Best road descent in the UK

[Qubit]

Well I registered 47.5mph on the steep hill down into Saffron Walden in Essex many years ago on my old Dawes. However, that was extremely scary and there was a weird shimmy through the frame at that speed.

As for big ass hills to cycle down, well i remember going on holiday to Lynmouth in Devon as a kid and driving down this very long steep hill. At the bottom in the town car park were loads of cars with failed brakes! I think its called Countisbury hill. Always fancied going down it on my bike!

 

[Old Ned]

The term 'Best Road Descent' can be interpreted in different ways. To me, the fastest speed is not necessarily the defining factor. A long, sweeping, well surfaced, wide, quiet road with super views and a slight tailwind is probably 'The Best'. Now, where is there one that matches that specification?

I know just the hill.

The Milltir Cerrig (Welsh for mile of stones) is a mountain pass in Wales, on the B4391 between Bala (in the county of Gwynedd) and Llangynog (Powys), briefly passing through Denbighshire. It crosses the Berwyn mountain range at an altitude of 486 metres (1594 feet).

The longest part of continuous descent, is 330m over just 6.26km. (1082ft of descent, in just 3.89 miles).

Going the other way is pretty tough !

It is a terrific road, rather quiet and certainly, one of the most scenic routes anywhere.

Go there, and I promise that you won't be disappointed.

+1!! This was one road that was in my mind when I wrote it. However, I've only ever ridden up it on the bike, never down. Come down in a car, yes - an old Anglia with not a lot of retardation potential. First time I rode it was with Graham Weigh when we were still quite young. It was about 2/3 the way through an epic ride that was WELL over 100 miles when I got home. Excellent training for the 12 hr a couple of weeks later.

 

[Piperdave]

As for big ass hills to cycle down, well i remember going on holiday to Lynmouth in Devon as a kid and driving down this very long steep hill. At the bottom in the town car park were loads of cars with failed brakes! I think its called Countisbury hill. Always fancied going down it on my bike!

The other side of the hill from Porlock

 

[lastpubrunner]

I was pretty sure that you'd know it !

Others mention places such as Porlock Hill, but I think that this surpasses them. It is much more 'open' and a very quiet road with great visibility. I think that the top riders could reach incredible speeds going down to Llangynog.

And the view is amazing !

If anyone reading this has the opportunity, try the road from Bala to Llangynog !

 

[Old Ned]

Re: Descents.

Someone mentioned 70mph - maybe kph, call me cynical then.

no defo 70 MPH and verified by 2 bike computers - a third guy reckoned his computer went wacky at 60mph, so maybe his only calibrated up to 60mph?? - it was in the late 80's and computers I guess were more primitive.

to be exact, it was on the isle of man, in a race and a long straight on the descent after you take a sharp righthander where a big pub is. I remember almost panicking on that right hander, being second in line and looking at the angle of lean of the guy in front. Whilst we were never gonna win the race (I think I finished 30th, but not sure), we were well drilled at going through and off. As soon as you came through, the next man in line was alongside you and you probably only needed to do half a dozen revs or so. Like I said, I was on a top of 52x13 (12's were quite rare and 11's didnt exist anyway) and the tailwind was great.

Wouldn't surprise me that speed just there, especially with a tailwind. Creg-ny-Baa isn't it? The motor bikes reach top speeds down there - just watch one of the 'from the saddle' videos on TV next time the TT is on. I think my top around there was still a 52x14 (1967) which was a bit low coming down the mountain - but it was fine for the gallop! With the finish line being right across a wide road I was only a length behind the winner (Geoff Dutton) but still only 8th. Talk about a blanket finish!

 

[dookie]

i am a regular fixed gear road rider who on occasion sees 175+rpm downhill (46x16, 40+mph).

also, i recently did a top speed interval on rollers with no resistance unit, for giggles. 53x12, 55.3mph, ~160rpm.

70mph in a 52x13 is ~225rpm at the pedals.

all i can say is your form must be impeccable.

 

[pigman]

70mph in a 52x13 is ~225rpm at the pedals.

all i can say is your form must be impeccable.

first of all, the word youve missed is WAS. These days, no chance. But remember we're not talking continuous pedalling, maybe 1-2 secs then slipstreaming with a tailwind.
Ive always been a twiddler esp on the flat, even now. last years summer chaingang had everyone on 53x12/13/14 and I was cool on 52x16. But need big gears to climb as I soon get out of breath if I climb in a low gear.

 

[Old Ned]

I get out of breath if I climb in any gear

 

[sisyphus]

The Horseshoe pass - Llangollen is a nice ride - up and down.

But watch out for the cattlle grid!!!!!

 

[tonyf39]

Can't remember the road in France 20 years ago my old Cateye Vectra 7000 had an indicated 95kph which scared the cr@p out of me given the very slight sidewind at the bottom of the valley, that was with lightly loaded pannier bags too :shock:

As for safe fast descents on the Herts/Beds border between Luton and Hitchin runs the A505 dual carriageway. On the Eastward route you can get up to 50 mph pretty easily, certainly with a big enough chainring you could reach 60mph+ I reckon and the road is straight, reasonably surfaced and there is no danger regarding run off as the road flattens out and continues on for another mile or so until the outskirts of Hitchin.
Accquired a 55t Stronglight to see if I can get the 60 on it this summer, a nice breeze would be helpful(in the right direction of course )