Vertebrate Publishing / Simon Warren100 Greatest Cycling Climbs by Simon Warren
Our verdict · A pocket guidebook of Britain's toughest climbs that hands a road cyclist a ready-made tick-list of ride goals - personal, cheap and impossible to get wrong on fit.
Buy it if
You want something personal and inexpensive for a UK-based road cyclist, or a thoughtful extra to pair with a gear gift.
Skip it if
Skip it for an indoor/turbo-only rider, a cyclist based outside the UK (buy the matching regional edition instead), or someone who wants a physical piece of kit.
Where to get it
100 Greatest Cycling Climbs by Simon Warren
Around £10
Indicative price at the time of review.
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The thoughtful, low-cost pick, and a lovely thing to pair with a gear gift. Long regarded in UK buyer's guides as a rite of passage for road cyclists, this pocket-sized guide catalogues Britain's toughest and best-known climbs as a set of goals to tick off. The original title has been fully updated and refreshed for 2026 per the author's official site, so you are giving a current edition, and it is indicatively around £10 in paperback at Waterstones. It is also part of a wider series - Another 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs, a Tour de France edition and regional titles - so a giver can match it to where the recipient actually rides. Its value is aspirational rather than functional, which is why it rounds out the list rather than standing in for a main gift; it suits UK-based road riders best, so choose the relevant regional or Tour edition for someone who rides elsewhere.
The good & the bad
Pros
- Cheapest and most personal option - gives a rider a ready-made tick-list of goals
- Refreshed for 2026, so a current edition, with regional and Tour de France titles to match where they ride
- Zero compatibility, sizing or duplication risk
Cons
- Aspirational rather than functional - not a substitute for a main gift
- Best suited to UK-based road riders; less relevant for indoor-only or overseas cyclists
How it compares
| Pick | WATTB Score | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.Quad Lock Universal Bike Kit | 91/100 | From £42.98 (indicative) | overall |
| 2.Knog Blinder Bike Light Twinpack (front + rear set) | 88/100 | Around £75 (indicative; RRP £74.99, often discounted) | safety and visibility |
| 3.CamelBak Podium Chill Insulated Bottle 620ml | 86/100 | About £15.99 (indicative) | stocking-filler under £20 |
| 4.Brooks England B17 Leather Saddle | 85/100 | £135.00 (indicative) | premium keepsake |
| 5.100 Greatest Cycling Climbs by Simon WarrenThis pick | 80/100 | Around £10 (indicative) | thoughtful gift under £15 |
Key facts
- Best for
- thoughtful gift under £15
- Typical cost
- Around £10 (indicative)
- Format
- Pocket-sized paperback road cyclist's guide
- Coverage
- Britain's toughest and most famous road climbs
- Edition
- Fully updated and refreshed for 2026
- Series
- Regional, Tour de France and 'Another 100' titles available
- Indicative price
- Around £10 in paperback
Researched by WATTB
- Published
- 20 September 2026
- Updated
- 20 September 2026
- Last verified
- 20 September 2026
- Sources
- 10 sources
We research and rank options from public data, official information and published reviews. How we research →
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