Nick o Pendle 2012 – North Lancs RC

Sunday was my penultimate hill climb of the season – the Nick O Pendle organised by North Lancs RC.

Nick O Pendle Hill climb

• Distance 1.2km
• Avg Grade 11.1%
• Max Gradient: 16%
• Elev Gain 135m
• Course Record: Chris Boardman 3.29 (1988 – hill climb championship)
• My PB: 3.35 (2011)

The Nick O Pendle has a great history – featuring in two national championships. It has been ridden and won by some of the great hill climbers like Chris Boardman, Malcom Elliot and Jim Henderson (it was good to see Jim at the finish. He had come along to watch, and will be handing out prizes next weekend.

After racing on Saturday at Barley Lane, the legs weren’t in too bad shape. I knew the Nick o Pendle would be similar, but slightly harder than the climb the day before.

Photo from 2011 race – courtesy P.Jones

Last year, helped by a roaring tailwind, I got within 5 seconds of Chris Boardman’s long standing course record (set in a Nat Champs). I was keen to see how I would fare, this year. Conditions this year were very good. A lovely sunny autumn day, with hardly a drop of wind. It was cold leaving the house, but by the time I was racing it was quite warm.

Nick O Pendle – looking suitably impressive from a distance. Village of Sabden at the foot of the climb.

After warming up on rollers, I went up to do a reccon of the climb before the race started. Psychologically, I like to ride the climb before racing. If you look at the Nick O Pendle from a distance – it looks quite intimidating. Riding the climb helps to calm the nerves and make you realise it’s not quite as bad as it looks. After a good, steady warmup, it was time to make the short distance to the starting line. There are quite a few parked cars on the lower slopes of Sabden – though fortunately, they never seem to cause any holdups. Right from the start you hit a difficult part of the climb – with a steady 14%. You’re not quite sure whether to sit down or get out of the saddle; I did a bit of both. By the time you reach the cattle grid, you’re really starting to feel the climb, but, after the cattle grid, the gradient gives a brief respite. For the first time, I changed gears, going up a couple of gears to make the most of the flattish section. As you’re head is starting to spin from the effort, you come to the final steep curves of the climb. It’s not actually that steep, but it feels pretty bad when you’re on the limit. I overtook a second rider, though not with much elan – more of steady churning of the gears hoping for the line to come. For a moment, I heard the heavy breathing of the other rider, which sounded as bad as me. There was a good crowd at the top of the climb – it was good to get a good cheer for those last moments of striving for the line.

There was a ‘catcher’ at the finish. A nice feature of the hill climbs – the idea that you will be so exhuasted by the finish, there will be someone  to catch you from the exhaustion of the effort. I might not have needed one, but I was really spent at the finish and it’s rather nice been carried for a few metres. My final time was 3.39 – a good time, but four seconds slower than last year. I can put those four seconds down to the difference in the wind. So it’s good to finish the hill climb preparation with a solid time – there haven’t been too many sub 3.40 times on the Nick O Pendle. My time gave a VAM of around 2230. Matt Pilkington, making good progress this year finished 2nd. 3rd overall and 1st junior was James Knox. As usual, there was a great turn out from Blackburn & District CTC – which ensured they got the team prize. A lot of the riders will be there at the Rake next weekend. Should be good event.

Thanks to North Lancs RC for putting on race.

It’s funny riding hill climbs. Before there is the anticipation and trepidation of what is to come. Not really nerves, but perhaps a little. But, then you get started and for those few minutes, you’re in a very different space – really racing at the limit. I enjoyed it today. It felt like a big effort. I’d like to come back and get the course record one day. Though I would need a very compliant tailwind and just a little more power.

A rider after the race 2011. Ian Stott I think.

After the race I went over the top and back up the other side.

Nick O Pendle from the north (Clitheroe side) longer and not as steep (would also make a great hill climb).

• Distance: 2.7km
• Avg Gradient: 6.7%
• Elev Gain:  180m

Results North Lancs RC hill climb2012

1st Juvenile.

Nicholas Cooper – Rossendale RC

1st Women

Sarah Helliwell – Blackburn & District CTC

1st Team

Blackburnd & District CTC

Related

• Nick O Pendle 2011
• Hill Climbs