject of Leigh Hill, I've attempted it in the past twice (two different routes though) and it has got the better of me. Saturday I was determined that it wasn't going to break me again and it turned out to be third time lucky
Then went on to to Box Hill. Leigh came at 30km on Saturday though so when it comes at around 90km it may be a whole different subject 
As I'm OK with Box Hill and have a love hate relationship with Leigh Hill, would anyone recommend going to have a look at Newlands Corner as I've heard it is like Box Hill?
w00hoo_kent
One of the 64K
- Location
- Maidstone or Greenwich
I think the road has got worse, there was a metal sided trench around a metre wide and at least a metre deep from edge to edge and chained 6ft metal fencing either side. I presume if it isn't finished they'll do a temporary fill, bikes aren't going to damage that like trucks would.
I'd give Newlands a go if you have time, but if you're happy with Box I think it should be fine.
I'd give Newlands a go if you have time, but if you're happy with Box I think it should be fine.
michaelcycle
Senior Member
- Location
- London
When will rider numbers etc arrive?
sleaver
Veteran
You pick them up from ExCel between the Thursday and Saturday.
I know that bit, but have not yet had the rider registration form referred to in the linked document. I wondered when to expect that...
That's all I've had, no letter etc since the magazine at beginning of the year.
srw
It's a bit more complicated than that...
I work some of the time in Guildford, and took advantage of needing to be offsite for some of today to take a peek at some of the Surrey section on four wheels. Paging @rvw, here's srw's guide to (some of) the hilly bits.
Ripley to Horsley is mostly a long draggy slight uphill - the steepest bit until you get to the houses in Horsley is the A3 road bridge. Usefully there's a newsagent in Horsley for a Mars Bar hit (if 17,000 riders haven't cleaned them out first). In the middle of the village the road starts ramping up more steeply, and that ramp continues once you turn onto the A246. At the top of the ramp the road starts rolling, with some decent downhills to get the momentum up.
You then turn left to start climbing up the A25 towards Newlands Corner and an official hub. That's probably a middle-ring hill, with only one short moderately steep section. Just as you think you've got to the top there's another little ramp to catch out the unwary. Then there's the fastest mile or two of the ride - a smooth, wide piece of road going downhill steeply enough to get up speed quickly but not so steep as to need too much braking. At the bottom the road splits into a dual carriageway, so some care will be needed.
The next section of the A25 is flat. Then you turn right onto the B2126 at Abinger Hammer. This is a long section of road, even in a car. It's a fairly rough, draggy uphill for several miles, going up a valley. Once you get to Holmbury St Mary there's a fairly short steeper section taking you up out of the village before you reach the top and there's a straightish (but narrow and bumpy) downhill.
Then comes Leith Hill. It starts with a fairly gentle section before getting steeper - but with gentler, almost flat sections. Once you get past Leith Hill Place (large brick wall, which seems to be a water stop) the hill gets more serious - but it looks like a straightforward bottom gear spin. There are a few wiggles, and you'll know you've got to the top when you pass the footpath signpost to the tower on the right hand side of the road.
Leith Hill down is long and will be quite fast - but it's narrow (single-track at times), dark (wooded) and there are a few bends, and I'm pretty sure i spotted a pothole on the outside of a sharp right-hander (marked with a chevron road-sign) which could be awkward. There is, unfortunately, a little rise just before you get back to the A25.
If I get around to it I'll pop over to Box Hill one evening.
Ripley to Horsley is mostly a long draggy slight uphill - the steepest bit until you get to the houses in Horsley is the A3 road bridge. Usefully there's a newsagent in Horsley for a Mars Bar hit (if 17,000 riders haven't cleaned them out first). In the middle of the village the road starts ramping up more steeply, and that ramp continues once you turn onto the A246. At the top of the ramp the road starts rolling, with some decent downhills to get the momentum up.
You then turn left to start climbing up the A25 towards Newlands Corner and an official hub. That's probably a middle-ring hill, with only one short moderately steep section. Just as you think you've got to the top there's another little ramp to catch out the unwary. Then there's the fastest mile or two of the ride - a smooth, wide piece of road going downhill steeply enough to get up speed quickly but not so steep as to need too much braking. At the bottom the road splits into a dual carriageway, so some care will be needed.
The next section of the A25 is flat. Then you turn right onto the B2126 at Abinger Hammer. This is a long section of road, even in a car. It's a fairly rough, draggy uphill for several miles, going up a valley. Once you get to Holmbury St Mary there's a fairly short steeper section taking you up out of the village before you reach the top and there's a straightish (but narrow and bumpy) downhill.
Then comes Leith Hill. It starts with a fairly gentle section before getting steeper - but with gentler, almost flat sections. Once you get past Leith Hill Place (large brick wall, which seems to be a water stop) the hill gets more serious - but it looks like a straightforward bottom gear spin. There are a few wiggles, and you'll know you've got to the top when you pass the footpath signpost to the tower on the right hand side of the road.
Leith Hill down is long and will be quite fast - but it's narrow (single-track at times), dark (wooded) and there are a few bends, and I'm pretty sure i spotted a pothole on the outside of a sharp right-hander (marked with a chevron road-sign) which could be awkward. There is, unfortunately, a little rise just before you get back to the A25.
If I get around to it I'll pop over to Box Hill one evening.
w00hoo_kent
One of the 64K
- Location
- Maidstone or Greenwich
