York’s hill – Catford CC hill climb

York’s hill is the venue of the one of the world’s oldest cycle races – Catford CC hill climb in Kent, S.E. England. The full climb is 0.8 miles, climbing 353ft / 108m . But, it is the last half a miles of the climb which is the really interesting part. It is one of the steepest climbs in the south of England. The climb starts off innocuously enough, but as you near the top, the road gets steeper, until you hit the really tough 20-25% section at the end. York’s hill makes a great event for the Catford CC hill climb. The steep section is usually thronged with spectators who take great delight in watching the suffering of the competitors.

York’s hill – HC version

• Location: S.W Sevenoaks, Kent
• Distance: 0.64 km
• Height gain: 92m
• Average gradient: 14%
• Max gradient: 25%
• 100 climbs – #15
• HC / 100 climb version (0.4 miles) – Strava
• Long version strava (0.8 miles)
• HC Course record men:   Phil Mason (San Fairy Ann CC) 1:47.6  (1983)
• Course record (women): Lydia Boylan 2.38.1 in 2012
• Everesting attempt? – 97 times (1 lap = 1.28 km) Total = 124 km

I rode the Catford CC event back in 2005. I recorded a time of 2.04 – I think this was 12th. I don’t remember much about the event, except it is quite intense with a really steep finish. The general idea is to go really fast from the start and try and hang on. The steepness of the road makes wheel-slip a real problem. When it is wet, many riders will let air out of their rear tyre (to perhaps 60-70psi) to improve traction. It suits an explosive type of rider – a mixture of track speed or road sprinter – ideally with Hill climbers physique. (short and explosive). I would like to go back because I think I could do a bit better. It’s a shame that weekend in October is often crowded with other hill climb events.

 

Veloviewer

Strava

Catford CC hill climb

Photography Bernard Thompson

The first Catford CC hill climb was held at Westerham Hill on August 20th 1887. In those days, it was considered an achievement to get to the top without falling off. Riders rode a mixture of ‘safety bicycles’ and penny farthings – all on solid tyres. Of 24 starters,  only 12 made it to the top. (Modern generation are soft!)

• The lowest permitted gear was 52 inches.
• There was also a minimum weight limit of 35lbs (15.8 kg) for bicycles and 45lbs for tricycles
• Catford CC hill climb
• How to enter the hill climb

Past winners include S.Dangerfield, J.Henderson. Rob Gough won for five consecutive years from 2009-12

National hill climb championship 1961

It was used as the national hill climb championship in 1961, when P.J. Graham (Featherstone R.C) won in a time 1.56

2014 – Mens winner James Lowden (Lewes Wanderers Cycling Club). Womens winner Maryka Sennema (Kingston Wheelers CC). 2014 results

Nearby Hills

• White Lane – used in Bec CC hill climb
• Toys Hill – a few miles West of York’s hill

Related pages

• 100 climbs
• hill climb technique

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