Catford Hill Climb Classic

https://vimeo.com/30273999
just to get the idea courtesy of Mat Pennell

Really meant to enter one or both of Bec and Catford this year but couldn't work out how to. Oh well, a whole year to train now.

(I reckon I'd come gloriously mid table)

Start numbers, please, for forum riders, so that I can accurately hurl encouragement/abuse/rotting vegetables. Will be having a couple of beers at The Cock, Ide Hill (well, it would have to be!) between events.

121 for Catford
67 for Bec

I think me and my brother are going to come down and watch. Any recommended routes for a ride around the area afterwards?

Yeah loads. How far do you want to go? And how fit/strong are you?

Cool, I thought there would be, but it's not an area I know at all. I'm in good shape and timing wise was thinking 50 or 60 miles

I've just seen the event is scheduled from 9:30-3. What's the best time to be there?

Ahh cool, well I did a nice loop going out to Ashdown and back in again, starting at Toys Hill - might be worth doing a version of this? https://www.strava.com/activities/401638640

Or you could just go up and down and around the North Downs for a while - go on strava and make a route with Toys, Ide, Star, Carters, Fackenham, Hogtrough, Titsey, Woldingham, White Lane, Yorks, Brasted and Pains Hill. Go on. I dare ya.

Lumpy. Looks good :)

Kent Invicta Grimpeur route, 1800m of climbing two laps from Otford in opposing directions so all the ones you go down, you go up on second lap :)
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1s8dMJudR2SmO08xwBb3qV9NmqjWqR3Qh1DMgN18B8d0/edit?usp=sharing

Anyone got results? Heard it was won on fixed?

I think you know who won ;0)

Rich Bussell 1'50.9
James Lowden 1'53.2
James Hayward 1'56.2

Good day, got in early stayed till number 70-something then got too cold. Bacon sandwich was top. Surprising lack of cowbells .. I was one of two (at the top).

The 13 year old kid with Ti fixed bike and PX 20mm tubs destroyed in junior cat.

Oh siiick! Didn't actually know.

You'll be racing it next year..... This is how it starts. Go to a hill climb as spectator....

13 yr old is tadros Jr. From description.

1 50?? That's the record gone?

No, it's 1m47.

Only 0.3 seconds quicker than last year, still, a brilliant day out. The Catford crowd were far more supportive than the Bec!

I've ridden with Jimmy Hayward - who came third - a few times. It's quite upsetting just how quickly he goes uphill. I remember watching him pull away up Chalkpit lane, as my legs were being eaten alive by lactic, and looking as though he was pootling along a canal towpath. Mind you, he does wear age 12-13 cycling jerseys...

Men
1st Rich Bussell of RST Sport/Aerocoach 1:50:9
2nd James Lowden of Neon Velo 1:53:2
3rd JEdmund Bradbury of NFTO 1:55:0
for ever 4th James Hayward of Woolwich CC 1:56

1st Woman- Maryka Sennema of Paceline Racing Team 2:37:6
1st Vet Woman- Deborah Percival of 34th Nomads 3:07:0

1st Junior- Buauana Ball of Catford CC 2:07:2
1st Vet male- Pete Tadros of Ingear-Quicvit Trainsharp 2:06:9