Hills & Pils

13 of bristol’s finest hills, every wednesday night.

Wednesday nights, rain or shine, we ride up a load of hills then go to the pub. It’s that simple. 

As daunting as it sounds, with two routes to choose from, this ride runs with the express aim of helping people get more confident at riding up hills and gives you the opportunity to practice in a fun, supportive environment.

We always wait at the top.

how it works

  • We meet every Wednesday night at 6.30pm at Millennium Square.. No pre-ride sign up is required. Just rock up and ride with us.

  • Small, similar pace, groups of 6-8 riders set off on the route at regular intervals.

  • Riders can take each climb at their own pace. It’s just you against the hill. When at the top - we wait, regroup, and roll onto the next hill at a social pace. 

  • We ALWAYS wait at the top for everyone in our group. No ifs. No buts. Everyone gets a rest. 

  • Groups are not led, so it’s key that we look out for each other. Nobody should ever be made to feel like they’re holding the group up. Hills & Pils is not a race! It is a social ride with hills. 

  • This is a short, intense workout, but this always remains a secondary aim to building riders confidence at hill climbing.

  • There is also no obligation to complete the route; you can get up a single hill and decide to call it a day there. All we ask is you let someone know you’re peeling off. Come back next week and tackle a second, then a third. You’ll rarely be far from home.

  • We finish with an obligatory group photo in front of the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge, before rolling down to the LHG taproom for a drink, chat, and high-fives all round.

Short Route

Want to see what all the fuss is about, but fancy skipping a few of the spicier hills Bristol has to offer? Our Short route is the perfect alternative for riders looking to try Hills & Pils for the first time, and build up their confidence on climbs. 

Only 300m shorter than our Regular route, ‘short’ may be the wrong word to describe this ride, but at 23.1km with 490m climbing your legs may be happier having missed out some of Bristol’s steeper roads. 

Short route groups are organised via our WhatsApp group. Find out how to join here.

Regular Route

Originally conceived to get the most out of an afterwork ride in the shortest space of time (leaving more time for catch ups back at the pub) With 520m of climbing packed into 23.4km of inner city cycling, this route takes riders around the short, sharp climbs of Hotwells, Clifton and Redland.

Go as easy or hard as you wish, or why not choose your favourite hill to go all in on each week? Regroup at the top, catch your breath, and roll on down to LHG Brewpub.

the routes

On the first Wednesday of each month we run Hills and Pils Femmes, with dedicated women’s groups heading out to tackle both route options.

As a ride originally created by two female club members, it has always been important to us that Hills & Pils remains a welcoming and inclusive ride for everyone to build their confidence on climbs.

These rides are open to any rider who identifies as female, including Trans and NB folk.

femmes ride

The format is very simple, and there are very few rules, other than the rules of the road. Due to this ride taking place on an inner-city circuit, the following are key:

  • Don’t overtake traffic unless it’s absolutely necessary

  • Don’t overtake another group in an unsafe manner - either do it as a whole group, or not at all

  • Social pace between the hills. If you’re not chatting you’re doing it wrong. 

  • Always wait at the top until the last person has had a rest. 

  • Safety trumps any KOM/PR attempt.

  • If you miss the start and are trying to catch up don’t just blast through slower groups. Stop, say hello, chat, then move on if you must.

ride rules

The Hills

Finally, as forewarned is forearmed, here are a hand-full of the hills that the route tackles are as follows.

We do the same hills every week with no changes to the route, so you can see your progress.

1. Constitution Hill *****

300m, 8.2% average, 22% max

It’s hard, but you do at least get it out of the way early. The lower slopes have recently been resurfaced, and these are where the steepest pitches are. Use the start of Jacob Wells road as a warmup if you can, turn left and hold on. Once you’ve rounded the gentle right hander it slowly and steadily eases off to the finish, though it’s relatively sustained all the way to the top. One for the pure climbers; some go for it straight out the blocks, others use it as a warm up for the rest of the route.

3. Ambra Vale ****

130m, 9.9% average, 22.3% max

Take the left hander as wide as you dare and try to sustain the effort - it slowly gets steeper and steeper with each passing pedal stroke. The road curves round to the right and then levels off as it turns sharply right. Try and keep the legs spinning as it flattens out. Some only really treat the steep bit as the climb and use the flatter top section as an extended recovery, while others press on the whole way to the junction.

5. St. Michael’s Hill *****

240m, 12.9% average, 25.4% max, KOM:36s/QOM:1min

Long, steep, and with the hardest pitches right at the end. If you get up this then you can get up anything. With the entrance as it is you’re almost always coming at it with no momentum. It’s the only one of the lot that is hard enough to have a reputation that transcends cycling to the Bristol population at large, and it’s one most riders route around to avoid, so just getting up it is an achievement. Once you’ve passed the steepest part then there’s a nice flat section to get some life back into the legs, and the satisfaction of knowing that the hardest part of the route is behind you.

11. Stoke Hill *****

920m, 5.8% average, 13.7% max, KOM:2m18s/QOM:2m56s

What it lacks in absolute gradient Stoke Hill more than makes up for with its length. The longest of the route, with an undulating profile that is steepest right in the middle. Once you’re over halfway then it gets easier and you can catch up those who went out the blocks too hard. Remember to turn right at the memorial and catch your breath at the bus stop.

9. Kersterman Road ***

280m, 5.9% average, 17.9% max, KOM:23s/QOM:38s

Arrow straight, with a pretty consistent gradient throughout. If you come around the right hander to a green light and no traffic count yourself lucky; it doesn’t happen often and it’s the best way to bag a PR. It’s easy to get caught behind other riders and it can be tricky, so for safety’s sake if you want to avoid overtaking then try and start at the front.