[Closed] Alps Like Climbs in the UK

Bealach na Ba?

In the UK but possibly a bit far for a weekend 🙂 You could do the Snow Roads on the way up

Not so sure it makes any odds, if you are fit you are fit?

On road - the Tumble in South Wales, and the one up past Afan Argoed funnily enough. Possibly also Pen y Pass

Doesn't help you much in Calderdale mind.

Great Dun Fell is good.

The UK tends not to do consistent gradients in the way that they do on the continent but there are some close to you.

The climb out of Hebden Bridge towards Keighley - [url= https://www.strava.com/segments/5402030 ]Strava segment[/url]. Steepest at the bottom whilst you are still in Hebden then eases off.

On the other side of there is [url= https://www.strava.com/segments/1089371 ]this climb[/url]. A bit steeper overall than the Pecket Well climb.

Of course there's [url= https://www.strava.com/segments/646914 ]Cragg Vale[/url] which doesn't seem that steep when you are doing it (I'm quite happy in the big ring when climbing it for example) but descending it looks quite steep.

There's a loop you can do: Halifax-Sowerby Bridge-Ripponden-Denshaw-Buckstones-Stainland-Halifax that has a couple of good long steady climbs in it.

Matt, enter some of at AAA Audax events. proper tough some of em.

Great Dun Fell is good.

I'm gonna get up it this year for sure, probably with Hartside before or after.

Grest Dun fell, (848m) is highest tarmac road in uk I think, it's just north of Knock in NE cumbria. Knock is about 180m so it's a nice long climb, could probably combine it with hartside as well. Road is a dead end at the top though as it just goes to a radar station. It's a bridleway but tarmaced and no cars allowed past the halfway point (just for radar station access) so it's a nice quiet ride.

Edit. Beaten to it!

Kirkstone pass from Windermere is also a nice long climb. One of the best 100 mile rides I did was windermere to great dun fell over kirkstone on way out and back over shap on way home which is also a longish climb.

Bealach na Ba as above but there's also quite a few long climbs in the borders, devils beeftub, mennock pass, climb from Elvanfoot to Leadhills. They're all big, gradual climbs.

If you want short and steep there's the beast that is Talla, 1 mile at 20%, that's a good un 🙂

Google Tour o the borders and radar ride routes.

a nice pootle from Kettlewell, taking in park rash, oxnop scar, buttertubs and fleet moss. enough climbing for a day out there.

50 mile circuit. 5500ft climbing.

Ton - those are hardly long and gradual, all have 25% sections 😯 The bottom bit of Oxnop Scar is brutal.

whitestone.......... hills is hills to me, I love em all 😆

take up time trialing....

Seriously there are no climbs in the UK that really compare to 10+miles alpine experiences.

But time trialing at least gets you used to suffering for long enough.

I spent 3 days in the Pre-Alps around Nice last year - not particularly steep - about 5 - 6% average with short steeper sections - but 15miles long. That's the challenge in training for the Alps climbs in the UK. To be fair I didn't struggle at all, just found a comfy gear, a nice rhythm, was not trying to bust a gut and get any KOM's and just enjoyed the scenery and being out and about in the Alps. I didn't find it super hard. Absolutely loved it.

To be honest I found the descent more tiring and challenging. Took a good 40 mins or so to descend, full concentration all the way down, crapping myself on more than a few occasions, felt more exhausted at the bottom than I did at the top of the climb.

Angus, Deeside and Donside in NE Scotland. cf 3 Pistes sportive for one interesting day out.
The most consistent and Alpine like is probably the A93 to the Glenshee ski centre, noticeably steeper on its southern approach than the northern.
Can be combined into a brilliant proper day out, by, say:
Start at Kirriemuir, ride east to Edzell, climb Cairn o Mount, south Deeside road past Ballater to Crathie/Balmoral, A93 past Braemar to Glenshee, return through Glenisla to the start. @120 miles and two proper climbs. Plenty of other options in that area; the Lecht ski centre climbs on both sides are long and include sections over 20%. Starting a weekend in Perthsire or Angus and travelling light to overnight in Tomintoul would be a good training session.

Oh, I'm fine with hills but knowing what Chew's looking at doing I don't think they'll be the best training 😉

Another one that might be suitable is from the lights in Greetland up the B6114 to Buckstones. It's not continuous but there's a lot of gradual uphill.

Spinning classes

ambleside up to kirkstone inn for a pint. do it twice.

The Peak District:

20minute climb, 5minute descent, 20minute climb, 5minute descent, etc. repeat beyond knackered.

not a perfect replication, but not bad...

Thanks. Done all the stuff around Calderdale, so looking for stuff further afield that can be incorporated into 200-600k rides.

30+ minute climbs to get up once loaded and 100k in the legs.

The A6 out of Kendal towards Shap
The A683 out of Sedbergh towards Kirkby Stephen
The B6276 out of Brough towards Middleton in Teesdale

whitestone - Member
There's a loop you can do: Halifax-Sowerby Bridge-Ripponden-Denshaw-Buckstones-Stainland-Halifax that has a couple of good long steady climbs in it.

The long climb from Ripponden over to Denshaw is unpleasant but Denshaw to Buckstones isn't that bad.
My nemesis is Ripponden - Barkisland - Stainland. It's brutal.
Heading north from Slaithwaite to Outlane is a tough climb too.

Chew: I reckon Ripponden - Barkisland - Stainland - Slaithwaite - Meltham - Digley - Holme Moss should give you a good workout! If it doesn't continue to Glossop then Hayfield then Chinley Head

My mate did the Cambrian Coastal Sportive - Big Dog last year, about 160km with 3000m of climbs. That might be worth looking at.

Chew - I take it you've done the Isle of Skye road out of Greenfield and Standedge either from Marsden or from Diggle?

The Dragon Ride has some good long, not super steep drags on it. Rhigos and Bwlch IIRC? I haven't cycled* in the Alps myself but I'm told there's some comparison.

*I've seen a few Alpine roads though!

The UK tends not to do consistent gradients in the way that they do on the continent

That's why I suggested those two. Not that they are the biggest or steepest*, but they are the most alpine-like in character. Coming from Port Talbot past Afan, you start off in a town , wind your way up throuh valleys, woods, the odd village, then the trees thin out, it gets all bleak, and you finish at a proper pass after about 13 miles. Even better if it's a dull day as you get into the clouds and wind-whipped mist at the top and you can see bugger all. Last 5km or so is about 5%.

* Afan one has about 520m ascent, so it's not as big as the alps but not trivial by their standards either.

Chew - I take it you've done the Isle of Skye road out of Greenfield and Standedge either from Marsden or from Diggle?

May have to make myself do Greenfields to Holmfirth but in reverse.

Mountains course on Zwift is probably the closest you'll get.

There's no real need to train on long climbs, it's all just power, weight, endurance and pacing. Do some big gear work as you may need to get used to riding at 60 rpm in your bottom gear when you can't go any faster.

take up time trialing....

Seriously there are no climbs in the UK that really compare to 10+miles alpine experiences.

But time trialing at least gets you used to suffering for long enough.

I don't time trial but would imagine this would see you okay...with some regular hill reps for good measure.

Hi Chew not UK of course but FYI the road we drove up to start the Pedal Del Port features in the Tour of Cataluña in March. Sea level to 1100m in 14 km, It'll be interesting to see by how much the likes of Froome and Contador beat my best of an hour.

from Torver on Coniston, up through the forest, up along the forest side of the valley, then up to the top of the Walna Scar road, probably a good hour (or two) of consistent grade climbing, all rideable. (if you're man enough)

There's nothing in the UK that prepares you for a proper Alpine climb. I think the time trialling suggestion is the best one.

Drop the pressure in your rear tyre to about 20psi, everything feels like an alpine climb then 🙄

In short there aren't any/many depending on whether you live north, south east or west.

However as long as you aren't aiming for Strava PB's then any and all practice is good.

I live in the relatively flat south east but still manage to train myself and my two sons (25 and 23) for our annual trip to follow the TDF with our bikes to tackle those HC and Cat 1 climbs successfully.

It's more about stamina (and determination) on those 5% or 6% slopes so just build up the length and frequency of your riding as well as chucking some nice climbs into your training regime.

Holme Moss and Snake Pass from Glossop side. Having ridden from Calderdale. Chew: Did you not do the Torino Nice Rally?

As a slight hijack, a friend wants me to join him cycling mont vent out next year and he doesn't think he'll need his easiest gear (28 on a compact) at any point. He's not an avid cyclist, save commuting, by any means. Where can I take him to test how realistic his assumptions are?

Chew,

Cycle to lakes, do 'The Fred' route, then cycle home.

If you can do that then you can do almost anything I reckon

😀

(and when you get back towards Ambleside just go up 'The Struggle' for a pint at the top and a giggle)

Tan Hill from Langthwaite?

Actually, this is a good resource for you -

http://cyclinguphill.com/100-climbs/

Has average gradient, length etc.

Cat and Fiddle seems to be the winner - risk of death from Motos will give you the real feeling of a Grand Tour.

Before I did an Alps trip I did this loop a couple of times. I know it's in S.Wales but bring your mtb and make a weekend of it by going to Afan as well.
Start wherever you want in the Afan valley,head up the Bwlch through Abergwynfi, drop down into Nant-y-moel. Turn around and head back up but go straight over into Treorchy. Carry on up the vally to Treherbert and take the Rhigos road to Hirwaun. All you've got to do then is retrace your route, back up the Bwlch and down into the Afan valley 😀 . It's far and away the most Alpine ride you'll get in the UK, IMHO of course.

Porlock Toll road for a southern option but if you really want to do up to 600km then why not do the Pendle 600 from Clitheroe, gives you 10,000m of climbing in 600km

I've cycles quite a bit in the Alps and often visit Calderdale.

Calderdale is way scarier.

As a slight hijack, a friend wants me to join him cycling mont vent out next year and he doesn't think he'll need his easiest gear (28 on a compact) at any point. He's not an avid cyclist, save commuting, by any means. Where can I take him to test how realistic his assumptions are?

He will, but no need to test. He'll find out.

Take a fat bike from Aviemore to the top of Cairngorm a couple of times. You'll be ready 🙂

From yours to holmfirth over Holme moss. Glossop, snake pass (1200ft) towards bamford up the back road to stanage. Down to hargersage. Surprise view down to grindleford. Up frogatt. Ride home.

All those climbs are mostly 5-7% ish

Plenty around Hartside, you could do a nice loop as all the hills round that part of the world are long yet reasonable gradual.

https://www.strava.com/activities/526472773

but connect Stanhope to Allendale or Alston if you want to shorten it a bit.

Lots around Blanchland. St Johns Chapel (Chapel fell) is a classic.

https://www.strava.com/activities/592113670

There's no real need to train on long climbs, it's all just power, weight, endurance and pacing. Do some big gear work as you may need to get used to riding at 60 rpm in your bottom gear when you can't go any faster.

Another suggestion that conventional logic, on road bike gearing, might need a rethink

Another suggestion that conventional logic, on road bike gearing, might need a rethink

Fair point, I use the turbo for that.

Yes did Torino Nice last year, so know what to expect.

Thanks for the ideas, it'll keep my busy.

May be some benefits to trying the turbo, but much more to gain by getting out in the rain/wind/cold.

As we don't have the height available just pick some long easier gradients...INTO a head wind 😉

Yad Moss from Middleton in Teesdale
Tan Hill from Reeth
Hartside from Melmerby
Cragg Vale etc.

Chapel Fell, Great Dun Fell are too steep?

Cheers
Paul

Find a local sports centre with a treadmill:

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cycling-boardman-ready-for-his-ascent-1589110.html

Last year I did Ventoux,Telegraphe, Galibier and d'huez over a 11 day period. Training wise, I was doing about 500k a month from March to August. I've got the Bwlch / Rhigos Climbs near me ( Bwlch is about 25K and Rhigos about 6k but they make up an 80k loop ) and that helped. As said previously, get some spin classes in ( proper ones if possible not generic sports center ones ) - I put a 32 cassette on for the ' in case of emergency break glass situation' - the situation was about 200M into Ventoux - Brutal LOL

Dunn Fell is the biggest, but as said, there's some great climbing right around the North Pennines. Just pick a route and go. Most of the sportive routes will take many of them in. Hell of Hexham, Winking Sheep, etc. Some are pretty steep, but lots of long gradual climbs too.

Basically there aren't any in the UK to replicate an alpine climb, but you don't really need one either. As previously mentioned, TT type effort do the same job.

4x10, 3x15 or 2x20 @ftp/fthr 1-2 sessions per week.
There's a decent chance of finding a hill for the 10's, 15's too if willing to travel, but probably going to have to compromise for the 20's.

Don't bother trying to replicate alpine climbs; there's no need.

I'd probably get used to doing several hard days riding back to back though.

Make sure your bike setup is comfortable for seated efforts on grades of 6% - 10%

Get used to climbing out of the saddle for extended periods

Make sure your abdominal muscles are quite well defined on your departure abroad 😉 I actually think that's really the most important point. Alpine climbs are pretty easy really, or at least you can ride up them at a leisurely pace if you want to (not like the 25% hills here which always hurt a bit). But if you're carrying alot of excess weight, then they can be quite the opposite

Agree with Fred route (not that I've done it!) but there's some cracking hells errr hills around here... Wrynose, hardknott, whinlatter 🙂

Bealach na ba is nothing like any of the Alps I've ridden.....Significantly easier and although often touted as one of the hardest climbs in the UK I'll put forward south side of glenshee being significantly harder than bnb.

Snow roads is the closest thing I've found to match the relentless climbing.

As a slight hijack, a friend wants me to join him cycling mont vent out next year and he doesn't think he'll need his easiest gear (28 on a compact) at any point. He's not an avid cyclist, save commuting, by any means. Where can I take him to test how realistic his assumptions are?

he 100% will, and probably keep pushing the shifter looking for another 1 (or 2). Ventoux is steep almost from the beginning. lots of 10%+ if ridden from Bedoin or Malaucene. from Sault it's fairly easy but long (37km?)

ambleside up to kirkstone inn for a pint. do it twice.

Whinlatter - the mountain forest. You get 1500m climbing in a 50Km route there (can send you a GPX) - mix of BW, trail centre stuff and fire road. Kielder - likewise, Kielder 101 give 2000m climbing and you could easily make the route hillier.

Parliament hill .
😉

+1 on walna scar.

I've ridden a few alpine climbs and done the Marmotte a couple of times. As other posters have said don't bother trying to find similar climbs in the UK as there aren't any just get as fit and light as possible. Closest you will get is a 20 mile TT or a nice straight flat road into the wind for an hour or so or a turbo

How about trooper lane up from the Shay?

Lived in Halifax for 30 years. Its a real man maker of a climb.

As a slight hijack, a friend wants me to join him cycling mont vent out next year and he doesn't think he'll need his easiest gear (28 on a compact) at any point. He's not an avid cyclist, save commuting, by any means. Where can I take him to test how realistic his assumptions are?

Totally depends, I did it comfortably on a compact with 27 on the back, and I was probably only riding once or twice a week at the time. I was in my lowest gear almost all the way up, but took it very steady and and didn't need to stop (except to track stand...). For me the relatively consistent gradient made it manageable - had it been more spiky I would have struggled. Also, I got very lucky with the weather, light winds and not too hot. Its a wonderful climb and one of the best experiences on a bike I've had.

Agree with Fred route (not that I've done it!) but there's some cracking hells errr hills around here... Wrynose, hardknott, whinlatter

I had a good, solid ten days in the Alps five or six years ago. Rode every day, did all the big climbs around the Morzine area, was light and fit.
Returned home and went out a few days later along a regular route taking in Wrynose pass. Expected to breeze up it. Much to my surprise, it was still hard work. I blamed fatigue 😉

Rest and be thankful pass? 900ft in 4 miles at a fairly steady gradient?

Glenshee 1000 ft in 6 miles again steady gradient?

If you're happy to travel head east and look at north - south traverses of the North York Moors long steady climbs not much traffic.

Most alpine climbs are not really very steep tho are they - just go on for miles. I have done a couple. I could climb them easily. Just at 1/10th the pace of the pros!

Chew: Thought it was you. If you get tired you can always just check into a hotel....!

Dan