Last Saturday was Bowden Hill climb organised by Chippenham Wheelers. It was raining all day. I think it had been raining for 3 days solid, though it is easy to forget exactly how many days.
It is not a climb I have done before. Even in the murk and grey, wet skies, Laycock and Bowden Hill seemed an attractive part of the world. In better weather, I may have gone for a longer rider after. But, as it was, after finishing and descending the hill, I was pretty cold so I didn’t hang around.
The climb was OK, I had problems with some sprocket so my gears were slipping at an awkward moment. I don’t think it affects time too much, but it does affect the momentum and you are left feeling you could have done better.
My average power was 400 watts, quite a bit less than previous power outputs for 4 to 5 minute (maybe because the hill wasn’t that steep 6.6% average).
Form was good last Sun and Mon, but then dipped on Wed. Let’s hope it goes back up this week.
I still enjoyed getting out despite the rain and cold.
Rear light woe
These days rear lights are required for racing in CTT events. On a murky day like Sat, you can understand why the rule was brought in. On the startline, there seemed to be a lot of equipment failure, with rear lights not working (perhaps the rain was playing a part, though it shouldn’t) and I heard quite a few last minute requests to borrow a rear light.
I think you will never regret bringing spare clip on rear light to the start of a race. My light just about lasted the race. I thought it wasn’t working properly when it kept fading away this week, but then I realised I had been trying to recharge the USB the wrong way around! Now I’ve charged it with the right side facing up, it’s good to last a long time!
Power and speed
- Distance – 1.2 mi
- Elevation – 124 m
- Max Grade – 14.8%
- Avg Grade – 6.6%
- KOM: 4.15
- VAM: 1,759
Bowden Hill UHC80
Strava – Hill climb course Bowden Hill UHC80
2020 Results
| Position | First Name | Last Name | Gender | Category | Club | Precise Time |
| 1 | Jonathan | Morris | Male | Senior | AeroCoach | 04:34.7 |
| 2 | Richard | Gildea | Male | Senior | Didcot Phoenix CC | 04:34.8 |
| 3 | Frazier | Carr | Male | Senior | SPIRIT TIFOSI RT | 04:39.0 |
| 4 | Tejvan | Pettinger | Male | Vet | Sri Chinmoy Cycling Team | 04:41.0 |
| 5 | Carl | Jolly | Male | Espoir | University of Bristol Cycling Club (UOBCC) | 04:42.5 |
| 6 | Jacques | Coates | Male | Espoir | Team PB Performance | 04:44.8 |
| 7 | Oscar | Hutchings | Male | Senior | Team Tor 2000 | KALAS | 04:46.4 |
| 8 | Charlie | Lacaille | Male | Espoir | University of Bristol Cycling Club (UOBCC) | 05:00.8 |
| 9 | Glyndwr | Griffiths | Male | Vet | 73 Degrees Bicycles, WestSide Coaching rt | 05:01.2 |
| 10 | Steve | Thomas | Male | Vet | Bristol Road Club | 05:03.2 |
| 11 | Matt | Melville | Male | Vet | Cycle Club Basingstoke | 05:03.5 |
| 12 | James | Bevan | Male | Senior | Army Cycling | 05:05.3 |
| 13 | Connah | Towers | Male | Senior | Army Cycling | 05:12.5 |
| 14 | Andrew | Metherell | Male | Vet | Salt and Sham Cycle Club | 05:15.8 |
| 15 | Harry | Chamberlain | Male | Senior | Bynea Cycling Club | 05:17.6 |
| 16 | Thomas | Hall | Male | Senior | Bristol South Cycling Club | 05:20.0 |
| 17 | Madeleine | Heywood | Female | Senior | Lea Valley CC | 05:32.1 |
| 18 | Edward | Arnold | Male | Senior | Stroud Valley Velos | 05:37.3 |
| 19 | James | Gill | Male | Senior | 360VRT | 05:38.5 |
| 20 | Bexy | Dew | Female | Senior | Army Cycling | 05:38.6 |
| 21 | Tavis | Walker | Male | Vet | Rogue Racing | 05:41.1 |
| 22 | Richard | Bennett | Male | Senior | Bristol South Cycling Club | 05:43.3 |
| 23 | Nicole | Coates | Female | Espoir | Torelli | 05:47.3 |
| 24 | Ben | Watkinson | Male | Senior | Audax UK | 05:49.3 |
| 25 | Luke | Browne | Male | Senior | BS10 Cycling Club | 05:54.2 |
| 26 | Elizabeth | Sanders | Female | Senior | Avid Sport | 05:58.2 |
| 27 | David | English | Male | Vet | Chippenham & District Wheelers | 06:08.5 |
| 28 | Neil | Duffin | Male | Senior | Wiltshire Police Cycling Team | 06:14.2 |
| 29 | Jon | Wiggins | Male | Senior | PDQ Cycle Coaching | 06:14.8 |
| 30 | Marc | Allen | Male | Vet | Swindon Road Club | 06:18.2 |
| 31 | Richard | Emery | Male | Vet | Severn Road Club | 06:48.2 |
| 32 | Sasha | Smith | Female | Vet | FTP (Fulfil The Potential) Racing | 06:49.8 |
| 33 | Charlie | Bird | Male | Senior | Rogue Racing | 06:53.0 |
| 34 | Nicole | Corin | Female | Senior | Rogue Racing | 06:54.2 |
| 35 | Vivienne | Tomlin | Female | Vet | CC London | 07:07.4 |
| 36 | Stuart | Welch | Male | Senior | Wiltshire Police Cycling Team | 07:22.2 |
| 37 | Francesca | Derry-Evans | Female | Senior | Rogue Racing | 07:43.8 |
| 38 | Paul | Winchcombe | Male | Vet | Chippenham & District Wheelers | 08:00.8 |
| 39 | Helen | Gray | Female | Vet | Rogue Racing | 08:18.7 |