Best road descent in the UK

[colnago1975]

Sutton Bank, North Yorkshire, a great decent and a great climb 1:4. Its just under the ton getting there and back from where i live, so i end up having to peddle around the town to get the 100 miles.

There is a tricky corner half way down and if you don't get it right you will end up hitting a face of rock and you would't be getting up any time soon if you rode in to it! Thankfully, i have avoided that so far but came close once.

9/10 for the WOW factor as it's a decent were you can over take the cars and dare i say it on the outside. That sort of riding only comes with experience, so any young kid reading this, please don't try it!!

Photos taken from Google.

 

[RichT]

Re: Fastest decent.

When I lived on Glossop Derbyshire, the decent down the Snake Pass was always a good one.
From the sign on the top, to the Glossop sign just at the bottom by the golf club was 3 miles, so we used to see how near to 3 minutes we could get. Usually around 8pm on a sunny evening it was possible as you could straight line all the bends as there was no traffic.

Blimey!!, that's going some!, especially when you take into account that sharp left corner.
I've been down that a few times myself over the years, & up it too.

Holme Moss down the Woodhead side also = silly speeds

Scary, when there's a strong wind blowing
The northern (Holmbridge) side is a nice descent too, so long as you're careful on the corners

East Chevin End, which goes from near Leeds Bradford Airport into Otley town centre, is also a fast one and not too twisty - topped 50mph on one occasion down there!

I've seen 60MPH down there a few years agop (Avocet 40 measured)
It's almost too fast, due to the (almost hidden) car-parks. You practically have to descend it on the white-line for the best view

But, overtaking cars down there is good fun

That said, a tea-stop at 'Dunnies' is always a good reason for visiting Otley
(or, if driving in the vicinity for their Meat & potato pie)

It's not the most exciting climb or descent but Slack Hill between Matlock and Chesterfield takes some beating for outright speed.
It's pretty straight and 1:7 for about 3/4 of a mile. With a strong tailwind (S or SW) I've seen 72mph more than once.

I drove down there a couple of weeks ago, on my way from Barrowhill Roundhouse to Matlock Bath, & it's a fantastic hill!!!





There's a decently fast, but twisty, descent over 'The Strines' (Mortimer Road), from the A616 at Midhopestones, down to Ewden Bridge
I was last over there in July when I drove over to run the 'Broomhead Chase' fell-race

 

[pigman]

Re: Fastest decent.

[There's a decently fast, but twisty, descent over 'The Strines' (Mortimer Road), from the A616 at Midhopestones, down to Ewden Bridge
I was last over there in July when I drove over to run the 'Broomhead Chase' fell-race

yeah, our back yard that one. Locally called "Deliverance" ; dont know why. A certain Tommy Boonen came a cropper on the right hand hairpin (he's not the first, nor will he be the last) before the bottom. Its hard technically, but not one to attack with the farm, cars, bumpy surface etc. Still, could be worse, ascending it aint fun.

 

[RichT]

Re: Fastest decent.

There's a decently fast, but twisty, descent over 'The Strines' (Mortimer Road), from the A616 at Midhopestones, down to Ewden Bridge
I was last over there in July when I drove over to run the 'Broomhead Chase' fell-race

yeah, our back yard that one. Locally called "Deliverance" ; dont know why. A certain Tommy Boonen came a cropper on the right hand hairpin (he's not the first, nor will he be the last) before the bottom. Its hard technically, but not one to attack with the farm, cars, bumpy surface etc. Still, could be worse, ascending it aint fun.

Could it perhaps be a misheard attempt at a prayer??, "'Deliverance from evil", if you misjudge the hair-pin bend??

Yes, agreed, I still have bad memories of coming back up there in the mid 90s, with a bottom gear of 42x21
(after a round trip of HolmeMoss, Glossop, Snake Pass, & The Strines)

Mindst you, the drop from the the road that goes past Cubley Hall (still Mortimer Road???) down to A616, with that final bend under the railway bridge is a demon too!!

Digressing somewhat;
I'll be down that way again this coming Saturday to run the 'Penistone 10K' (run as part of Penistone Show), then again on Monday (12th) when I'll be at Oxspring for the last race of the (almost 'cult') 'Trunce' series'
http://undeadmonkey.org.uk/trunce/

 

[dbmtb]

Huhu herr huhu. Dude said "Penis tone".