The Buxton Mountain time trial is a hard 33 mile time trial with over 1,100 metres of climbing.
It is based on an 11 mile circuit starting in Longnor, climbing up to to Axe Edge before long descent back into Longor.
After riding the Circuit of Dales last Sunday, it didn’t do much hard training in week before. It was more a few recovery rides, giving me time to enjoy the Yorkshire Dales (photos coming soon)
After a great spring and the ongoing threat of draught, an unexpected snow storm earlier in week threatened to cancel race. Fortunately, the roads were cleared for Good Friday. But, driving down from Yorkshire, I came over Holme Moss (one of highest A roads in England. At the bottom was a sign saying ‘road closed’ But, like most other motorists (and a few interpid cyclists) I didn’t believe it could really be closed so kept on going. Anyway, there was really a big snow drift right at top. It was closed for good reason. I’m afraid I just ploughed on and was relieved to get through the snow (don’t try this at home, as Blue Peter presenters would say).
Holme Moss – with snow on the road. – scene of many great cycle races.
With the journey taking longer than expected, I didn’t have much of a warm up time, and decided to wrap up well – leg warmers, thermal underwear – everything. The snow drifts at the side of the road were a visible reminder how cold it could be on the Peak District moors.
The first 4 miles are mostly up hill – climbing 150 metres with a few false flats. I was often in 42*21 and on last lap 42*23. The climb was made harder by a pretty strong headwind. At the top, there was a bit of a sidewind, which made me regret using a discwheel. Then there was a long fast descent into Longor. I really should have ridden course before hand, as on first lap, I had to take it quite cautiously. I even got stuck behind a caravan on the first descent, and nearly slipped into Jeremy Clarkson mode of ‘berating caravan drivers’ – though I can hardly blame someone from taking it steady on those roads.
It’s a hard course to pace yourself because there is no steady rhythm to slip into. You can be grovelling in lowest gear or pretty much freewheeling down fast descents. I went as hard as I could on the climbs, without blowing up and then concentrated on steady descent. I didn’t want to take any undue risks.
Inevitably, I tired a little on the 2nd and 3rd lap, but had some confidence after the 50 mile circuit of the Dales to know how hard I could go for a long time trial. Although I got slower on the climbs, I saved a little bit of time on the later caravan free descents.
It was another great event by Buxton CC. (Buxton CC also put on the hill climb at Long Hill, and I’ve got to know some of the Buxton locals quite well). It is quite an attractive circuit and made more interesting by the snow lining the roads. There was also a bit of flood water on higher sections, a rare sight this year.
I finished second behind Matt Bottrill, and just ahead of the other hill climb specialists Gunnar Gronlund and Matt Clinton.
It was a generous prize list, and the £50 for 2nd place, definitely helped fill up the petrol tank on the way home!
MEN
Lap 1, Lap 2, Lap 3 Final time
1 Matthew Bottrill www.drag2zero.com 00:27:59 00:29:17 00:29:18 01:26:34
2 Tejvan Pettinger Sri Chinmoy Cycling Team 00:28:38 00:29:14 00:29:29 01:27:21
3 Gunnar Gronlund RST Racing Team – Trigon 00:28:59 00:29:32 00:30:03 01:28:34
4 Matt Clinton Mike Vaughan Cycles 00:29:01 00:30:33 00:30:13 01:29:47
5 Charles Taylor South Pennine RC 00:29:47 01:30:12
6 Simon Bridge Manchester Wheelers 00:29:48 00:31:05 00:31:15 01:32:08
7 Tom Stewart RST Racing Team – Trigon 00:30:01 01:33:04
8 Lee Baldwin Buxton CC/Sett Valley Cycles 00:29:36 00:31:16 00:32:20 01:33:12
9 Simon Dale Nottingham Clarion 00:31:02 00:31:57 00:31:53 01:34:52
10 Sam Clark Buxton CC/Sett Valley Cycles 00:31:01 00:32:11 00:32:44 01:35:56
WOMEN
Lap 1, Lap 2 , Final time
1 Sarah Storey ForViored 00:31:10 00:32:09 01:03:19
2 Lauren Creamer Abergavenny Road Club 00:34:21 00:35:01 01:09:22
3 Jack Robinson Seamons CC 00:34:58 00:35:36 01:10:34
4 Sean Davenport Seamons CC 00:35:33 00:36:29 01:12:02
5 Joanne Blakeley Seamons CC 00:36:30 00:38:39 01:15:09
6 Nicola Soden Champion Systems/Maxgear RT 00:38:13 00:39:52 01:18:05
7 Viv Slack Manchester Wheelers 00:38:38 00:39:56 01:18:34
Matt Bottrill’s Bike
Trigon Racing TT bike
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