The 2014 national hill climb championships was held on the closed roads of Pea Royd Lane. – ably promoted by Stocksbridge CC. Like 2009, there was a strong tailwind, and this year there was also a very nice smooth, recently resurfaced, road surface. As the organiser, Stewart Smith said – perhaps the only road in the Sheffield area to be resurfaced – so we were treated very well. A bit of Tour de France fever still lingered over into this late October event. I think the crowd was quite a bit more than 2009. – There was certainly a great wall of noise up the last half of the climb.

I finished in 4th place, in 3.32. Dan Evans (Team Elite) was a deserved winner in a storming time of 3.24, Matt Clinton (Mike Vaughan Cycles) once again raised his game for the national to take second in 3.26, and Adam Kenway (Team Zenith/Buzz Cycles) got onto the podium with a 3.28. In the women’s event, Markya Sennema (Kingston Wheelers CC) (4.35) retained her title (also giving great hope and inspiration to those of us approaching the better side of 40). 2nd was Lou Collins (Beeston RC) (4.42.1)  and third, former champion Lyn Hamel (Trainsharp RT) (4.42.6)

Also pretty impressive ride from hill climb stalwart Chris Myhill Peak RC – 3:51.1 – 18th place at 48 . Pete Tadros was top vet in 3.49. 17 Harry Luxton RuTrainingToday time of 03:40.6 – 9th place overall and 1st junior was also another impressive ride.

2014 hill climb season

It has been a great standard of hill climbs this year. Even setting a course record hasn’t always been enough to get a first place. Like Mow Cop, where M.Clinton held a course record for 1.8 minutes, and Horseshoe pass where I went faster than a CR (previously held by Dangerfield, Boardman and Dobbin) only to find Dan Evans had gone 10 seconds quicker in 8.52. It’s also great to see entries for hill climbs on the rise. The organiser received nearly 280 applications for 180 places – making a difficult start sheet to devise. When did hill climbs become so popular?

As reigning national champion, it’s been a great year and I’ve enjoyed riding the national jersey at events up and down the country. Since May, I’ve done 16 hill climbs, which is quite a lot! I’ve won 13 opens and set 7 course records – not a bad record. But, it’s the national hill climb championship which is the big draw. Once you’ve won it once, you would like very much to get back on top.

2014 Race

Last night I had a vivid dream that I finished 4th in the national hill climb championship. Although I tried my best to forget, what proved to be an irritatingly prescient dream, I didn’t have the same  hope as last year – when I was virtually unbeaten in the lead up to the championship on the Stang.

I got there early to get a good parking spot and was ably assisted by Sri Chinmoy CT team mate Vilas Silverton in getting ready and warming up. A couple of friends also came up all the way from London to see what hill climbs are all about. They enjoyed it so much they’ve promised to enter a hill climb next year. I shall hold them to their word…

Before the race, I also caught up with old OUCC teammate – and five times national champion Jim Henderson – my family also had come out to watch.

I had a good warm-up and felt much better after riding the bike – (much better than waiting around waiting for event to start). I felt good on the start line and made a steady start and  tried to lift the pace all the way up. It was much faster than in training and it all seemed to go in a blur. I don’t remember thinking about anything, I was just really in the flow.

There was a lot of noise and enthusiastic encouragement. It all seemed to be over pretty quick. The tailwind finish was different to when I’d done it in training.

I sat in the grass at the top for a bit as people took some photos as I lay in the grass. I felt strangely relieved and happy to have finished my 10th national hill climb and another 4th place. Next year is Jackson Bridge and I’ll be looking forward to that. But, I might just have a piece of cake before I go out and get the winter miles in.

Also, thanks a lot to Gordon Wright who has kindly been giving me some expert coaching over the past two months. I don’t think I could have come into the championship any better prepared than I was.

The Trek Emonda was irritatingly good. I say irritatingly good because I really want to get one now, but am still paying off the loan for the last bike…

Related

• National hill climb 2013

Results and splits

• CH173-B-Stocksbridge Cycle Club Result Booklet

External links

• Results at Velo UK
• Album of National hill climb photos by Dan Monaghan at Dan Monaghan.co.uk
• Russell Ellis – album at Flickr

Note: this is just a personal blog, not a comprehensive report. I will try upload more photos later.

Video of 2014 event

Photos

First rider off.

Rider One – 1 down, 179 to go. I took a photo of first rider, and then went off to get ready. I wasn’t really in photography mode.

Two National champions. Jim Henderson finished 3rd in 2009 – bringing his hill climb career to an end after five national titles. (He still managed the Rake in 2.33 in 2014 – not a bad time for retirement!)

Who says hill climbs need to be a serious affair?

2014 Results

1 Dan Evans Team Elite/Paul Bethall Electrical 03:24.2
2 Matt Clinton Mike Vaughan Cycles 03:26.5
3 Adam Kenway Team Zenith-www.buzzcycles.co.uk 03:28.1
4 Tejvan Pettinger Sri Chinmoy Cycling Team 03:32.1
5 Joseph Clark Team Zenith-www.buzzcycles.co.uk 03:35.3
6 Edmund Bradbury Cambridge University RT 03:36.5
7 James Lowden Lewes Wanderers CC 03:37.5
8 Lee Baldwin Champion System/ClubRoost/Maxgear 03:40.0
9 Harry Luxton RuTrainingToday CC 03:40.6 J
10 Stuart Marshall Team Zenith-www.buzzcycles.co.uk 03:41.1
11 Henry King Ilkley CC 03:42.3
12 Josh Teasdale In-Gear Quickvit Trainsharp RT 03:44.0
13 Daniel Sullivan Norwood Paragon CC 03:45.6
14 William Bourne University of Bristol CC 03:47.2
15 Nick Spencer Blumilk.com 03:48.7
16 Peter Tadros In-Gear Quickvit Trainsharp RT 03:49.2 A
17 Glyndwr Griffiths Arctic Tacx RT 03:50.6
18 Chris Myhill Peak RC 03:51.1 B
19 Joe Norledge Procycling Magazine RT 03:51.4
20 Chris Dyke Manchester Wheelers Club 03:51.8
21 Charles Coleman Felt Colbournes Hargroves RT 03:52.4
22 Jack Pullar Starley Primal Pro Cycling 03:53.9
23 Callum Stewart Sheffrec CC 03:54.0
24 Michael Openshaw Cestria CC 03:54.2 A
25 Jack O’Neil Mike Vaughan Cycles 03:54.4
26 Ben Nichol Amersham Road CC 03:55.0
27 Felix Barker Cambridge University RT 03:55.0
28 Julian Varley PH-MAS Cycling 03:56.0 J
29 Sam Clark Buxton CC/Sett Valley Cycles 03:56.3
30 Tony Kiss Performance Cycles CC 03:56.8
31 Danny Axford Arctic Tacx RT 03:57.0
32 Michael Broadwith Arctic Tacx RT 03:57.2
33 Jonathan Morris Derby Mercury RC 03:57.5
34 Ashley Proctor Bike Box Allan/Whiston Velo 03:57.9
35 Paul Roby Coveryourcar.co.uk RT 03:58.7 A
36 Mike Humphreys Bury Clarion CC 03:58.9
37 Will Corden Lyme Racing Club 03:58.9
38 Adam Hartley Velocity WD-40 03:59.8 J
39 David Powell Horwich CC 03:59.9
40 Joshua Haasz VCL – SCU 04:00.0 J
41 Ben Lowe Nonnad La Squadra 04:01.1 A
42 Daniel Featherstone Bolsover & District CC 04:01.6
43 Matthew Cartlidge Stone Wheelers CC 04:02.1
44 David Roper Ride 24/7 04:02.3
45 Luke Mullen Infinity Cycles-Cube Store CT 04:02.7
46 Adrian Lawson Cadence RT 04:02.8 A
47 Robert Borek Bristol South CC 04:02.8
48 William Adams Velosport RT 04:03.4
49 Chris Baines Buxton CC/Sett Valley Cycles 04:03.6
50 Peter Medhurst Bikeshed UEx 04:03.8
51 John Findley Bill Nickson Cycles RT 04:04.9
52 Ewan Tuohy Banks/Catford CC Equipe 04:05.4
53 Benjamin Butler Bangor University CC 04:06.3
54 Nicholas Latimer Rutland CC 04:06.3
55 Ryan Kenworthy LeisureLakesBikes.com 04:07.4 J
56 Harrison Jones NFTO Race 04:09.5 J
57 Tim Wilcock Tyneside Vagabonds CC 04:10.2
58 Adam Machan Sheffrec CC 04:10.2
59 Archie Cross PH-MAS Cycling 04:10.5
60 Eugene Cross Clifton C.C. York 04:10.6 J
61 Adam Wild Tyneside Vagabonds CC 04:12.2 J
62 Robert Gough Arctic Tacx RT 04:13.7
63 Max Spedding PH-MAS Cycling 04:13.8 J
64 Nick Despres Guernsey Velo Club 04:14.5 C
65 Jonathan Wears Team Jewson-MI Racing 04:14.6
66 Alex Copp Lyme Racing Club 04:14.8 J
67 Matthew Cosgrove SportCity Velo 04:14.9 J
68 James Ward Cambridge CC 04:15.7 A
69 Simon Warren Norwood Paragon CC 04:15.8 A
70 Chris Smith Condor RC (Calderdale) 04:16.1
71 David Watson Coventry RC 04:17.2 B
72 James Coleman Velo Club Walcot 04:17.2
73 Henry Cash Holme Valley Wheelers 04:17.7 J
74 Kevin Thomas Chippenham & Dist. Whs. 04:17.9
75 Mark Nulty Manchester Wheelers Club 04:19.1
76 Andrew Pearson Huddersfield Star Wheelers 04:21.4 A
77 Ben Lane GS Metro 04:22.4 A
78 Paul Armstrong Sheffrec CC 04:23.2
79 Richard Taylor Harry Middleton CC 04:23.3
80 Stuart Baker Buxton CC/Sett Valley Cycles 04:23.4
81 Graham Payne Preston CC 04:24.0 C
82 Liam O’Toole Sheffrec CC 04:24.3
83 John Sanderson Manchester Wheelers Club 04:24.4 A
84 George Goodwin Mike Vaughan Cycles 04:24.6 J
85 Paul Newton Derby Mercury RC 04:26.1
86 Anthony Bromley Barnsley RC 04:26.9
87 Theo Jefferies Westmead Team 88 04:27.0 J
88 Michael Askew Albarosa CC 04:27.6
89 Richard Lilleker Cleveland Wheelers CC 04:27.6
90 Thomas Hanlon Harry Middleton CC 04:28.8
91 Matt Blythe Newport (Shropshire) CC 04:30.1 A
92 David Trotter Lancaster CC 04:31.2
93 Joe Swinnerton Lyme Racing Club 04:31.8 J
94 Maryka Sennema Kingston Wheelers CC 04:35.3 W A
95 Dan Charlton Hetton Hawks 04:35.8 J
96 Andrew Askwith Bridlington CC 04:36.2 C
97 Joshua Hodgson Newcastle Cheviot CC 04:36.6
98 Samuel Walley East Lancashire RC 04:37.1 J
99 Neil Bentley Sheffrec CC 04:37.3 B
100 Dave Starkey Mammoth Lifestyle RT 04:38.5
101 Nick Decker Congleton CC 04:38.6
102 Russ Thompson Performance Cycles CC 04:38.9 A
103 Zack Williamson Clay Cross RT 04:39.9
104 Lewis Hartley Velocity WD-40 04:41.2 J
105 Lou Collins Beeston RC 04:42.1 W
106 Steve Gordon Sunderland Clarion 04:42.1 A
107 Joe Varga City RC(Hull) 04:42.4 J
108 Will Boyes Team Cystic Fibrosis 04:42.4 A
109 Lynn Hamel Trainsharp RT 04:42.6 W
110 Carl Saint Yorkshire Road Club 04:42.6 B
111 Kieran Simcox Bike Box Allan/Whiston Velo 04:43.8 J
112 Nicola Soden gbcycles.co.uk 04:43.9 W
113 Thomas Cornwell SportCity Velo 04:44.3 J
114 Benjamin Last Clay Cross RT 04:46.0
115 Paul Kippax Rutland CC 04:46.7 A
116 David Murphy Liverpool Mercury/Dolan CC 04:48.3 J
117 Aaron Tonks Ribble Valley CRC 04:48.5 A
118 Josephine Gilbert VC ST Raphael 04:48.6 W
119 Hayley Simmonds Velosport-Pasta Montegrappa 04:49.8 W
120 Mason Hollyman Kirklees Cycling Academy 04:50.0 J
121 Paul Bailey Manchester Wheelers Club 04:52.0
122 Tom Cullen Otley CC 04:53.5 J
123 Thomas Booth Stocksbridge CC 04:54.6 J
124 Alice Lethbridge Kingston Wheelers CC 04:55.8 W
125 Raymond Robinson Houghton CC 04:56.5 A
126 Elliot Dason-Barker Oxonian CC 04:56.8 A
127 Alex Trippier East Lancashire RC 05:00.6 J
128 Angela Hibbs Tyneside Vagabonds CC 05:00.7 W
129 Helen Eborall Born To Bike-Bridgtown Cycles 05:01.3 W
130 Bernard Swinnerton Lyme Racing Club 05:02.4 C
131 Annasley Park RST Racing Team 05:02.5 WJ
132 Halley Woods SportCity Velo 05:04.7 J
133 Ian Shapiro Heanor Clarion CC 05:06.1
134 Natasha Cutmore RST Sport/Aero Coach 05:08.4 W
135 Cameron Turner Darlington CC 05:09.1 B
136 Leanne Farrow Ilkley CC 05:09.6 W
137 Vicky Clark Albarosa CC 05:10.6 W
138 Heather Despres Guernsey Velo Club 05:16.1 WJ
139 Heidi Viles Exeter Wheelers CC 05:16.2 W
140 Alice Cobb Shutt Velo Rapide 05:18.7 W
141 Dougi Hall Border City Wheelers CC 05:20.5 C
142 Patrick Smart Matlock CC 05:20.7
143 Ayse Vahiboglu Exeter Wheelers CC 05:21.4 W
144 Fiona Prew Stone Wheelers CC 05:23.9 W
145 Ingrid Shephers Sunderland Clarion 05:24.6 W B
146 Henrietta Colborne Beacon Wheelers 05:24.8 WJ
147 Sandra Mackay gbcycles.co.uk 05:25.7 W B
148 Ralph Keeler Cambridge CC 05:26.2 E
149 Robbie Pollard Otley CC 05:26.5 J
150 Jamie Dene Welwyn Wheelers 05:29.6 J
151 Henry Hollyman Kirklees Cycling Academy 05:29.8 J
152 Ivan Paul Ashley Touring CC 05:32.0 J
153 Alex Deck Langsett Cycles RT 05:33.2 W B
154 Jayne Dickens Stone Wheelers CC 05:35.6 W B
155 Iona Sewell gbcycles.co.uk 05:36.4 W
156 Caroline Freeman GS Metro 05:38.2 W
157 Paul Ashcroft Lancashire RC 05:39.7
158 Jonathan Starbuck RAF CA 05:42.4
159 Martin Rigby Mansfield RC 05:42.6 A
160 Ian Hutchinson Cleveland Wheelers CC 05:42.9 D
161 Wiebke Rietz 1st Chard Wheelers 05:46.3 W B
162 Huw Parry Clwb Rasio Mona 05:46.7 F
163 Rich Stoodley Tickhill Velo Club 05:57.1 C
164 Louise Scupham Scarborough Paragon CC 06:01.7 WJ
165 Noah Codling East Lancashire RC 06:04.7 J
166 Jennifer McAndrew Witham Wheelers 06:05.4 WJ
167 Anna Anderson Albarosa CC 06:11.0 W
168 Paul Heggie Birdwell Wheelers 06:15.9 E
169 Natalie Hodson PH-MAS Cycling 06:23.6 W
170 Eve Lyon Nutcracker Racing 06:34.1 WJ
171 Alexander Wiseman East Lancashire RC 06:42.4 J
172 Dave Francis Sid Valley CC 06:49.8 F
173 Nicola Greenwood Holmfirth CC 06:53.0 WJ
174 Isla Aimee Rush Wyndymilla 07:20.3 WJ
175 Richard Thorpe Bolsover & District CC 07:47.6 A
176 Jonathan Harris GS Avanti 09:24.9

Women

1. Maryka Sennema Kingston Wheelers CC 04:35.3
2. Lou Collins Beeston RC 04:42.1
3. Lynn Hamel Trainsharp RT 04:42.6
4. Nicola Soden gbcycles.co.uk 04:43.9
5. Josephine Gilbert VC ST Raphael 04:48.6
6. Hayley Simmonds Velosport-Pasta Montegrappa 04:49.8
7. Alice Lethbridge Kingston Wheelers CC 04:55.8
8. Angela Hibbs Tyneside Vagabonds CC 05:00.7
9. Helen Eborall Born To Bike-Bridgtown Cycles 05:01.3
10. Natasha Cutmore RST Sport/Aero Coach 05:08.4
11. Leanne Farrow Ilkley CC 05:09.6
12. Vicky Clark Albarosa CC 05:10.6
13. Heidi Viles Exeter Wheelers CC 05:16.2
14. Alice Cobb Shutt Velo Rapide 05:18.7
15. Ayse Vahiboglu Exeter Wheelers CC 05:21.4
16. Fiona Prew Stone Wheelers CC 05:23.9
17. Ingrid Shephers Sunderland Clarion 05:24.6
18. Sandra Mackay gbcycles.co.uk 05:25.7
19. Alex Deck Langsett Cycles RT 05:33.2
20. Jayne Dickens Stone Wheelers CC 05:35.6
21. Iona Sewell gbcycles.co.uk 05:36.4
22. Caroline Freeman GS Metro 05:38.2
23. Wiebke Rietz 1st Chard Wheelers 05:46.3
24. Anna Anderson Albarosa CC 06:11.0
25. Natalie Hodson PH-MAS Cycling 06:23.6

Junior women

1. Annasley Park RST Racing Team 05:02.5
2. Heather Despres Guernsey Velo Club 05:16.1
3. Henrietta Colborne Beacon Wheelers 05:24.8
4. Louise Scupham Scarborough Paragon CC 06:01.7
5. Jennifer McAndrew Witham Wheelers 06:05.4
6. Eve Lyon Nutcracker Racing 06:34.1
7. Nicola Greenwood Holmfirth CC 06:53.0
8. Isla Aimee Rush Wyndymilla 07:20.3

Junior Men

1. Harry Luxton RuTrainingToday CC 03:40.6
2. Julian Varley PH-MAS Cycling 03:56.0
3. Adam Hartley Velocity WD-40 03:59.8
4. Joshua Haasz VCL – SCU 04:00.0
5. Ryan Kenworthy LeisureLakesBikes.com 04:07.4
6. Harrison Jones NFTO Race 04:09.5
7. Eugene Cross Clifton C.C. York 04:10.6
8. Adam Wild Tyneside Vagabonds CC 04:12.2
9. Max Spedding PH-MAS Cycling 04:13.8
10. Alex Copp Lyme Racing Club 04:14.8
11. Matthew Cosgrove SportCity Velo 04:14.9
12. Henry Cash Holme Valley Wheelers 04:17.7
13. George Goodwin Mike Vaughan Cycles 04:24.6
14. Theo Jefferies Westmead Team 88 04:27.0
15. Joe Swinnerton Lyme Racing Club 04:31.8
16. Dan Charlton Hetton Hawks 04:35.8
17. Samuel Walley East Lancashire RC 04:37.1
18. Lewis Hartley Velocity WD-40 04:41.2
19. Joe Varga City RC(Hull) 04:42.4
20. Kieran Simcox Bike Box Allan/Whiston Velo 04:43.8
21. Thomas Cornwell SportCity Velo 04:44.3
22. David Murphy Liverpool Mercury/Dolan CC 04:48.3
23. Mason Hollyman Kirklees Cycling Academy 04:50.0
24. Tom Cullen Otley CC 04:53.5
25. Thomas Booth Stocksbridge CC 04:54.6
26. Alex Trippier East Lancashire RC 05:00.6
27. Halley Woods SportCity Velo 05:04.7
28. Robbie Pollard Otley CC 05:26.5
29. Jamie Dene Welwyn Wheelers 05:29.6
30. Henry Hollyman Kirklees Cycling Academy 05:29.8
31. Ivan Paul Ashley Touring CC 05:32.0
32. Noah Codling East Lancashire RC 06:04.7
33. Alexander Wiseman East Lancashire RC 06:42.4

Sunday was the penultimate hill climb and race of 2014. Organised by Bristol South CC, it was a 2 mile hill climb up Burrington Combe.

Burrington Combe was one of the first open hill climbs I ever did – way back in 2004, I did a time of 7.12 in my first season – 2nd to Danny Axford; and perhaps was something that encouraged me to take hill climbs a bit more keenly.

Since 2004, I’ve been back several times, and always enjoy the climb. It’s a pretty good view and nice part of the country. In recent years, there’s been an explosion of interest, with the event attracting nearly a full field. Credit to Bristol South and the other local clubs for encouraging people to take part. The WTTA have put on a good season long hill climb competition, which seems to encourage more entries.

Burrington Combe HC course

• Length 2.2 miles
• Average gradient: 6%
• Max gradient: 10%
• Height Gain 183m
• CR: T.Pettinger 6.51 (2011)
• Women’s CR: Anna Fischer did 9.04 in 2009

My Race

Yesterday, I took delivery of a new bike – a Trek Emonda on loan for the week. A big thanks to Beeline Bicycles for helping to get the bike and get it ready. When it came in the shop, it weighed 6.4kg. But, within 15 minutes, my hill climb weight weenies talent came to the fore and we had it down to 5.5kg, with perhaps a little more to come. It’s sad to look at a bike and immediately work out how you can take 1kg off – but that’s being a hill climber for you. (weight loss on hill climb bike)

It meant no riding with a power meter, but at this stage of the season, it’s not so critical. I’ll do a full review of the bike later, but it rides well, I haven’t noticed a big different to my current Madone yet.

Burrington Combe

Another balmy October day meant warming up in 16 degrees plus, there was also quite a strong wind – which was the subject of a surprisingly large amount of conversation – all the riders seemed to struggle to work out where the wind was coming from. The forecast suggested crosswind. Some claimed a tailwind, others a headwind. It was just one of those days.

I was confident to ride without power meter. I’ve been doing this climb for several years without one. It’s rather nice to ride on feel and not worry about numbers in a way. Anyway I got off to a steady start, but still caught up with my two minute men.

The Burrington Roar

You don’t expect a big crowd on a long 2 mile climb, but just over half way, you go past a car park and there were lots of spectators and riders giving a huge cheer to their fellow riders. It was a lot of noise, and much appreciated – it definitely helped add to the atmosphere. After this section, there is a sharper incline, where I struggled a little to keep it in the big ring. I lost my nice fluid rhythm, but I didn’t want to go down into the inner ring. After the cattlegrid it is just a minute or so to the finish, so you can dig as deep as you can and hope you hold onto the finish. I caught my third minute man just before the finish, and stopped the clock in 6.57 – not a course record, but the 2nd fastest ride and nice to get under the 7 minute barrier.

Going back down the hill I continued to try and work out whether it was a fast day or not. I think the consensus was that it was a little helpful, but not a block tailwind.

I stopped in the Burrington Combe cafe and talked to quite a few of the locals. Some will be going up to Pea Royd Lane next week, others are wisely calling it the end to their season. A pretty good way to go out either way.

Read more

Sunday was the Lyme Racing Club hill climb up Mow Cop. Mow Cop makes a spectacular hill climb as there is a real sting in the tail with a 25% uphill finish. It makes it quite a challenging mental as well as physical test. After coming out of the lower section, you can see the hill looming up above. Deciding how much to leave for the final section is a difficult decision. I fancied going down a gear just before the start of the steep section, but like last year, I was already in the lowest gear. Probably just as well, as the only thing to do is grin and bear it and hope you keep the momentum up that 23% slope. In hill climbs it’s always a difficult balancing act to get the right pacing, but Mow Cop presents a particular challenge.

Mow Cop Hill climb stats J9/14

• Distance 0.9 miles
• Average Gradient: 11.7%
• Maximum gradient: 23%
• Elevation gain: 170 metres (560 feet)

Last year, there was a persistent drizzle. This year, the weather was much better, though the hill was still wet, providing some minor wheel slip on the steepest sections. On the hill, especially at the top, there were quite a few spectators cheering the riders on. It was good to have a crowd to cheer you on.

In the men, Joe Clarke   (Team Zenith www.buzzcycles.co.uk), who is having an excellent season, finished in 3rd with 4.28. Next came M.Clinton (MikeVaughan.co.uk) who shaved o.1 seconds off the old course record from 2013 with a 4.22. The course record lasted just one minute 58 seconds; I managed to squeeze in front  with a 4.20, to make another close finish. Like so often, another hill climb decided by a couple of seconds. In the ladies, Nicola Soden (GBcycles.co.uk) was first and Helen Eborall (Born to Bike – Bridgtown Cycles) second.

My race

My memories from last year are quite vague. It’s interesting how you can quickly forget about what it was like to ride a hill climb. When you’re racing, you’re on the limit, but when you reflect afterwards you always think about how you could have gone faster. In particular I had the idea next time not to be intimidated by the steep section but go harder all the way into the last section. This is all wonderful in theory, a bit different in practise.

Read more

White Lane is a short 700 yards climb. Mostly 1 in 6, it has an average gradient of 13%.

At the start it isn’t so steep, but gets steeper the further up the climb you go. Perhaps just over 20% at it’s steepest before a slight decrease in gradient before the top.

It is in 100 climbs #16. The climb is situated just to the north of the southern section of the M25 by the village of Titsey.

White Lane has a height gain of just over 79 metres in 0.4 miles.

Perhaps not the most remarkable climb in the country, but it has become well known due to featuring in the annual Bec CC hill Climb. 2014 will be the 59th annual running of the event, which started in 1955. It is usually run on the same day as the Catford CC hill climb – The Catford CC can make a claim to be the oldest race in the world. The Catford CC event first started on Westerham Hill on August 20th 1887. It now takes place on York Lane. If makes a good double hill climb header. Though some of the top riders decide to ride one or the other.

Bec CC Hill Climb

David Millar to ride Bec CC hill climb in 2014

After 18 years as a professional cyclist, David Millar will be riding his last event in the Bec CC hill climb. Millar has chosen a domestic hill climb as a way to mark the end of a long professional career – a career which has seen both highs and lows, has included four individual stages of the Tour de France and five stages in the Vuelta a Espagne.

David Millar explains his choice of his final race.

“I’m not just going to ride uphill & wave goodbye. I’m going to have a crack at setting a new ‘White Lane’ record in what will be my first ever Hill Climb TT, as well as my last race.. “It’ll be like going full circle on my cycling career”.

Most Brits start in a Cycling Club as I did, so its fitting to end my career at a British Clubs event. I’m really looking forward to it, although ‘Gazza’ my friend, Soigneur & organiser of the event, tells me Hill Climbs are not always that easy & it takes a certain knack to hit the Hill just right! He also tells me they bloody hurt, even though its only a sub 2 minute ride.. Maybe I’ll enjoy it & not retire after all & just ride Hill Climbs!” (Velo UK)

Should be a great event!

Read more

It was another great day of weather at the top of Horseshoe Pass. It’s the second consecutive year, I’ve experienced a dry, still day at the top of  Bwlch yr Oernant – I’m sure it’s not always like this on the top of the Welsh hill side.

There was barely a drop of wind in the air, and if there was any, it was a tailwind; a local rider said he’d been riding Horseshoe Pass for 30 years and has never experienced such a still day.

With my national jersey still in the wash from yesterday’s Otley 2 stage, it was just the usual skin suit. I had about 4 pairs of odd gloves, and no matching pairs, but fortunately, it warmed up just enough by 11.00am to ride without gloves. I was glad for later start; at 9.00am it was pretty chilly, by 11.00am it must have been 10 degrees warmer (also glad for extra time in bed…).

With good weather, I thought of James Dobbin’s course record of 9.03; it’s an impressive course record because so many top hill climbers like Chris Boardman and Stuart Dangerfield have ridden the event over the years. Horseshoe pass has also been the venue of the National Hill climb championship in previous years (1971, 1976)

I rode a fairly steady tempo all the way up; the last 500m was the fastest as the gradient eases and you picked up a mild tailwind. I stopped the clock in 9.02. 1 second under and job done. Except, not quite – the only thing was that Dan Evans went even quicker with a superb ride of 8.52, so I had to settle for second place. Dan said he’s lost 4kg compared to last year – which kind of puts shaving 40 grams off your bike into perspective. But, a great course record for the flying Welshman.

3rd place was Liam Holohan, Madison Genesis (9.32), who must be very close to his off-season after a great ride in this year’s very tough Tour of Britain.

After awards ceremony, I went back down the hill and went up Horseshoe pass again, but at a fairly steady pace.

Next week, it will be back to 10%+ gradients with Jackson Bridge and Mow Cop on the menu. A different climb to Horseshoe pass and more similar to Pea Royd Lane. The hill climb season is hotting up as the temperature gets colder.

I took a photo of results board and will upload soon. Thanks to Fibrax Wrexham R.C

Photos

Click to enlarge

Related

• Horseshoe pass 2013

Saturday was the Otley CC double hill climb on Naught Bank Road (Guise Edge) and Norwood Edge.

For the first time in the hill climb season, the morning was wet and windy. Though the threatened downpour didn’t materialise, it was still damp on the steep gradient of Naught Bank Road.

Naught Bank Road

Naught Bank road is a tough climb from Pateley Bridge towards the top of Greenhow Moor. It is an alternative way up the moor to the B road up Greenhow Hill, but is just as taxing, with 200+ metres of climbing. The hill climb course, misses out a bit of the early part (the road is a bit narrow for racing), and starts half way up the climb.

Right from the start it is quite steep around 15-16% and it is fairly unrelenting until you come to the first hairpin where you turn right. Once over this steep hairpin turn, it levels off a little, before another left turn taking you up to the exposed moors above.

Naught Bank Road / Guise Edge – hill climb course V8910

• Distance 0.7 miles
• Avg Grade 10.6%
• Max grade – 20%
• Elev gain 383ft

Naught Bank Road no. 146 in 100 hill climbs V897

• Distance: 2.35 km
• Height gain: 207m
• Average grade 9%
• Max grade – 20%
• 100 hill climbs no. 146

2014 Race

I didn’t do much of a warmup. I spent quite a bit of time getting sorted out. By the time I got on the rollers there wasn’t much time until the start. Also, it’s pretty useless warming up on rollers when you’ve taken off your outer chainring. With just a 39 chainring, I could barely get over 130 watts, so much for getting up to race pace.

Nevertheless, I felt pretty good. After feeling a little tired towards the end of last week, the Yorkshire hill scenery seemed to be lifting up spirits.

With a steep first gradient, it requires a fine balance between not going off too hard, but gaining a good momentum up the hardest part of the course. On the middle section, there was a bit of a headwind so I stayed low and got on the drops. Going around the last left hand was good, I still had a bit spare in the tank and was helped up the last steep bit with a bit of a tailwind. It made a fairly fast finish and I was able to go through the finish line in a time of 3.22. I had broken my course record by another 1 second. Amazingly, it’s the fourth consecutive year I’ve broken the course record on Guise Edge – though only 2 seconds quicker than 2011.

Previous times up 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
• 2013 – 3.23.1 (1st) CR
• 2014 – 3.22.2 (1st) CR

Norwood Edge

After a nice three hour break, it was time for the second hill climb of the day. I’ve raced up Norwood edge several times. One thing that has always been prominent about Norwood Edge is the amazing course record of Jeff Wright set in 1992 in a time of 4.42. I got close in 2011, with a 4.46. I tell myself if Norwood Edge had been the 1st climb of the day rather than 2nd, I might have got even clsoer. But, since then, it seems to get harder and harder. Both Jim Henderson and Matt Clinton (former national hill climb champions) have ridden Norwood Edge, but we haven’t got too close to J.Wright’s amazing record from the days of steel frame bikes and fixed gears. C.Boardman also rode this hill in the past.

If anything, I’d gone up Naught Bank road at 99.5% effort – aware there was still another hill climb to come. I gave it a good effort up Norwood Edge, but there wasn’t quite as much power on the last half as I would have liked – just goes to show whether you’re a hill climb newbie or national champion – you would always like a bit more power.

Still, I crept under 5.00 minutes with a 4.57.9. Overall time for two stages 8.20.1

Overall, it gave me 1st place, ahead of Henry King (Ilkley CC) and 3rd Julian Varley (PH MAS cycling) – Julian was also first junior so it was a very good ride.

4th was Ben Jacobs of Albarosa CC – who led Albarosa to the team prize.

5th place was fellow southerner Ben Nichols from Amersham CC. Ben is riding Bath CC hill climb tomorrow – great dedication to the hill climb cause.

1st Lady was Leanne Farrow of Ilkley CC, 2nd lady Mason Hollyman (Kirklees CA). 1st Vet was Andrew Pearson of Huddersfield Star Wheelers, and 1st under 15 Nathan Allatt of Holmfirth CC

As usual a great promotion by the Otley CC, particularly good to see lots of youngsters getting involved in hill climbs. Otley CC seem to have a very good junior section these days. When I was in Otley CC many years ago, I always seemed to ride with 50 year old gentleman! – though that was partly because I never joined the fast section, but choose the more ‘sedate’ club runs, predominately 50+, these days they would be called MAMILs, in those days they were just dedicated club members.

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Different attempts to save weight on the hill climb bike – with varying degrees of success and cost.

Originally posted in 2014, updated for 2015 season.

How much difference does weight make?

Firstly, how much difference does reducing weight make? As a rough rule of thumb, for a hill with 100m height gain, losing 1 kg, will save you 2 seconds. Jackson Bridge is 150m height gain over 0.9 miles. If you lost 2 kg, you could save 6 seconds. 6 seconds could be the difference of several places in a National hill climb championship.

See more:  Time saved from weight loss on bike

Easy marginal gains

• Take off bottle cage / water bottle, bell, saddle pack. (I have done 2 hill climbs with water bottle still on bike)
• Buy lightweight carbon stem / saddle. Often give biggest weight saving for the money.
• Lightweight wheels. Often the easiest way to significantly reduce weight on an ordinary road bike
• Remove garmin.
• Remove any surplus clothes. choose lightweight clothes.
• Make sure your bowels are empty before the race. I find bottle of San Pellegrino mineral water the night before helps to keep you ‘regular’ so to speak.

These are some other ‘marginal gains’ I’ve tried over the years.

1. Cutting off fabric from saddle

This was motivated mainly because my Tune saddle looked a bit frayed. An expensive saddle – but the fabric was coming away. Rather than glue it back down, I thought the excess fabric needed cutting off. The hope was it would look neater and save weight into the bargain.

I was a bit disappointed with the result – Total weight saved – 0 grams. But, psychological advantage – incalculable.

2. Cutting the end off cables

My local bike maintenance shop Reg Taylor are very good, but they aren’t used to catering for the weight weenie hill climbers. The cables always come back with nice long bits of spare cable and neat cable tidies at the end. I kept looking at these for a couple of weeks, but I knew they were doomed – it’s just something asking to be cut. I got great joy getting out the cable cutters and snipping off free weight. Zero cost, no power lost, possibly even a fractional aero gain.

• Weight saving 1 gram – Just 1g down, 5,999 grams to go.  All that metal for a measly 1 gram! It’s harder than you think.

Cutting skinsuit

In 2014 I got a National Champions skinsuit by Impsport. I made the mistake of getting the cheaper version. When I put it on, it was less skinsuit more inflatable parachute. I had it sent to a tailor (Alex Laycock) to make it more suited to a stick thin hill climber, rather than your average cyclist. But, even then the arms were too long and these end cuffs – although they look quite good – stuck out in the wind quite a bit. It didn’t look very aero or very smart. Eventually I got out the scissors and cut these offending bits off – a shame really. The motivation was to make it look better, but as an added bonus the operation saved a whole 11 grams.

The weight of clothes can easily add up. When I rode 2013 national champs, I just wore two pair of thermal socks, (pic) which I later weighed at over 100grams. I think some kind soul took pity and next year sent me a pair of socks weighing just 20 grams.

Saddle – Tune saddle

The Tune saddle at 83 grams is definitely less than your average saddle. But, perhaps not the best. It has quite a bit of flex (which makes it comfortable, but I’m worried about power loss from a flexy saddle.

AX lightness saddle

Despite having an 83 gram saddle with fabric cut off. I still couldn’t resist an even lighter saddle. This AX Lightness Sprint saddle is a mere 69 grams. On the positive side, I do find it very comfortable for a thin sliver of carbon fibre, and have ridden on it all year, including 5 hour + rides.

Single chainring

For most hill climbs, you don’t need an outer 53 ring. If I do need a 53 ring for climbs like Long Hill, I’m probably on TT bike anyway.

The big temptation is take take off the front dérailleur too – it doesn’t do anything with only one chainring. But – and this is a big but –  Do you want to take the 5-10 % risk of your chain falling off for the sake of another 100 grams? Even the keenest weight weenie knows that saving 100 grams isn’t much use, if you don’t have a chain to pedal. It can happen, and usually when you least want it to.

They do make Narrow / wide single chainring – with deeper teeth to prevent chain jumping off. This is often geared at the Cyclo Cross market. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any ‘narrow/wide’ chanrings compatible with four bolt Shimano Dura Ace 9000. I’ve got a chain catcher, but it’s not very good.

Chopping off the end of handlebars

I took a long time to work up the courage to buy an expensive set of handlebars just to be able to cut off the drops. But, this year, I’ve taken the plunge and bought some Zipp Sl handlebars. Straight away I got out the hacksaw and cut them off. The problem with buying such a lightweight handlebar is that when you cut off the drops, you only save a measly 50 grams. Still it’s 50 grams of weight saving, and perhaps it will be a better position for pulling on the handlebars.

Within two days  after doing cutting this (in Oct 2014) my coach Gordon Wright said I looked good climbing on my drops and I should try to do the whole climb on drops. I’ve never used them in a race yet. So it has to go down as the worst marginal gain I’ve tried.

Shortening the chain

12 grams from an Ultegra chain

With taking off the outer chain ring, I realised I could shorten the chain – saving weight and improving chain tension. Unfortunately, in my zeal to save weight, I took out five links and it became too short. I couldn’t use it because the rear dérailleur would have groaned in the biggest sprocket. I had to put some links back in. But, using a multi-tool chain splitter I managed to damage the chain. After using once up Leith Hill, I had to throw away and start again with a new chain. I think it has about 2 links less than usual, weight saving 12 grams.

Cost – more than it should have done. Moral of the story – never do bike maintenance yourself!

Not charging your Di2 Front derailleur fully

My knowledge of physics is limited to the fact an apple on a tree will tend to fall downwards because of gravity. For Bec HC, I heard a top rider saved weight by not fully charging his Di2. Is this the ultimate marginal gain? Does electricity have weight?

I had to admit I searched ‘Does electricity have weight?‘

Google.com answered mysteriously:

Yes and no, but mostly no.

So there you go, a marginal gain, even if only theoretically possible.

Removing bar tape

Brake pads cut in half

Hill climbs are run under CTT rules. You do need two working brakes. For 2005, I found some worn down brakes and cut them in half. I don’t bother with this any-more. I just use normal brake blocks.

Vittoria Crono Time Trial tubular

Vittoria Crono – 700*22 – has a claimed weight – 165 gram. I use both on front and rear.

Until 2012, I used Continental Competition in hill climbs, just because they were what I used for time trials. Continental Competition at 240 grams are a good workhorse, but not designed for hill climbs. I was throwing away 180 grams of rotational weight because I was riding nice thick puncture proof tubulars. On the positive side, I never punctured in a race or warming up.

I also bought a Vittoria Pista EV (track tub) which I only dared to use once (in 2014 national HC) It is 140 grams. It was an expensive 3 minutes.

Wheels

Zipp 202 Rear – 604 grams total: (rear Zipp – I got for £750). Expensive, but a good solid wheel, lightweight and strong.

Lightweight front

Lightweight wheel with Tune hub and AX lightness wheels – weight of wheel 345 grams (without tub). This wheel is really light, you can pick up with your little finger. Sometimes you test equipment and you can’t tell the difference, but replace a training wheel with a light wheel and you do notice the difference

Skewers Tune DC14

I bought a pair of lightweight skewers when I started hill climbing back in 2004. 11 years on, and technology has improved. My old pair were 55grams, so I looked around for some others. I nearly bought some U20 skewers for £163 at 21grams. But, right at the last minute – I thought I’m not spending £163 on a pair of wheel skewers – that’s obscene. Instead I bought some Tune DC14 for £93 – 35 grams. This was a rare failure of the marginal gain / spend money world. Buying the second best is always dangerous, because it gnaws away at you that you could have bought something better. Then one day, you may end up buying the most expensive after all – and having the second most expensive as well!

My tested weight was 35 grams

Smaller shoe size – Bont Zero

This is the ultimate marginal gain, which proves you are utterly bonkers. Buy a pair of shoes which is slightly too small, so you spend the whole season with squashed feet. But, on the positive side, you have saved the extra weight of a shoe which is o.5 sizes smaller than a good fitting size.

It wasn’t entirely intentional. See: review: Bont zero

Things you can pull off bike

I was cleaning bike the other day, and I realised this power tap plastic thing was unnecessary and could be pulled off bike. 4 grams in the bag. I will have to put some sellotape on hole in frame – so water doesn’t get in and negate the weight loss!

Removing stem cap

Remove power meter

One advantage of a broken power meter is that you might as well get rid of it, and also ride without a garmin. That will save perhaps 200 grams.

The bike

Trek Emonda on Trooper Lane

Amidst all these marginal gains. I suppose the most important is the bike and frame you start off with. The Emonda is a good start

Why Do People Say Weight off Your Wheels Counts Double?

I think the reason  is to do with acceleration and the fact the top of your wheel travels twice as fast as your bicycle (Don’t quite understand this, obviously I didn’t pay any attention in GCSE Physics and had to google whether electricity has weight). To accelerate, the energy taken to push the wheel is greater than for the bike. Once you have maintained a constant speed, then the weight of your bike and wheels count for the same. But, if you slow down and then accelerate, the energy to move the mass of your wheels is greater than for the bike.

Failed weight saving

Jim Henderson told me he spent one hill climb season weighing up whether he should risk riding with 4 chainring bolts rather than the more traditional five. He knew he could probably get away with 4, but in the end – he played it safe. I know a top rider who did 2006 Nat HC, and his chain come off mid race.

I once bought an AX lightness stem (26.9) because it was super light weight. But, didn’t realise it was the old size (which is quite rare these days. This meant to use it, I had to get a standard handlebar, but I’d run out of money for AX lightness handlebar, so I got some other model which was 27.0 – the resulting combination tended to slip because of that 0.1mm difference – losing power.  I ended up selling both on ebay for a loss.

Drillium – drilling holes

You can’t mention marginal gains on a hill climb bike, without a nod to the art of drillium. Carbon fibre has diminished this avenue of weight saving. But, in the 60s and 70s, everyone was drilling holes in bits of equipment to save weight. The holes probably made you slower in time trials, but helped very marginally in hill climbs.

Weight and speed

A lighter bike is not necessarily faster. Rigidity and power can make more difference. As can aerodynamics. For example, I wish I’d ridden a heavier TT bike in 2011.

Fortunately or unfortunately, there is more to hill climbing that getting a lighter bike. When I won the national championship in 2013 – it was the only year in my whole career where I spent nothing on making a lighter bike. (in fact it was heavier (6.0kg) than the one I rode on Rake in 2012 and that year, I even made a profit from selling an AX lightness stem!)

Related

• Hill climb technique