The Crong from Dancer's End

If we're talking about the Chilterns, then The Crong is a must do climb, but it's not for the faint hearted. It's single track all the way up, with limited passing places, the surface is pretty shocking, and it's steep. In the lower parts, from Ebb's Pit up to the pumping station there's a band of stones and gravel in the middle of the road, and in the "tyre tracks" either side of the stones the road is often broken and gravelly. Slow down going into Ebb's Pit at the start of the climb because the gravel is half way across the road there, and it's a blind bend. There is broken tarmac and gravel across the full width of the road at the entrance to the pumping station (i.e. just before the steep part of the climb starts). However you can find a line to roll through in all places. After the pumping station is when it gets interesting, gradient wise. The least steep line at the hairpin is on the right hand side of the road, but listen out for approaching cars - the road is in a deep hollow way just there and you can't see round. But once round the hairpin the gradient is more manageable, and even though there's more gravel towards the top it's easy to negotiate. There is some moss on the tarmac just above the hairpin that is not a problem in ascent, but caution is needed coming down, especially when wet. I ride up this one in winter, but I know people who won't. I think twice about descending in winter as well, but more because stopping would be difficult.
However, despite all this, it's a great climb, with varied gradients and scenery - mostly it's difficult to see beyond the hedges, but the lower hollow way is atmospheric, and the higher hollow way, above the hairpin, runs through some beautiful woodland. Go and do it. They will never bring a sportive up here, so you'll need to plan it into a route of your own. It connects nicely with the Dunsmore climb via a descent of Rocky Lane, and then that is leading you in the direction of Whiteleaf. It's all good.

A tough little climb. Through the hairpin the gradients exceed 15％, but thankfully only for a short distance. No traffic, lovely woodland and reasonable surface. Gravel down the centreline in places, so probably not one for winter.