My last race of the year is on Sunday at Stocksbridge in the National Hill Climb. Just 0.75 miles long, but averaging about 15% and likely to be very painful, if I have any chance of getting in top 10.
The good thing is this week of training can be very light. I did one hill interval today, and will do another one on Thursday. But, apart from that, I will do little cycling this week, save a reconnaitre of the course on the Saturday before the race. The principle of tapering for a race, is well known these days. Usually, you are racing without giving your muscles full time to recover, but, hopefully by resting this week, I will be fresher for Sunday.
I won my penultimate race of year, this Sunday at Burrington Combe, organised by Bristol South. I finished 1st in 7.20, 15 secs ahead of local Bristol rider Luke Dunbar. But, unfortunately, this weekends race is a lot steeper and a lot shorter. – Just an explosion of power for 3 and half minutes, no time to get into a rhythm, just a fight against gravity!
O well, next week will be end of interval sessions up hills for quite a while!
3 comments ↓
Good luck on sunday, I’ll be giving it my all but going quite a bit slower than you!
I’ve only fairly recently got interested in hill climbs, do you know if the national hc has ever been held on a fairly long climb? I am sure I would do better on a longer course, the short sharp ones just don’t suit me.
I think next years is on Dovers hill which is great for me as it is only about 20miles from my house but again, it’s a pretty short climb.
Anyway, I start at number 58 on sunday so by the time you go up at no. 132 I should be ok to give you a cheer!
Good luck.. Dave..
I was out on a club run up Burrington Combe on Sunday, I saw you there, I nodded at you as you went past. You looked really fast going up. Gratz on the win, you made it look easy.
i came fifth at burrington on sunday, riding fixed, and it was my first hill climb (or competitive event, for that matter), 8.01. i’m interested in the age-old hillclimb debate of fixed vs geared. out of interest, have you ever ridden any fixed?
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