White Lane – Bec CC hill climb

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

Photo Dave Hayward Flickr
– Pete Tadros riding fixed up White Lane in the wet. Photo Dave Hayward Flickr

 

The mighty Bristol South
The mighty Bristol South. Photo Dave Hayward.
jack-pullar-dave-hayward
Course record breaker – Jack Pullar photo dave-hayward

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!

Riding in 2007

I rode the Catford and Bec CC hill climbs in 2007. My time up Bec CC, White lane was 1.59.59. It was a great experience and a world of short intense pain – so great I’ve never been back. You get a good crowd along the short narrow road, and there is a good atmosphere. The road gets closed for the event.

I think in 2007, I finished just outside the top 10. Unfortunately, short sprints are not quite my forte. That year, Bradley Wiggins was riding, though he only seemed to ride up tempo, finishing in about 2.30 something. Still the event has attracted many of the big names in cycling. I would love to go back, but that weekend I will be up north riding in climbs more suited to me.

How to ride it

Go really hard from the start and hang on!

Course records

Jack Pullar set a time of 1.42.9 in 2012 to set a new record

Women’s CR

  • 2012 – Lydia Boylan W Look Mum No Hands! 2.33.3

2013

1st overall. Jack Pullar – 1.46.1

1st lady – Maryka Sennema, Kingston Wheelers C.C. – 2.37.2

Results 2013 at Bec CC

Strava Segments white lane

Past winners

There has been some notable winners of the Bec CC hill climb, including National Champion Dan Fleeman,  In 2011, the 16 year old Germain Burton won in a time of   1.45.1. – A young rider now riding for the GB under 23.

Video of Bec CC Hill Climb 2012

Promo video of 2013

 

 

2015 Results of Bec CC hill climb

1James LowdenNeon Velo01:51.5
2Richard BussellRSTSport/Aero Coach01:52.1
3Edmund BradburyNFTO01:52.9
4Michael SmithTeam Corley-Alpha RC01:53.9
5Germaine Burton100%ME01:54.9
6Joe NorledgePro Cycling Magazine RT01:56.5
7Ethan HayterVelo Club Londres01:56.9
8Peter CockerPedal Pushers01:57.1
9Matthew BurtonVelo Club Rutland01:57.5
10Bill BellBigfoot CC01:57.8

full results at CTT

2014 Results of Bec CC hill climb

RANKRIDERCLUBTIME
1Jack PullarStarley Primal Pro Cycling01:49:300
2Daniel SullivanNorwood Paragon CC01:53:800
2Glyndwr GriffithsArctic Tacx RT01:53:800
4Bill BellBigfoot CC01:56:500
5William AdamsVelosport RT01:56:600
6Joe NorledgeProcycling Magazine RT01:57:900
7Liam O’TooleSheffrec CC01:58:100
8James lowdenlewes wanderers01:58:700
9Issac PucciPure Motion Cycles/Gatorade01:59:600
10Matthew BurtonVelo Club Rutland02:00:500
11Richard BussellBeacon Roads CC02:00:600
12Richard CartlandSouth Downs Bikes02:00:700
13James LocalLondon Dynamo02:01:300
14Ashley DennisBanks/Catford CC Equipe02:01:400
14Ben NicholAmersham Road Cycling Club02:01:400
16Jacob NicholsonMedway Velo Club02:02:600
17Tony KissPerformance Cycles CC02:02:800
18Joe PeakeCC London02:03:100
19Conall yatesIn-Gear Quickvit Trainsharp RT02:03:300
20Charles ColemanFelt Colbournes Hargroves RT02:03:700
21David MillarGarmin – Sharp Pro Team02:03:800
22John CockrillAbellio – SFA Racing Team02:04:400
22Peter TadrosIn-Gear Quickvit Trainsharp RT02:04:400
24Daniel PinkBigfoot CC02:05:200
25Thomas Mead-HerbertWatford Velo Sport02:05:300
26Robert GoughArctic Tacx RT02:06:000

Related

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100 Greatest Cycling Climbs at Amazon.co.uk

100 Greatest Cycling Climbs at Waterstones

 

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