Love and hate

Love climbing. Was much better at it when I was one of those youngsters with all the spare time in the world, legs like two tree trunks and torso like a twiglet. Now my legs are more like two HP sauce bottles and my torso is more like... an HP sauce bottle. Only conclusion: eat less climb more.

I live in South Lakes, there are hills a plenty and I love them. Not saying I'm any good at climbing. But all the same the satisfaction of getting to the top in one go, and the decending make it all worth it.
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Flat is boring.

Recently on holiday in Crete I hired a MTB, swapped the pedels and went from Stilos up to the Plateau of Linsethi in 38 -40C. Hot, hard but boy what blast on the way down

Hills, worth it everytime IMO.

If your in Crete, get up in those mountains its amazing, with loads of tavernas to get a drink on your way round. Made my holiday.

Living in the Ribble Valley I can't get away from hills but at least for every one that you go up you have to come down the other side, and we have some great cafes.

That's The Cobbler. Highly unlikely that MTB's were even used. It's a popular climb/walk from Arrochar and the hill walkers would take great exception to dodging them. Most likely military types from Faslane yomping to the summit and trying to outdo each other.

Agree with Dunks about Applecross. That's one mean b******

Part of my job description is to find hard hills for cyclists to climb and suffer on and I feel I have succeeded if they have to take the walk of shame on some hills.

Personally though I hate hills but I love to descend fast, most of the time you don't get one without the other.

Cycling is a metaphor for life in so many ways. Put the hard work in and get the enjoyment later. Sadly for many of use the suffering and hard work last much much longer than the fun bits ........such is life.

the only time I've been on the Logie Kirk hill has been down- which was "exciting" in a "do my brakes work properly? They better" kind of way. I will have a go at it one of these days when I'm up, but I only took up cycling properly after moving to Cambridgeshire.
Going over Shrerrifmuir, it would be really nice if there was a crossing of the A9 at Greenloaning and Blackford that didn't involve the level of terror that can make an atheist pray.
That climb at arrochar looks like mountain bike territory from photos on google maps

Lived in Stirling for four years but sadly before I was reintroduced to my bike. I walked up Logie Kirk on several occasions and it's not for the faint hearted!

I'm a lazy git, who easily settles into a comfort zone, so I don't use a compact chainset and really only train on hills.... tak ma doon....about 10 miles from the kirk, long, with 2 very steep ramps.

I love this climb too - did it again this morning before work. I know what Sam means about the hate bit though - esp as you pass the Kirk and head up to the hairpin. Definitely gets the heart, legs and lungs going and feels fantastic when you get it all balanced just right so you get to the top knowing you've done the best you could that day. The views from the top are great too - esp if you go over to Blackford on a clear day. Nice writing Sam

I used to love running up hills and now I cycle I love cycling up them. I've always prefer that to downhills. Who knows why? I don't.

It's kind of like you've swallowed the earth with your legs. You're at the bottom, there's a period of mad focus, pain and panting -- and then somehow, miraculously, it's over. It's done. It's been swallowed up my the might of one's efforts. And the views are there to prove it.

Knowing you've earned yourself a bag-full of potential energy is also a pleasantly reassuring thing to carry with you.

Marvellous. Well done.

That looks horrific.

I hate hills. I'd rather spend my time spinning along nice flat sections.
I try to avoid them wherever possible, so when I do encounter one and find at the top I've still got a least one cog left on the cassette; that's a result, and the knowledge that I did it without stopping gives me a warm feeling.
I know it will have done me some good, despite the thumping in my chest and the pain in my legs.
But I still hate hills.

Love a good hill, your description makes me think of Porlock and Dunkery Beacon!

Because it hurts. And deep down, i think cyclists are slightly (or less slightly in some cases) masochists

"Because it's there"...I enjoy climbing too, although down here on the south coast there isn't much that sounds as tough as the hill the author climbed. Managed three times up Ditchling the other week and am planning a ride over the weekend to get 4 more of the 100 in the SE region. I ride with guys who aren't as in to it as me, and nearly always they take routes that swerve the hills; I'm going to tell them about how much climbing benefits the rest of your riding.
I also like running up hills and going up the off road trails on my mtb. MTB is generally harder, the hills are steeper and the devastating effect of losing traction at 1 mph whilst clipped in add another dimension!

Poor grammar.

It's a cracker of a climb, and a nice write up about it, good job sir.
I sometimes combine it with the Ballengeich Road by the side of Stirling Castle.
Makes a nice 1hr hilly blast.

I love that climb do it loads never easy but the pain is worth it

Is it not a case of just looking at something, seeing the challenge and thinking "I'm going up there" then feeling proud of yourself when you reach the summit.

As kids it was climbing frames, slides, trees etc, going up hills and mountains on bikes or on foot is just a natural progression.

There's probably some clever link with our past as primates.

Nicely written. People slate Strava, but it's a good feeling to know that your times on your regular hills indicate that your fitness is better than ever.

(I don't currently get that feeling. At all.)