Warming up for National Hill Climb Champs 2009 I know a top time triallist who says that now he has a power meter he doesn’t have to warm up – so he just rides to the start and goes for it. There’s probably some iffy science behind it. But, it doesn’t feel right to me. [...]

photo by Claire on Guise Hill (flickr set of Race) Saturday, was the Otley twin hill climb. I always have a fondness for this race. Because many years ago, it was my first ever race, aged 15, on an old Reynolds 501 steel frame. There was a bigger field in those days and I remember [...]

Rob Hayles during 2011 Championships Gunnar Gronlund, winner 2011 Championships See results and photos from 2011 Championship Long Hill – near Buxton Distance – 4.44 miles Average gradient – 3% Height gain – 195m -  425m (approx 230m) A long unrelenting climb can be quite exposed when windy. Fixed v Gears – I would choose [...]

I’ve been spending two weeks in New York. The weather was very hot (85-100 F), which I like. Coming back to England makes me start rummaging around for leg warmers and gloves. There is a definite autumnal feel compared to the US. I didn’t do much cycling in New York, apart from a few interval [...]

This week has been fairly light in terms of training volume, but, high in terms of intensity. Just two rides so far – Tuesday and Thursday. Each day was heading off to ride up a few hills as fast as I can. I have timed myself up many hills with cycling distance of Oxford. Tuesday [...]

It’s Steep in Swaledale Last Saturday, I was finally able to break the 21 minute barrier for the popular H10/8 setting a new course pb with a 20.51. Perhaps inspired by 100 greatest climbs, yesterday, I did a very different kind of ride and tackled some of the toughest hills of the Yorkshire Dales. It [...]