My last race of the year is on Sunday at Stocksbridge in the National Hill Climb. Just 0.75 miles long, but averaging about 15% and likely to be very painful, if I have any chance of getting in top 10.
The good thing is this week of training can be very light. I did one hill interval today, and will do another one on Thursday. But, apart from that, I will do little cycling this week, save a reconnaitre of the course on the Saturday before the race. The principle of tapering for a race, is well known these days. Usually, you are racing without giving your muscles full time to recover, but, hopefully by resting this week, I will be fresher for Sunday.
I won my penultimate race of year, this Sunday at Burrington Combe, organised by Bristol South. I finished 1st in 7.20, 15 secs ahead of local Bristol rider Luke Dunbar. But, unfortunately, this weekends race is a lot steeper and a lot shorter. – Just an explosion of power for 3 and half minutes, no time to get into a rhythm, just a fight against gravity!
O well, next week will be end of interval sessions up hills for quite a while!
i came fifth at burrington on sunday, riding fixed, and it was my first hill climb (or competitive event, for that matter), 8.01. i’m interested in the age-old hillclimb debate of fixed vs geared. out of interest, have you ever ridden any fixed?
I was out on a club run up Burrington Combe on Sunday, I saw you there, I nodded at you as you went past. You looked really fast going up. Gratz on the win, you made it look easy.
Good luck on sunday, I’ll be giving it my all but going quite a bit slower than you!
I’ve only fairly recently got interested in hill climbs, do you know if the national hc has ever been held on a fairly long climb? I am sure I would do better on a longer course, the short sharp ones just don’t suit me.
I think next years is on Dovers hill which is great for me as it is only about 20miles from my house but again, it’s a pretty short climb.
Anyway, I start at number 58 on sunday so by the time you go up at no. 132 I should be ok to give you a cheer!
Good luck.. Dave..