Any ideas?
drunken bridge hill round the corner from my house
steep
massive potholes
tight corners so cars are a hazard
http://www.panoramio.com/photos/original/8603499.jp g" target="_blank">
possibly???
Angliru
wynatts pass - castleton. FACT
The Col du Climpy is probably the hardest road climb in the world. I knew Lance was coming back when I saw him gurning up the North Face of the Climpy, dressed in black.
Talla to the Meggetstane?
Hardest I have done is the south side of the Bealach na Ba, probably harder than the Col de la Joux Plan from Samoens side which is the hardest thing I have done in the Alps.
Bealach isn't the same length but it's steep, cold, windswept and badly surfaced which makes it hard work.
Staying not far from Bedoin this summer so I may change my mind by August...
The one on my way home from work from Kirkcaldy up through Auchtertool to Mossmorran into the ever-present westerly wind.
[i]Hors categorie[/i]
Any one where there's some bloody tourer in front of you holding you up...
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Stu_N - did that one yesterday. It's about 1/2 mile of 20%. Lactic heaven. I should really learn that trying to tear the legs off a mate going up there is not a good idea.
Funny thing - drivers stopped to let us past and were giving us the thumbs up. They even stopped to let us past on the way down too. đŸ˜‰
[url= http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=s6+5aq&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=12.426641,28.300781&ie=UTF8&ll=53.387628,-1.522379&spn=0.012234,0.027637&t=h&z=15&iwloc=addr ]Hagg Hill, Sheffield[/url]
Probably not actually, but its b*stard steep round there.
The hardest road climb in western europe is without doubt situated on Brown Clee hill in Shropshire.
It's actually an old 'incline' that was part of the old quarry works. It's dead straight, straight up, and harder than anything else in western europe for sure.
đŸ™‚
there's a MASSIVE but little-known climb in the new forest - the "Nomansland Bastard" close on 50 yards of up to about 1 in 6, and that's after probably 300 yards of sustained uphill
(as you'd expect, the off-road equivalent is EXTREME, as is the descent !)
Come and have a go if you think you're hard enough
I have never walked either of them 8)
you've obviously never heard of the "climb de mort", by a strange co-incidence its also quite close to the UK center of extreme freeride, the fabled "woods behind nationwide".
only for the brave đŸ˜‰
Well I rode up [url= http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/893195 ]this[/url] only yesterday, much steeper and more camber than the pics show.
Bloody windy at the top too.
[i]probably harder than the Col de la Joux Plan from Samoens side which is the hardest thing I have done in the Alps. [/i]
Arrrgghhhh, the memories.....30 degrees, longest time I've ever spent in the granny ring, honestly, i thought I'd died....
Bealach na ba applecross peninsula.
drunken bridge hill round the corner from my house
i sent that hill the other week. with one hand flashing the horns. but yes it is a beast.
Hardknott is the hardest I've done. Way harder than the Bealach na Ba
[url= http://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Scanuppia---Malga-Palazzo&qryMountainID=3597 ]This[/url] looks pretty evil.
I've ridden up Bealach na Ba without breaking a sweat....
Oh, hang on, just remembered I was on a motorbike at the time...
It's true we have many steep climbs in this country but they are also very short ( granted they dont feel it when your riding up them ), climbs in the alps and pyrennes are far far longer although often not as steep but can be a lot harder. However I think the Angrilu in Spain combines both elements with a number of ramps of 20%+ and 12k length, I havent ridden it ( I have ridden the tourmalet, the alpe, galibier, ventoux ,croix de fer amongst others )but in pro cycling I think its considered the worst. In fact its only fairly recently that it has been considered climbable in a race.
Mt Ventoux is always reckoned to be one of the hardest
[i]Bealach isn't the same length but it's steep, cold, windswept and badly surfaced which makes it hard work[/i]
Amen to that Stu, I'll do it again and again though. Although it can't possibly be the hardest climb in western Europe.
I always thought it was the hill at the back of Harlech Castle, sort the men from the boys.
If not [url= http://www.altimetrias.net/ ]here[/url] is a good source of info. Doesn't cover everything, but is quite interesting and baised towards Spain.
roads are soooooooooooooooooooooooo dull so who cares..thread closed.
Nah.
The Alp D' Gilbert in Lichfield is the steepest.
2nd winnats pass,
snakes pass is probably my favourite though, mainly because of the decent into glosop, requires some kid of supernatural fairth in your tires to grip, especialy pitching it into the lefthand hairpin arround the dry stone wall near the end.
[i]Bealach isn't the same length but it's steep, cold, windswept and badly surfaced which makes it hard work
Amen to that Stu, I'll do it again and again though. Although it can't possibly be the hardest climb in western Europe. [/i]
And another thing - it hasn't got a cafe at the top. At least the Joux Plan has a cafe at the top, as do quite a lot of the Alpine cols. Even a burger van on the Bealach would be nice, though possibly not on [s]race[/s]sportif day!
Its gotta be something long and steep, so that rules out anything in the UK based on the Long criteria.
The hardest I've done is Alpe D'Huez in 42 degree heat and having ridden Col Du Glandon, Le Telegraphe and Galibier earlier in the day. However, there's probably far worse out there...
angliru as already said
[img] 
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CONSTITUTION HILL in swansea . full stop
it is a cobble stone hill and it looks like a brick wall from the bottom, steep as fugg and I live in a valley in devon 1in4 one side 1in8 the easy side
and then there is contitution hill thats another book not story
I'll see your Alp d'Gilbert and raise you the mighty Box Hill....!
Back in the real world, we drove up both Alpe d'Huez and the Cormet de Rosalind this summer, which I've never heard of. Alpe d'Huez was fine, but the car was definitely struggling with the Cormet - it's a significantly longer climb either way and goes higher, but the gradient averages less. Its also ****ing narrow on the Bourg St Maurice side.
Hagg Hill, SheffieldProbably not actually, but its b*stard steep round there.
try conduit on a BMX
Port de Bales is pretty tough in places, Alpe d'Huez was hard purely for having ridden since 7am that morning, the climb up to Star and Garter from the river is pretty tough - mostly because you don't know quite how fast and out of control the pizza boys are going to be ragging it as you go up.
How wonderfully insular to suggest the Bealach Na Ba!
Ditchling Beacon is probably the most failed climb due to all the donkeys on the London to Brighton....
>How wonderfully insular to suggest the Bealach Na Ba!<
Parochial even đŸ˜‰
A few swift ones in the Applecross hotel first and it take on a different dimension 
I thought I'd explained WHY I thought it was harder. The Bealach goes over a lump of rock poking into the Atlantic airstream with no civilisation westward until you get to Japan. Many Alpine climbs are twice the height gain but over a far longer ascent so aren't as steep plus they are generally better surfaced, have a cafe at the top and the weather is better and they don't have any midge.
That Angrilu thing sounds like it 'as it though.
Surprised no-one's mentioned Chimney Bank and posted the pic of the Milk Race peleton walking up it.
The Bealach goes over a lump of rock poking into the Atlantic airstream with no civilisation westward until you get to Japan.
Interesting geography there Stu_N đŸ˜‰ (although I suppose those hebridean islanders and new world savages don't really count when all is considered).
(I do think you have a point in some ways though, rough back-of-an-envelope calculation suggests it's around 580m height gain at a gradient of about 6-6.5% average, so plenty steeper, but not many as long in the UK. Only one off the top of my head that climbs more, and that's Great Dun Fell- 633m gain in 9km at about 7% average. Judging by that graphy thing of L'Angiru above, that's still some way short of 1250m up in 13km which should be 9.6% if my maths is correct).
That Angrilu thing sounds like it 'as it though.
Well quite! Not saying that all Alpine climbs are harder, but fairly sure there are actually harder ones even than the Angliru (just too small to take a major Tour up).
it's 23.6% at it's steepest averages 10.13 over it's 7.8 miles and averages 13.1 over the last 6k.
[i]it's 23.6% at it's steepest averages 10.13 over it's 7.8 miles and averages 13.1 over the last 6k. [/i]
sounds like it's just a slightly longer version of Mytholm Steeps.
you've obviously never heard of the "climb de mort", by a strange co-incidence its also quite close to the UK center of extreme freeride, the fabled "woods behind nationwide".only for the brave [;)]
I presume you mean the Col' d'Ladder Lane. It's doable in summer when very dry.
The Rocky Road, Off the Knock Dual Carriage way, Belfast.
It is actually vertical, corrugated concrete.
And in the words of a man that knows stuff: "It was originally flat concrete but the years of mountaineers using crampons and ice picks to climb it has left it in it’s current condition."
I did the Stelvio in 2005 (east ramp). 6000ft in 15 miles ... pic shows the top half.
[img] 
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That looks pretty amazing. That one and others are featured on this site:
http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2007/08/dangerous-roads-of-world-part-4_06.html
This looks pretty amazing too.
[img] 
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Some of Britain's steepest here:
http://www.everydaycycling.com/edc/news/news2008/20080804_school_of_hardknotts.aspx
[img] 
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Aye, the Stelvio has to be right up there.
Ventoux isn't too bad - although I may re-assess that thought after I've done the [url= http://www.clubcinglesventoux.org/ ]cingles[/url] in a few weeks...
Well cycling back up to Arc1800 from Bourg St Maurice on a 42lb DH bike after missing the last Funicular back up (damn that lovely cafe near the train station) ranks it as a pretty difficult climb in my books.
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[url= http://www.alpineroads.com/passes.php ]This site[/url] lists loads of Alpine passes.
so the hardnott is 2km long with 2 insanely steep bits but Angliru 8miles long but not as steep. so which is harder to climb?
One of the hardest road climbs I've done around here (South Wales) is the Blorenge - from Abergavenny over to Blaenavon. Having said that I was on a standard chainset at the time, 39/26 or so. It's a great climb and those who know call it a mini Alp d'Huez, cos it's shaped a bit like it in places.
*disclaimer: I know the real Alp d'Huez is way longer etc etc - I have ridden in the Alps.
"Ditchling Beacon is probably the most failed climb due to all the donkeys on the London to Brighton.... "
I cycled up it for the first time on Sunday morning.
There were loads of photographers standing at the top.
"Word's got round!" I thought, as I wheezed my way up the final steep bit.
It turned out there was a sportive finishing at the top and I'd rather spoiled it all by looking like I was the winner (from a distance).
Did the Tourmalet last year, and that was difficult enough for me.
Hoping to make it to Mt Ventoux for the tour stage this year, so it will be interesting to compare them.
That i've ridden, the bonnette / rastefond in france - 16 miles or more long and at 2750m high enough to have given me altitude problems.
Cormet de Rosalind can't be that steep managed it on a 36lb meta with super tacky high rollers; and a guy on a ss. would have loved my road bike though!! đŸ˜€
Ok the highest road pass is I think is this 3,400m in the Siera Neveda. You start at about 700m. But you may exclude it as it a road but not tarmac
[url= http://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Pico-de-Veleta&qryMountainID=4755 ][/url]
http://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Pico-de-Veleta&qryMountainID=4755
The heighest point I have cycled to in Europe is the Pic de Midi, 2,600m. I think I Started at Barege about 1000m. But its not that steep.
http://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Pic-du-Midi&qryMountainID=7042
Any way this website rates this as the hardest. 1,300 metres in 7.5 Km!!!!!!
http://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Scanuppia---Malga-Palazzo&qryMountainID=3597
1,300 metres in 7.5 Km!!!!!!
I did Ventoux last year. Lovely ride up the Bedoin side, I still have the postcard by my desk! If someone tells me it's the hardest I'd be chuffed, but I think it isn't! Same gradient all the way on ultra-smooth road, amazing. If you can spin a granny for 2 hours you've got it made.
If you can spin a granny for 2 hours you've got it made.
So my chances on 39x25 after doing 150k in the heat chasing frenchmen are approx nil?
How wonderfully insular to suggest the Bealach Na Ba!
Shurely you mean [i]pen[/i]insular
Anotherdeadhereo. - You are clearly in a different league from me!
I was Rohloff actually. After the first 5KM, once the gradient settled to unrelenting UP, I stuck with 19 to 22" gear all the way. Some roadies hauled past.
If you can pull 39x25 (on 700c? - that's 45") up Ventoux, then I take my hat off. You've got deeply impressive legs! Good luck đŸ™‚
Ok the highest road pass is I think is this 3,400m in the Siera Neveda.
Blimey, that's high enough to have to start worrying about altitude! Or at least, to feel the effects of it.
I rode up the road out of the Rhondda (another South Welsh classic btw) with a mate. He was pulling away all the time and got to the top a good 5 mins before me. He was riding 39/25 tho and was apparently really hurting when he got to the top - he had no choice but to ride that fast đŸ™‚
I've driven up a road in the US that goes over 4000m. Admittedly it starts at 3000m or so, but I bet 1000m of climbing at that altitude is hard (it certainly is on foot).
Actually it has more height gain (and 30 miles!) than that if you start further out:
http://www.mountevans.com/Mount-Evans-Things-Bicycling.HTML
Not especially steep, but long and high altitude!
[i]I did Ventoux last year. Lovely ride up the Bedoin side, .......Same gradient all the way[/i]
are we talking about the same Ventoux? From Bedoin it varies between 2.7 and 10.8%?
"Ditchling Beacon is probably the most failed climb due to all the donkeys on the London to Brighton.... "I cycled up it for the first time on Sunday morning.
It turned out there was a sportive finishing at the top...
I wonder if that's the lot I came across - I rode from Brighton over Devil's Dyke going north and met a load of numbered roadies somewhere between Horsham and Hayward's Heath.
well mine was the col de Jeux Vert from Les Linderats to Avoiriaz on a 40 lb+ down hill bike in a thunderstorm because the bloody frenchy's shut the lift. I like hill climbing normally on my road bike but that was pure pain
Outside of Europe I have wridden up Mosquitoe pass 13,185ft (4,000m) with full panniers. Its all off road and that was hard work. But I was well acclimatised
mushark - [url= http://www.puncheur.co.uk/route_details.htm ]route is here;[/url]
looks like a nice ride, actually.
were you in mostly red lycra?
I saw someone wearing that just near Stanmer
Ho Andyp
"are we talking about the same Ventoux? From Bedoin it varies between 2.7 and 10.8%? " Yes I think we are.
I was disregarding the shallow bits at the start which are just the warm up really. What struck me most was just how remakably even the whole thing was. In 22KM of riding there was just one flat part which was about 50 Metres long outside a restaurant, before the rocky limestone section at the top. Other than that there were scarce opportunities to go up or down just one gear.
mushark - route is here;looks like a nice ride, actually.
were you in mostly red lycra?
I saw someone wearing that just near Stanmer
I was near Warninglid at the time so was them.
I was not in red....
ignoring the 2% bits, it varies between 6 and 10+. Definitely possibilities for changing up and down (unless you're in dead bottom from the very beginning đŸ˜‰ )
I climbed chimney bank on my big chainring, on 53x25...it was not that hard.
Col Du Grande Colombiere is a tough one.