Results from hill climb Championships at CTT

Blog from hill climb

Cat & Fiddle Hill Climb

• Distance: 6.6 miles
• Height Gain: 335 metres
• Average Gradient: 3.2%
• Max Gradient: 8%
• Maximum altitude: 520 metres
• CR: 18.14 (2013) – 22mph)

Last year I did the climb for the first time in a time of 21.02. But, last year, the weather was tough – a headwind and cold. Today, was about as good as it gets in September. Warm, and most importantly a nice gentle tailwind. It can be wild up in this part of the world, but the trees were barely moving, you had to pinch yourself the hill climb season is getting well underway.

 Photo courtesy: 5th place Bhima Bowden (Buxton CC) – 14 photos combined into one!. I think it’s a really great photo, if only slightly disconcerting to see 14 images of yourself!

The day before the race (Sat), was the Sri Chinmoy 24 hour race at Tooting Bec. I usually turn up to count runners for the first 10 hours, before sloping off to get some kip before my race on Sunday. It might sound boring counting runners for 10 hours, but in a strange way I kind of really enjoy it. I stayed long enough to see Geoff Oliver set a new world record for 50km in the age group 80-85 (about 7 hours, if memory serves me right) Something to aspire to. Though I’m not sure I’ll still be doing hill climbs when I’m 80…. (though Peter Greenwood with new Vet 60 record of 20.26 is worth an honourable mention)

In Macclesfield I was warming up on the rollers, and was soon working up a sweat in the balmy heat of Lancashire’s Indian Summer. I had to towel myself down to get rid of sweat before heading over to the start.

The start of the climb is the hardest and steepest part. The sign says 10%, but I don’t believe that – more like 8%. For the first couple of miles, I was pretty close to the limit, and worried I might be going too hard. Then about half way up, you start to get the first downhill and flattish sections. At this point I was tucking down into time trial bike and hoping for as much free energy as possible. One of the challenges of the Cat & Fiddle hill climb, is that there are some quite sharp corners which you can approach at quite a speed. I seemed to be on and off the tribars quite a bit. It might have been possible to shave a few more seconds here and there. But, the A 537 is a busy road, and I wasn’t going to start cutting any corners.

I felt the power dissipate a little over the last half, kind of grateful for the gentle tailwind giving a little push to the finish. After last year’s effort into a roaring headwind, this felt fast. But, I had no idea of my time (my garmin having no power source)

Guessing Power – Power meter teaches how to gauge effort better

One interesting thing about using a power meter, is that you become much better at guessing how much power you are putting out (even when you don’t use it). Before, I used to judge my effort on speed. But, with a power meter you learn that often on a hill as your speed increases, your power reduces. Speed can be very misleading to the effort you put in.

It was a guess, but I felt I was using less power over last half of the climb. But, I think I judged it OK. The steepest section is the most important place to give a big effort as long as you don’t blow up and can keep going.

TT bike v Road Bike

I opted for a time trial bike. Though remain completely uncertain whether it offered any benefit / loss over road bike. My TT bike is definitely heavier, but would have helped on the downhill. Next time there is a tailwind, I might try with road bike with clip on tribars. One thing is I quite like the TT position because I spend a lot of time on the TT bike.

New Course Records

It was funny going down the hill my mind started to think – maybe it was slow. Maybe the time was no good. I got annoyed with these thoughts so got rid of them by concentrating on something else. It was only back at the HQ I found I’d set a new course record – 18.16 – 14 seconds off Mark Lovatt’s old course record of 18.30 in 2004. 2nd was Lee Baldwin (Buxton CC) with an 18.58. Adam Kenway was just pipped to 3rd with 19.02. Ben Gillespie 4th and Bhima Bowden 5th

It was also a new course record for the women. Joanne Blakely (Champion Systems – Maxgear) set the fastest time. She just pipped Vanessa Whitfield (Velo Club St Raphael) But, no fewer than 4 ladies went under the old course record time! It was strong competition all-round.

There was a full field of 150 plus reserves, with some good times. Thanks to Weaver Valley CC for putting on event!

I haven’t seen any results online yet, these are a few photos of results board.

Some photos here.

When you’ve had a bit of a freewheel down

After Race – Mow Cop

After the race I went to check out Mow Cop on time trial bike (though suffice to say I won’t be using Time trial bike in the upcoming hill climb!_

• Cat & Fiddle

Long Hill

But, despite a headwind, it was another beautiful September day. The view from the top of Long Hill is really quite spectacular. I always think Long Hill is one of the best descents in the country. You get such a good view, especially from the top. It’s a nice long 3% decline, only spoiled by perhaps a few more cars than you would like. As a hill climb, it’s firmly in the long time trial variety. Little variation in gradient, just a fairly steady 3% all the way to the top. More on Long Hill here.

Long Hill  is one of those climb where you can spend ages trying to work out which is best equipment to use. Road bike with tribars vs time trial bike e.t.c. I’m now fairly convinced that into a headwind – a time trial bike is quicker. But, I’m getting attached to my power meter on my road bike and wanted to know my average power for the race. But, in the end, I decided you don’t get any trophies for power readings, only your time. So I just took my time trial bike. At least I didn’t waste any time in the race reading my Garmin.

I used discwheel and lightweight front wheel and timetrial bike

We were sharing the HQ with the relatively more sedate world of crown green bowls. When you go to races, it is always interesting to see how other people are spending their Sunday mornings – car boot sales, bowls – all a little more gentle on the legs than racing up a hill. I was only dissappointed not to see more flat caps at the bowls tournament. This is the north of England, but whippets and flat caps weren’t as common as legend would have you believe.

Anyway, away from the stately world of crown green bowls, I was warming up on the B road by Whaley Bridge. I then spent a few minutes on the rollers before heading over to the start line. It was quite warm and the lower part of the course felt quite fast. But, half way up, the shelter from the trees seemed to disappear. For one section, there was a considerable headwind which slowed down my speed. The last mile is a big horseshoe shape. Finally,  there was  a bit of tailwind and you remember how much difference it makes. Then you swing around back into the wind for the last effort to the line.

It was a fairly measured effort. I don’t think you can do a 4 mile climb any other way. The finish timekeeper later said, many other riders were dying as they finished the hill, but I looked as if I wasn’t making much effort. Looks can be deceiving! But, I was worried I didn’t quite get everything out. But, then I often think that on Long Hill.

My time was 13.13.0. Since 13 is my luck number, that was a cool time for the 2013 event. It’s always hard to compare years, but I think it was a relatively good time, on not the easiest day.

Results

Results

Little Bicycle and packet of crisps

Back at the HQ I found I had finished 1st, ahead of  an improving Adam Kenway (13.41) Team Zenith-www.buzzcycles.co.uk. For my first place, I achieved a lifelong dream to be awarded a King of the Mountains jersey, and also a trophy, a homemade cake (made by Lou Clark, despite giving birth this week, Congratulations!) – I even got an unofficial go on a mini bicycle designed for 3 year old George Clark (future Buxton CC star)

Trying to explain to the event organisers – when I first started this event, I had a full head of hair

After polishing off a few more homemade flapjacks, I stuffed the prizes under my jersey went back to my car and then headed off for a bit of a ride. I didn’t feel like doing too much on my time trial bike, so I just went up to Eccles Pike, then to Peaslows and over to the top of Rushup Edge, near Winnats pass.

Thanks to Bhima Bowden for all the photos, and as usual to all the people at Buxton CC for putting on event.

Results on Long HIll

• 2010 – 1st place. 12.26
• 2011 – 1st place 13.49
• 2011 – National – 5th – 13.02. (Winner Gunnar Gronlund 12.49)
• 2012 – 1st place – 13.35
• 2013 – 1st place – 13.13

Related

Long Hill

1. - intervals
2. - core strength training
3. - But, road tax was abolished in 1936.

Intervals seems to be the answer for every cycling training programme. Though I rather like the reply of one cycling wit, who said he did really hard, 110%, eye-ball out intervals, he just left a gap of one year in between them.

But, after a few days to think of a more useful answer. I would add to your intervals, try and enjoy it. That may sound like a contradiction in terms – how can you enjoy something that is inherently painful and tiring? Perhaps enjoy is the wrong word, but at some level you have to look forward to training, you have to enjoy the experience, if not in the usual pleasure-seeking way. At least you need to get some kind of Zen like satisfaction. If it’s a routine, if it’s just ticking off a training programme, it will be hard to summon up that extra zip and motivation to transcend your previous efforts.

Photo Adrian Shingler, Glossop Kinder Velo

In the past couple of years, I’ve made steady progress. I’m pleased because I’m already edging towards the magic 40 (where life begins, but the physical starts to deteriorate, we are told. – Though watching the 42 year old Chris Horner dance away from the leading contenders in the Vuelta yesterday is a great boost for us who are looking forward to competing in the VETS categories.)

I think a very important factor in making progress (especially at the higher end of racing) is the ability to have a deep motivation. You have to really love the sport to make the sacrifices and do all that interminable training. It’s no good going through the motions, you need to treat effort session as a great opportunity to make progress and enjoy it. That also means making sure you get the right balance between training and recovery. If you over-train, you won’t enjoy.

Another thought which crossed my mind yesterday was – I can’t believe I’ve got 6 or 7 weeks of intense interval training left. It’s already been a good season. In a few weeks, other riders will be hanging up their racing wheels and taking a few well earned recovery rides to the local cycling cafe. But, for the hill climb championships it’s eyes balls out until the bitter end. I decided the best way to approach the season is to take it day by day, week by week. If you think of 7 weeks of permanent intervals, it’s enough to put off even the most determined and enthusiastic hill climber. To use a great football cliche ‘Well, we’ll just concentrate on the next game.’

In the snake pass post, I left a comment - ‘never believe a hill climber, who says he eats donuts and fried marsbars‘ Perhaps I should add ‘never believe a hill climber who says they enjoy it.‘ Maybe, when you’re doing a hill climb, it it’s a very painful experience, but there’s also something that pulls you back for more. ‘Please Sir, Can I have another go?’

Related

• Hill climb training – slightly more scientific approach
• Thoughts on hill climbs - more random thoughts
• 12 and half reasons to enter a hill climb

My last race was back in early August – a very fast 10 on the V718. I’ve been looking forward to Snake Pass for quite a while. It is organised by Glossop Kinder Velo.

Snake Pass

• Snake Pass: 6 Km
• Average Grade: 5.7%
• Elev Gain 348m
• Max Gradient 7%

Last year I set a course record of 11.41. And with a forecast of a decent tailwind, I was hopeful that it would be another good day. The first challenge was to get out of bed in the morning. Only 36 hours after returning from the US, the jet lag is still around. But, fortunately it was OK. This years event had a good entry with about 75 riders. It included Team Raleigh rider, Graham Briggs. Briggs is the current National criterium champion and has been prominent in this year’s popular Tour Series of city centre criteriums. – One of the top domestic pros, but Snake pass is a long way removed from a city centre criterium! I think Graham will be more at home on a punchy climb like Monsal Head. Snake Pass suits me pretty well. It’s more of an endurance event. To be the perfect hill, I’d like it a bit steeper. But, to start the hill climb season, it’s good to avoid a really brutal out of the saddle job. You can treat Snake Pass as more of a short ‘prologue’ time trial.

The event was well organised, there was even a marshal to suggest a good car parking place.  I did a warm up on the rollers, and I was shocked at how little power I could put out on rollers, when your tyres are blown up to 140psi! I tried to do a sprint to over 300 watts, and nearly fell off as the bike wobbled at 120rpm. Rather than risk crashing into my car before the season began, I settled for some steady tempo riding and set off for the start line.

One nice thing about the start of the hill climb season is being able to get out the super-lightweight, morale boosting wheels from the loft.  With a 300 gram AX lightness front wheel, you really notice the difference – especially since I’ve been riding a 9kg ‘entry level’ road bike in New York.

This was my first race with a power meter, so I couldn’t resist having a look, but next time I won’t be looking. The start of the climb is probably the hardest, it’s slightly steeper and one bend was a strong cross wind / almost headwind, but after that there was a nice tailwind blowing you all the way to the top. Even with the tailwind, the gradient is still unrelenting and constantly up. It never seems to dip below 5%, apart from right at the very top. Half way up, I saw my power dipping, a little bad for morale, but I should have listened to advice and not bothered with looking at power. Anyway, I caught a few riders and at the top enjoyed the very fast finish, with a gale blowing you along.

Back at the HQ, I found I finished 1st and set a new course record of 11.36.6. There was some nice homemade food, and a good atmosphere amongst the riders and organising club.

Graham Briggs did a very good ride to finish second in 11.48. Third place was Ben Gillespie, Saddleworth Clarion in 13.04. 1st lady was Joanne Blakeley Champion System/Maxgear/base – 15.41 and 1st junior, David Murphy Liverpool Mercury Dolan CC, 15.40.

If it’s possible to – come first, set a new course record and still be less than satisfied – I would say it probably wasn’t as good a ride as last year. The stronger tailwind this year was probably worth more than 5 seconds. But, it’s not bad for the first race of the season. Hopefully, I can get a little faster.

• Time 11:36
• Watts – 390 Watts
• Watts / kg – 6.2
• VAM – 1701

Jackson Bridge

After driving for 3 hours to hill climb heaven in the Pennines, it would have been rude to just turn around and drive home. So I put on my training wheels and went looking for Jackson Bridge – a hill climb used in a future Huddersfield CC event. It meant going over Holme Moss and getting a little lost around Holmfirth. I eventually found it. A classic hill climb of steep gradients and twisty roads. I look forward to a real steep one later in the season. The only drawback was grovelling back on the (A628) Road between Sheffield and Manchester. It was one of the most demoralising rides for a long time, 7mph on the flat into a strong tailwind. If it’s as windy as this when the Tour comes to Yorkshire next year, the peleton will be split to pieces. But, if you’re thinking of riding the 2nd Tour stage, be warned the A623 is a horrible road for cyclists – best avoided.

Next week is another long and fast one on Long Hill, organised by Buxton CC. I hope the wind is in right direction!

Thanks to Mark and the Glossop Kinder Velo team. I think there is a £50 voucher for breaking the course record from a local cycle shop.

Photos from  Snake Pass 2013 Adrian Shingler, Flickr

 Results

Snake Pass at Glossop Kinder Velo

Snake Pass 2012

hill climbs

Last time I raced, I went wrong on the course. This time, I got lost on the way to race. I came off the M62, only to go all the way round and straight back on the M62 back to Leeds. It was a bit annoying as the next turn off seemed miles away and it made me a bit late. It’s much more preferably to be able to get ready with a decent time period, and not rushing through. Anyway, after the nice detour up and down the M62, I rode down to the start on the A63. You know it’s going to be fast, when you touch 30 mph just going from the HQ to the start. Going out was very quick, with tailwind pushing you along the fast dual carriageway. After coming around the turn, I saw I had done an 8.57 for the first 5 miles. Not too far off competition record pace. But, the last 5 miles was into a headwind, and despite making more effort into the wind, it was slower going. When I went past finish my garmin said roughly 18.59.

It was a long wait at the HQ for the results to be posted. It’s about as exciting as time trialling gets. – will he write 18 or 19?. In the end it was 19.02. (av 31.5 mph) Good enough for third place behind Michael  Hutchinson (18.24) and James Gullen (18.58). In one sense it was disappointing to miss out on an ’18′, but it was still a pb so you can’t grumble. Probably a harder day than last year, so it’s good to make even a few seconds improvement.

The next morning was a different kettle of fish. The Oxonian 50 mile TT on the A420. (H50/17) The roads are mostly single carriageway with a few undulations. It’s hard getting going in the morning and there was a stiff wind to the turn. It was a hard race to pace. The first 10 miles was up hill into the wind, and it took nearly 24 minutes. By, the time I went through the 25.3 mile point, I had taken 55.29, so I wasn’t expecting too much. But, the last 10 miles was slightly downhill with tailwind. I did the last 10 miles in 19.40 – a nice way to finish off a 50 making it past the finish line in 1.48.51

Alas, this was my last time trial of the year. I would like to do more time trials and make use of the good form I have. But, I messed up and forgot to enter a race this weekend. Then it’s two weeks in New York, and when I return it’s uphill all the way. Only hill climbs to the end of October.

Hopefully the ‘flat’ speed will translate into quick hill climb times. I still weigh the same as last year, so unless I become obese in the US by stuffing my face with doughnuts and hamburgers in New York, I should be OK.

Bridlington CC 10 mile TT

Men’s Event
1 Michael Hutchinson Gear-Quickvit-Trainsharp RT 18:24
2 James Gullen Team Hope Factory Racing 18:58
3 Tejvan Pettinger Sri Chinmoy Cycling Team 19:02
4 Scott Burns Manchester Wheelers Club 19:06
5 Michael Ellerton Team Swift 19:17
6 Mark Thaxter Huddersfield Star Wheelers 19:31
7 Daniel Barnett North Notts Olympic RC 19:32
8 Benjamin Harvey Rutland CC 19:34
9 John Dewhirst East Bradford CC 19:52
10 Harry Armstrong Berwick Wheelers 19:54

Women & Juniors
1 James Falconer Ferryhill Wheelers 19:30
2 Ben Hetherington Dirtwheels Cycles 19:57
3 Ben McIntosh Crewe Clarion Whls 20:16

Oxonian 50 mile TT

Reasons to enter a hill climb

At the top of Nick o Pendle in Lancashire

• You get to see some great parts of the world. Without the hill climb season, I would never have made so many trips to the Yorkshire Dales, Peak District and Lake District. Also, you get to see unexpected parts of the world, which are surprisingly nice. For example, Peaslows (the venue of the 2009 hill climb championship starts in amongst run down factories, and finishes on the moors above.)

Jim Henderson in hill climb agony on the Rake. Photo Bob Muir

• You can experience that strange sensation of pushing yourself further than ever before. I’ve done many races and many training plans, but nothing compares to the magic effort of a 3 minute hill climb. Racing beyond that thin red line, so that you become light-headed with oxygen deprivation; it is definitely something to be experienced at least once.

• Whatever you do in training, you will always be able to go deeper in an actual race.

Winnats Pass. In the days before colour TV, people would go and watch the National hill climb championships. Photo Bernard Thompson on a packed Winnats pass.

• If Winston Churchill, had written a book, ‘100 Things to do before you die‘, I’m sure, (if he knew what they were), he would put riding a hill climb in there somewhere. Old Winston might have been a bit portly for your typical hill climb, but, I’m sure he would appreciate the fighting spirit of never surrendering to a hill.

Photo Bob Muir

• Looking for a little motivation to lose a few pounds? Do you need a reason to cut back on the pies and cakes? Just thinking about entering a hill climb, is better than any magical diet pill or new diet fad.

• It’s not just 3 minutes of fun. You can incorporate into a longer training ride. Race up a hill and then go exploring in the Peak district.

• It’s not all 25% gradients. There are hill climbs with a meagre 3% gradient like the Cat ‘n Fiddle and Long Hill (pictured above) You can temporarily feel you’re in the Alpes.

• It’s no virtual competition against unknown people, it’s just good old fashioned you against a stopwatch, and your name in black and white on the finish board. You get to meet enthusiastic organisers and fellow hill climbers. The’re an eccentric bunch, but mostly harmless.
• The sun always shines in the hill climb season.
  

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• It’s fun creating a bike for a hill climb. I can’t put it any better than  PJ writes: ‘The specialist nature of the task and the event appeals to that latent autism that all men possess.’ (Anatomy of a hill climb)

• You have a great excuse to drill holes in your saddle (should you ever need an excuse) (Jack Pullar’s hill climb bike)

Start of Catford CC Hill Climb. (Catford CC is probably the world’s longest running race)

• It’s just a strangely British tradition. No one really knows why hill climbs started in England. Belgium has Liege Bastogne Liege, we have the Cat and Bec hill climbs. It’s a bit like racing a ball of cheese down a hill or duck racing on the village green. There’s no logical reason, but as Edmund Hilary kind of said – ‘Well it was there, so I had a go’
• It’s a good way to start ticking off S.Warren’s 100 hill climbs

 Not so good reasons to enter a hill climb

1. When you travel to visit an area of outstanding natural beauty and spend 30 minutes on a turbo trainer, and a random walker looks on in bemusement and then asks – why are you cycling in a car park?
2. If you get the hill climb bug, you can end up spending rather too much money and time researching lightweight components.

How to Enter Hill climbs

You need to be a member of a cycling club.

There are a list of hill climbs here: Cycling Time trials (open hill climbs)

Some can be entered online
Some need an entry form

Related

• Hill climbs

From Wrynose pass

I drove to outside Windermere and headed off to the hills of Central Lakes. First up was Kirkstone Pass (The Struggle) from Ambleside up to Kirkstone pass.

The Struggle

• Distance 4.8 km
• Avg Grade 8.2%
• Max Gradient: 22%
• Elev Gain 403m

If I could choose any hill for the national hill climb championships, the Struggle would be be pretty high up in my choice. Long and steep, it has a wonderful start out of the village of Ambleside. Smooth tarmac and steep hairpins soon take you out of the village. This year the road surface is much improved on Kirkstone pass; the surface dressing of gravel chipping is not fast, but at least it has filled in the worst of the potholes. I got a bit overexcited on the bottom hairpins and went off a bit fast. It’s a long way to the top at Kirkstone, and you pay for any sprint at the bottom.

Ulswater down in valley

At Kirkstone I went left towards Ullswater, it’s a beautiful valley and I haven’t visited for quite a while. The descent was excruciatingly slow, with holiday traffic descending at a nice 10mph.  I told myself not to get frustrated. I was lucky to be here and not stuck in an office. At least there was time to admire the view. The only problem with Ulswater is that it is a long way around to Keswick and more hills, so at Patterdale, I just did a u-turn for a second ascent of Kirkstone pass from Ullswater direction. This makes for a fantastic climb. It tops out at perhaps 18%, it’s a nice long steep climb with ramps of 16%. But, it’s not like the Struggle where you have to fight your way up on the drops, I did most of the climb seated down, until right at the top where a light headwind made final climb hard work.

Lake Windermere from Kirkstone Pass.

After a short descent from Langdale (over a badly deteriorating road), you see the ominous warning signs of 30% unsuitable for large vehicles.

Wrynose Pass

• Distance 3 km
• Height Gain 290 metres
• Average gradient: 9.6%
• Max Gradient: 25%

First up is Wrynose. Last time, I climbed Wrnose there was a fierce headwind and it was the closest I’ve come to getting off and walking up a hill ever. Fortunately, the wind was very light, though there was a really nasty sting in the tail. After climbing 200m, it gets to be the  steepest right near the top. Whatever gear you’re in, you’ll probably find yourself weaving around the road, pulling on the bars and feeling grateful when the summit finally appears.

From Wrynose there is a short descent and temporary relief, before Hardknott looms menacingly on the horizon. The climb looks really impressive, the 30% hairpins etched into the hill side. Sometimes hills don’t look as steep as they are. But, with Hardknott it looks suitably intimidating – there is always a left turn down towards Coniston for the feint hearted. A  bit of a summer traffic jam caused me to brake at the foot of the climb. I had no momentum to use. The first ramp, is amazingly steep. There is a straight section of road which must be at least 30%, if not more so. There’s no chance of going wide around a hairpin to reduce the gradient. You just have to lean forward on the bars and go for it. It’s so steep, you can get a strange feeling that you might fall over backwards. When this is negotiated there are a several hairpins of 25-30%. I recommend going wide and reducing the steepness of the gradient. I was really enjoying the first few hairpins as I could get a bit of speed going. It felt good flinging yourself around the hairpins. But, like any of these lake District climb, you really pay for any effort on the lower slopes. There is no let up in the gradient as you grovel towards the top.

Hardknott Pass 

The descent of Hardknott towards Eskdale is not for the feint hearted. 30%, 90 degree turns are no joke. It’s much harder than even Park Rash in Yorkshire.  Make sure you check your brake blocks, before, during and after.

At the bottom of Eskdale valley, there is a mini steam railway. I bought a bottle of water and sat on a station bench. The tranquillity of tourists sitting on a small steam train providing a bizarre contrast to Hardnott pass in the distance. Eskdale is not easy to get to, but it is wonderfully quiet. I went down one minor road and for about 10 minutes so no one at all. Cyclists were pretty rare. I guess you don’t come to Eskdale for a recovery ride. After a short recovery in Eskdale, it was another u-turn and back up Hardknott – as King Henry V might say ‘Once more unto the breech…’ Hardknott from Eskdale is like  ‘going over the top’. I think it’s probably the hardest climb in England, and  this ride didn’t change my mind. At the bottom, you are hit with 25% hairpins. After a relative respite in the middle section, it then goes up to a couple of 30% hairpins. Pray there isn’t a car coming down and allow yourself to go wide. After the last 30% ramp, it levels off just a little; if you are so inclined, you could ‘sprint’ to the finish.

Incongruously on Hardknott there was a car trying to pull up a big trailer. Perhaps he was going for the record of most unsuitable vehicle to climb and descend Hardknott pass. At the bottom of the climb,  I saw the trailer in the distance climbing at about 1mph. At one point it was far off in the distance, I nearly caught it by the time I got to the top. I did get stuck behind it  on the descent, which proved to be a 2mph affair. I finished the ride with an average speed of 14.5 mph. Though I’m glad I didn’t have to come to a stop on the ascent.

You’ve done well if you didn’t have to get off and walk up Hardknott. After Hardknott pass, Wrynose (west to east) feels a bit of an anticlimax. But, the view looking down to Ambleside takes your breath away.

After another trip over Langdale, it was a few flat miles back to Windermere. It was a shame to only do 70 miles and miss out on Honister pass and the roads around Buttermere, but fortunately or unfortunately I have two races at the weekend, and didn’t want to overcook it. It will be back on the time trial bike tomorrow to try and get used to 30mph rather than 14mph.

It was a wonderful time in the Lakes, the scenery is as good as the cycling.  For a hill climber, it is the seventh heaven of delight. If you like steep hairpins and relentless climbing, you have to make an annual pilgrimage to the Lakes. The Alps may have L’Alpe d’Huez, but they will never have the 30% hairpins of Hardknott pass.

Lowest gearing was 39*28. Though I would happily have taken a compact. I was often in lowest gear at the bottom of climbs.

Related

• Hill climbs
• Wrynose pass
• Hills of the Fred Whitton challenge

At the first roundabout, I realised the course wasn’t signposted. Although I remembered go left, I also realised how easy it is to start doubting your memory when you’re racing. I looked around a bit, and  with a significant amount of doubt, I just keep going. After negotiating a double roundabout, I was relieved to see the first marshall and I was on the A50 heading out towards Stoke. It’s a concreted dual carriageway and quite fast for riding a bike on. It’s also very noisy with cars going over the strips of concrete. It felt fast all day. Even up the long drag of concrete mountain I was going at 44 km/h. On the hill, I was a bit embarrassed to overtake my minute man (Joel Wainman, no.100) Joel is a real fast man, and I worried I might have set off too fast, but I felt I was still riding within myself. On the outward stretch, there were a couple of roundabouts to negotiate and I managed to avoid taking any detours to Lichfield or Uttoxeter. The final turn at Blythe Bridge was marshalled by a few kind souls standing on a busy roundabout all afternoon.

The leg back was even faster. Going down concrete mountain, the speedo touched 67 km/h (not that I was looking at the time). To make it 50 miles, there is a bit of a dog leg to Rochester. It was on the way back I took a wrong turning. I had in my head turn left on the A50. I turned left, but it wasn’t the A50 which I was expecting it was some other A road. I knew it was wrong, but felt terribly confused. I did a u-turn and went around the roundabout again – I wasn’t sure what to do – perhaps wait for a rider to come along and ask. But, the strange thing is going around and around a roundabout gave me just enough mental clarity to head for the A50, which was at the next roundabout 0.5 mile ahead. It was left here, I’d forgot about the penultimate roundabout. I had to come to an abrupt stop at the next roundabout because of cars. My momentum had been lost, but at least I was back on the right road. These last 10 miles were the hardest 10 of the race, I was starting to be a bit dehydrated and tired. It was a relief to see the finish line appear. I’d negotiated the course, and it was surprisingly fast.

50 miles in 1.41.12 average speed of 29.8 mph or 47.8 km/ h

I was caught in two minds. It was a fantastic ride and a pb by nearly five minutes. But, it had been hard negotiating the course, and going off course and going round a roundabout had lost perhaps 40 seconds or more and a bit of momentum. – A 30mph ride was close. In the end I decided to be happy. It had been great racing up concrete mountain. Plus I had a reason to think next time I can go faster! Back at the HQ I talked to Matt Bottril (the national 50 mile TT champion). Matt won the event in 1.36.45 – making it the 3rd fastest ever ride at 50 miles – which shows how fast it was. (G.Obree once had the competition record for 50 miles at 1.39)  I’d beaten quite a few good riders and finished up with 3rd (Though the result was massaged by the fact that many of the BBAR contenders had been doing 12 hour time trials the previous week and were slowed down by the miles in their legs.)

I’ve been off course in time trials more time than I care to remember, but it wasn’t a disastrous as the 25 mile TT which ended up being 34 miles! That was the only time I came last in a time trial. I’m glad I didn’t end up in Lichfield or somewhere today, it would have been a shame to miss out on a 1.41. And the moral of the story – Always memorise the route! and even if you think you know it in your head – when you’re racing it’s much harder to remember!

Photo: Thanks to WLCA. taken on H10/2 WLCA event. Sorry forgot photographers name, but it was printed by Jim Burgin.

• Tiredness after national 100
• Tour de France in the third week on TV
• After two big national events, it feels like a good time to take a breather before the next big push for the end of October.

First up was a local 10 mile time trial organised by Oxonains CC on the Kingston Bagpuize H10/17R. This is close enough to cycle out to event and it was a good days cycling.

It was warm, but not uncomfortable hot. So it was a reasonably good day for racing – the only problem with the wind in the wrong direction. Out to the turn is about 5.6 miles. I managed this at 44 km/h. Before hitting the Tubney roundabout and flying back at over 54 km/h. I was quite pleased with my time of 20.23. I might have dipped under 20, if conditions had been perfect. (though when are conditions ever perfect and the wind in the right direction?)

The highlight of the race, was the most welcome addition of two spectators. My friend Andy had said he might come and watch. But, I think the idea of someone spectating at a time trial didn’t really register. Grovelling into the wind, I heard a shout and cheer. But, was more confused than appreciative. On the last  1 mile back to the roundabout I was flying with the tailwind and a had a better sighting of these two super-enthusiastic supporters by the road. It wasn’t exactly Alpe d’Huez, but it was rather an honour to have ‘spectator corner’ on the old A420. A few other riders commented on the novelty of being cheered on by two spectators. One rider said she thought of packing at the first roundabout, but the big smile of the spectator made her go on and finish. Andy and Ketsy were model spectators. No bizarre costume, no attempt to run along by side of road waving a flag in my face, just a big friendly smile and cheer. It’s not so difficult this spectating lark after all (see: spectators at the tour de France.) My time of 20.23 was good enough for first place and the Oxonian 10 mile TT trophy which I seem to remember is incredibly large.

They say a 10 mile is always a good precursor for a 25 mile. So  I was looking forward to the Hounslow & District 25 the next morning on the H25/8 Bentley course. Sometimes it’s harder to get going in the mornings, but a tailwind got you up to speed on the first hill of the day and I managed to hold reasonable speed on the way back into the headwind. I think I managed a negative split (a posh way of saying faster second half) I  came home in a time of 51.49.

A first glance of the result board, put me in 1st place, and as a result I got interviewed by the Hounslow & District CC publicity man. The nice chap asked for a few words on the race. So I struggled to think of anything meaningful and realised how difficult post race interviews can be. It’s hard not just to state the obvious. ‘yes, well er, it was a good race’But, after stumbling for words, we did get on to a good chat about the heady days of Hounslow CC in the 1970s. On the plus side, there were no grillings about my average power output readings pre 2011. . Anyway it turned out that my stunning words of wisdom may not hit the pages of the Hounslow Gazette after all. Seb Ader’s time was corrected after a transmission error and he ran into first place with a 51.36, putting me in second.

Such is life. one minute you’re catapulted to stardom and fame -  heading for  the back page of the Hounslow Gazzette, the next minute you’re just the nearly man. Well, I was very happy  to drown my sorrows with a nice cup of tea and piece of flapjack. Anyway after riding through the cheering crowds on Saturday, any more fame and it might start go to my head.

Importantly, the form feels reasonably good and it was nice to get back to a few 55 km/h blasts for short 10s. 1st and second place for the weekend, not bad.