Otley CC hill climb 2015

This weekend was the Otley CC hill climb, with perhaps a record field of 58 riders. It was the ninth time I’ve ridden the event (though 2 of them were in the last Millennium). Still I have a long way to go to catch up with Paul Brierley of Huddersfield R.C. who was making it 28 starts for Otley CC hill climb).

I was ridding my Trek Emonda, which is getting close to Nat HC weight. My top bike mechanic Andy Sherwood came round on Friday, to make it single chainring (39*) I nearly didn’t make it because I lost a single chainring bolt, but I was lucky because somehow Andy had a spare single chainring bolt lying around his van. That whole operation must have taken at least 250 grams off an already light bike. There’s probably a bit more to come off before National, but not very much.

Andy Sherwood of Sherwood cycles

Guise Edge V897

• Distance 0.7 miles
• Avg grade 10.6%
• Max grade – 20%
• Elev gain 383ft / 116m

First up is Guise Edge, a short climb from Pateley Bridge. It is a tough climb, because the steepest part is just after the start. You have to work hard to get up there, but leave enough for the last few corners.

It was a perfectly still day. Not a drop of wind, and early in the morning quite a bit of mist on the hills. It was a touch on the cool side (9 degrees). The first time I rode Guise Edge in 2009 there was a 40mph gale, which caused the course to be shortened. In 2011, we had a heatwave. That’s the thing about October, you can get all kinds of weather. Today it was pretty good.

I rode a good race. Starting hard, but was just able to keep a good pace all the way to the finish line.

I finished in a time of 3.18.8. Nearly 4 seconds quicker than my old course record. In many other years, it might have been good enough for a remarkable 5th consecutive course record on Guise Edge, but Dan Evans had just beat me to it; he did 3.18.00. 0.8 seconds is not much at all.

My average power was around 465 watts for the 3.18.8

After Guise Edge there was a three hour gap for the second stage. Traditionally I go better on the longer Norwood Edge. Though the strange thing is that in recent years, I’ve been going quicker every year on the short Guise Edge, but a bit slower on the longer Norwood Edge (see times at bottom) To be honest, I find this a little bit surprising as I would kind of expect it to be the other way around.

Anyway, I’m not complaining. At my age, I’ll take any self-transcendence and improvement in times – be it short hills or long hills.

Norwood Edge

• Distance – 1.2 miles
• Average gradient: 9%
• Max gradient: 16%
• Height gain – 571ft (174m)
• 100 climbs #53
• Course record for open hill climb: 4.40 Jeff Wright
• Norwood Edge

Given the closeness of the first hill, I looked frantically around the bike for some free weight saving. I rode the second race without undervest (it was warming up) and I took off a bottle cage.

Unfortunately, even with 20 grams less it wasn’t enough to make the difference. I did Norwood Edge in around 4.56, 4 secs behind current national champion Dan Evans. It meant second overall.

Photo: Lou Henderson

Jim Henderson, making a welcome come back to hill climbing, made up the third place on the podium. It meant that the mens podium was made up with 3 national hill climb champions (Jim has five titles (1998-2001 + 2003) to the one title me and Dan have). See list of UK titles

For the hill climb connoisseurs, Jim  Henderson was riding a Kuota fixed gear bike, which got a few admiring glances from a younger generation of spectators who might think of ‘fixed’ bikes as something London hipsters ride around whilst delivering frappucionos or cycling to a themed cereal bar cafe.

Jim’s Fixed.

There was a day when no self-respecting hill climber would be without a fixed gear bike and much conversation about optimal gear ratios. But, these days they are much more of a rarity.

I asked Jim about his return to hill climbs. He says he’s been cycling more this year than ever. Reading P.Jones’ Corinthian Endeavour was an important inspiration to get back into hill climbing; it reminded him of how much the sport meant to him. I asked him if he fancied his chances at winning the ‘vet’ category. With a smile, he said he would like a medal in overall.

Finish of Norwood Edge

Overall it was a good day out. Thanks to Otley CC for organising another good event. From a personal perspective I was pleased with first stage, a bit less pleased with second stage. Jackson Bridge is probably  mid way between the two climbs, but if anything slightly closer to Guise Edge in terms of steepness.

Fastest lady was Mary Wilkinson (Yorkshire RC). 2nd lady Nicola Soden

Otley CC won the team competition!

Other results, I will mention later, but I didn’t take a photo of results. But, I remember Nathan Allatt (Royal Navy + Marines) was first u16.

Overall

1 Dan Evans Team Elite/Paul Bethall Electrical S 8:12.9
2 Tejvan Pettinger Sri Chinmoy Cycling Team S 8:17.0
3 Jim Henderson Southport CC V 8:55.4 – 1st Vet
4 Kieran Savage Yorkshire Road Club J 8:59.1 – 1st Junior
5 Peter Cocker Pedal Pushers S 9:02.0
6 Kieran Wynne-Cattanach Team Elite/Paul Bethall Electrical J 9:02.2
7 Chris Dyke Manchester Bicycle Club S 9:02.5
8 Jude Taylor University of Warwick Tri & Road CC S 9:05.8
9 Ben Jacobs Albarosa CC S 9:23.7
10 Nathan Allatt Royal Navy & Royal Marines CA U16 9:50.7 – 1st under 16
11 Tom Garnett Ilkley CC J 9:59.6
12 Andrew Pearson HD Revolutions V 10:03.3
13 Mason Hollyman Kirklees Cycling Academy U16 10:09.3
14 Tom Cullen Otley CC J 10:11.8
15 Ash Coning Clifton C.C. York U16 10:13.5
16 Joe Varga City RC (Hull) J 10:15.8
17 Mark Nulty Glossop Kinder Velo S 10:21.1
18 Ryan Stockton Albarosa CC S 10:30.6
19 Mary Wilkinson Yorkshire Road Club W 10:38.9 – 1st Women
20 James Morley Otley CC J 10:42.3
21 Will Boyes Team Cystic Fibrosis V 10:50.1
22 James Wakefield Huddersfield Star Whs S 10:51.7
23 Joe Alderson Ilkley CC S 10:59.8
24 Robbie Pollard Otley CC J 11:02.1
25 Robert Davies London Dynamo S 11:05.6
26 Tim Jones Penge Cycling Club S 11:07.6
27 William Staveley PH-MAS Cycling S 11:08.8
28 Toby Cowell Ilkley CC J 11:10.8
29 Joe Howcroft Otley CC U16 11:12.5
30 James Veitch Otley CC U16 11:16.0
31 Richard Shortridge VC Bristol S 11:23.2
32 Paul Miles Harrogate Nova CC V 11:29.1
33 William Brown Otley CC U16 11:33.7
34 Liam Mealey Otley CC S 11:50.3
35 Nicola Soden Stocksbridge CC W 11:54.3 – 2nd Women
36 Stuart Newbould Otley CC V 12:01.3
37 Simon Dowson Settle World Wide Wheelers V 12:05.8
38 Eleanor Haresign Harrogate Nova CC W 12:11.3 – 3rd Women
39 Helen Roby HD Revolutions W 12:13.0
40 Paul Brierley Huddersfield Road Club V 12:15.7
41 Henry Hollyman Kirklees Cycling Academy U16 12:16.9
42 Nikola Matthews Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International W 12:39.3
43 Sandra Mackay Veloschils Interbike RT WV 12:51.2
44 Sam Howcroft Otley CC U16 13:32.6
45 Trevor Hatib Otley CC V 14:22.9
46 Andy Wood Otley CC V 14:35.6
47 Andrew Bolton Otley CC V 15:37.5
48 Helen Goldthorpe Otley CC W 16:42.2
49 Frances Varley Harrogate Nova CC W 17:52.5

Stage 1 (Guise Cliff):
1 Dan Evans Team Elite/Paul Bethall Electrical S 3:18.0
2 Tejvan Pettinger Sri Chinmoy Cycling Team S 3:18.8
3 Kieran Savage Yorkshire Road Club J 3:35.8
4 Peter Cocker Pedal Pushers S 3:37.0
5 Chris Dyke Manchester Bicycle Club S 3:37.4
6 Kieran Wynne-Cattanach Team Elite/Paul Bethall Electrical J 3:37.5
7 Jim Henderson Southport CC V 3:38.0
8 Jude Taylor University of Warwick Tri & Road CC S 3:40.8
9 Mark Tickle Leigh Premier RC S 3:40.8
10 Ben Jacobs Albarosa CC S 3:48.0
11 Nathan Allatt Royal Navy & Royal Marines CA U16 4:00.3
12 Tom Garnett Ilkley CC J 4:03.6
13 Mason Hollyman Kirklees Cycling Academy U16 4:05.0
14 Andrew Pearson HD Revolutions V 4:06.0
15 Joe Varga City RC (Hull) J 4:09.5
16 Mark Nulty Glossop Kinder Velo S 4:09.9
17 Ash Coning Clifton CC York U16 4:10.5
18 Tom Cullen Otley CC J 4:11.0
19 James Morley Otley CC J 4:13.2
20 Ryan Stockton Albarosa CC S 4:16.4
21 Mary Wilkinson Yorkshire Road Club W 4:20.1
22 Will Boyes Team Cystic Fibrosis V 4:20.2
23 Robert Davies London Dynamo S 4:21.9
24 Joe Alderson Ilkley CC S 4:22.4
25 Robbie Pollard Otley CC J 4:22.8
26 Toby Cowell Ilkley CC J 4:27.1
27 James Wakefield Huddersfield Star Whs S 4:27.5
28 Tim Jones Penge Cycling Club S 4:27.5
29 James Veitch Otley CC U16 4:28.2
30 Paul Miles Harrogate Nova CC V 4:30.7
31 Joe Howcroft Otley CC U16 4:33.0
32 William Staveley PH-MAS Cycling S 4:38.0
33 Richard Shortridge VC Bristol S 4:39.8
34 William Brown Otley CC U16 4:43.1
35 Stuart Newbould Otley CC V 4:47.9
36 Liam Mealey Otley CC S 4:48.1
37 Nicola Soden Stocksbridge CC W 4:49.9
38 Paul Brierley Huddersfield Road Club V 4:55.2
39 Simon Dowson Settle World Wide Wheelers V 4:57.4
40 Helen Roby HD Revolutions W 5:00.1
41 Henry Hollyman Kirklees Cycling Academy U16 5:01.0
42 Eleanor Haresign Harrogate Nova CC W 5:05.9
43 Nikola Matthews Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International W 5:09.1
44 Sandra Mackay Veloschils Interbike RT WV 5:16.2
45 Sam Howcroft Otley CC U16 5:38.6
46 Trevor Hatib Otley CC V 5:42.0
47 Andy Wood Otley CC V 6:02.1
48 Andrew Bolton Otley CC V 6:18.0
49 Helen Goldthorpe Otley CC W 6:54.5
50 Frances Varley Harrogate Nova CC W 7:26.9

Stage 2 (Norwood Edge):
1 Dan Evans Team Elite/Paul Bethall Electrical S 4:54.9
2 Tejvan Pettinger Sri Chinmoy Cycling Team S 4:58.2
3 Jim Henderson Southport CC V 5:17.4
4 Kieran Savage Yorkshire Road Club J 5:23.3
5 Kieran Wynne-Cattanach Team Elite/Paul Bethall Electrical J 5:24.7
6 Jude Taylor University of Warwick Tri & Road CC S 5:25.0
7 Peter Cocker Pedal Pushers S 5:25.0
8 Chris Dyke Manchester Bicycle Club S 5:25.1
9 Ben Jacobs Albarosa CC S 5:37.5
10 Nathan Allatt Royal Navy & Royal Marines CA U16 5:50.4
11 Tom Garnett Ilkley CC J 5:56.0
12 Andrew Pearson HD Revolutions V 5:57.3
13 Tom Cullen Otley CC J 6:00.8
14 Ash Coning Clifton C.C. York U16 6:03.0
15 Mason Hollyman Kirklees Cycling Academy U16 6:04.3
16 Joe Varga City RC (Hull) J 6:06.3
17 Mark Nulty Glossop Kinder Velo S 6:11.2
18 Ryan Stockton Albarosa CC S 6:14.2
19 Mary Wilkinson Yorkshire Road Club W 6:18.8
20 James Wakefield Huddersfield Star Whs S 6:24.2
21 James Morley Otley CC J 6:29.1
22 Will Boyes Team Cystic Fibrosis V 6:29.9
23 William Staveley PH-MAS Cycling S 6:30.8
24 Joe Alderson Ilkley CC S 6:37.4
25 Robbie Pollard Otley CC J 6:39.3
26 Joe Howcroft Otley CC U16 6:39.5
27 Tim Jones Penge Cycling Club S 6:40.1
28 Richard Shortridge VC Bristol S 6:43.4
29 Toby Cowell Ilkley CC J 6:43.7
30 Robert Davies London Dynamo S 6:43.7
31 James Veitch Otley CC U16 6:47.8
32 William Brown Otley CC U16 6:50.6
33 Paul Miles Harrogate Nova CC V 6:58.4
34 Liam Mealey Otley CC S 7:02.2
35 Nicola Soden Stocksbridge CC W 7:04.4
36 Eleanor Haresign Harrogate Nova CC W 7:05.4
37 Simon Dowson Settle World Wide Wheelers V 7:08.4
38 Helen Roby HD Revolutions W 7:12.9
39 Stuart Newbould Otley CC V 7:13.4
40 Henry Hollyman Kirklees Cycling Academy U16 7:15.9
41 Paul Brierley Huddersfield Road Club V 7:20.5
42 Nikola Matthews Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International W 7:30.2
43 Sandra Mackay Veloschils Interbike RT WV 7:35.0
44 Sam Howcroft Otley CC U16 7:54.0
45 Andy Wood Otley CC V 8:33.5
46 Trevor Hatib Otley CC V 8:40.9
47 Andrew Bolton Otley CC V 9:19.5
48 Helen Goldthorpe Otley CC W 9:47.7
49 Frances Varley Harrogate Nova CC W 10:25.6

Photos

Tom Cullen of the all conquering Otley CC team.

Somebody enjoying cycling up Norwood Edge – obviously not a competitor!

Jim and Dan.

Jim near finish.

The finish can never come soon enough.

Winding up for final sprint.

Photos: Some from my Dad, some from Otley CC Otley CC photos Flickr

My overall

• Guise Edge: 3.18.8 – 2nd – 463 watts
• Norwood Edge 4.58 – 2nd  – 430 watts

Stato  section

My previous times in Otley CC hill climb

East Chevin

• 1994 (I have results somewhere but I have temporarily lost)
• 1995
• 2008 – last year on East Chevin.

Norwood Edge

• 1994 – 6.30 something
• 2008 – 2nd.
• 2009 – 5.05 (v.windy) (3rd, behind Matt Clinton, Jim Henderson)
• 2011 – 4.46 (1st) – tailwind as I remember.
• 2012 – 4.50 (1st)
• 2013 – 4:56.4 (1st) (blog from 2013)
• 2014 – 4.57.9 (1st) blog from 2014
• 2015 – 4.58 (2nd)

Guise Edge

• 2009 – 2.47 – shortened course due to gales (7th) –
• 2010 – 4.02 (2nd) – windy
• 2011 – 3.24.8 (1st) CR
• 2012 – 3.24.5 (1st) CR (blog)
  
• 2013 – 3.23.1 (1st) CR
• 2014 – 3.22.2 (1st) CR (blog)
  
• 2015 – 3.18.8 (2nd) (D.Evans CR 3.18.0)

Overall

• 1994
• 1995
• 2008 – ?
• 2009 – (7.50? – short versions) 4th  (blog)
• 2010 – 8.58 – 1st – 2nd M.Clinton (link)
• 2011 – 8.11 – 1st – 2nd G.Gronlund (very warm). Blog
• 2012 – 8.14 – 1st – 2nd S.Ward (blog)
• 2013  – 8:20.2 – 1st. – 2nd J.Gullen (blog)
• 2014 – 8.20.1 – 1st – 2nd H.King (blog)
• 2015 – 8.17.? – 2nd – 1st D.Evans

Related

• Otley CC photos Flickr