Shap Hill Climb 2010

Not Shap hill Climb – a more traditional Lake District 15% climb.

This weekend was a long drive up north, to take part in the Shap Hill Climb from Kendal towards Shap (Penrith) on the A6. It is 9.1 miles long and climbs from 55 metres to 425 metres at the top. There are also a couple of downhill sections so the amount of climbing is probably well over 400 meters. The average gradient of the climb is low about 3%. It is only really near the summit that it gets a bit more testing; I rode nearly the whole race in the saddle.

The most difficult thing about the race was not the climbing but the persistent headwind. Knowing the Lake District it could have been a lot worse. But, even so, there was something predictably demoralising about constant climbing and a constant headwind.

Nevertheless I enjoyed the race and the climb (if enjoy is the right word) It’s quite a different pacing to the average hill climb. I finished 1st / 57 – just under 30 minutes in 29.56. Average speed 18.5 mph.  Max Speed 31mph (on the downhill section). As soon as I got to the top, I turned straight down and flew down. The weather is always colder at 1400 feet; the descent was good, I was trying to make sure my legs didn’t get cold.

For most of the climb, I was trying to ride in a tuck position. – Get as low down as possible and keep the arms on top of the handlebars close to the stem. You really felt the headwind and instinctively try to dive out of its way. The problem is that your arms soon get tired of holding a tight tucked position, especially when your climbing. Next year, I think I will go quicker by using my time trial bike, or at the very least with tribars on.

After the race, I spent a couple of hours cycling around the Lake District. Rather than go to very busy tourist places, I went east on minor roads towards Sedbergh. There were very quiet pleasant roads. They were often rather potholed, but, the lack of traffic made up for it. Unlike the A6 climb, the roads were the more predictable Lake District variety of constant up and down steep gradients, in and out of the saddle.

Thanks to Kent Valley RC and organiser for helping with entry when stuck in NY.

Unfortunately, I missed another race on Saturday, because of some kind of muscle pull on Friday, which only just cleared in time for Sunday.