Attacking one of the hardest climbs in the south-west of England on a £180 Barracuda

Reuben loses out in our latest poll, the results are painful!

BikeRadar Diaries hill climb challenge

Mildred Locke

Published: January 25, 2019 at 4:50 pm

In last week’s BikeRadar Diaries, Joe and Reuben asked you, our viewers, to choose between their 5.1kg hill climbing bikes. They put it to you to decide whether you preferred Joe's mass-produced Trek Emonda or Reuben's more bespoke Reilly 600SL.

You cast your votes, the deed is done, and poor Reuben has been faced with a tough forfeit — a brutal climb on a very cheap bike.

So the guys set out to take on one of the hardest climbs in the south-west of England, armed with one of the cheapest and heaviest road bikes they could get their hands on. Which begs the question: how does a £180 Barracuda stack up against a £10,000 Trek Emonda hill climb-specific superbike? And did they make it?

There’s only one way to find out. Check out the video above.

There’s also a big announcement at the end of the video, so make sure you stay tuned for that.

Mildred Locke

Contributor

Mildred’s a utilitarian cyclist at heart, determined to do everything on two wheels, whether it’s shopping, commuting or moving house. She’s spent the past three years volunteering as a mechanic and workshop coordinator at the Bristol Bike Project, and now sits on its board of directors. Her expertise in bikes — and what people want out of them — comes from working in real-world bike shops and learning the ins and outs of the industry. At home on slicks and knobblies alike, Mildred’s ideal ride covers long distances through remote countryside, on mixed terrain that offers a bit of crunch. She’s easily won over by steel frames coupled with a 650B/plus-tyre combo, and is currently riding a Surly Bridge Club.
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