Hill Climbs

I need it in 31.8 which might be a tricky size to find

31.6, surely? A shim is your friend. On the other hand, those trials/BMX combo deals aren't all that weight-weenie, you'd probably be better with a Chinese crabon post and saddle.

Definitely after 31.8 ☺ that's already using a shim.
Yeah I'm just thinking chopped post with some cheapy lightweight saddle

I'll second the common Chinese carbon saddle. Mine was £14, weighs 100g and is plenty comfortable enough for short-medium rides (and I do actually sit on it, in case you're wondering!)

Got a 31.8 carbon woodman lightweight seat post if you’re interested?
All my bikes are no 27.2 so it’s not being used.

Cheers I'll send a PM in a bit

Lea Valley CC hill climb up Mott St is this Sunday. Fun event, good way to try out hill climbing. It will be a mix of abilities so don't be shy.

Details and online entry here - There will be a minimum of 20 EOL available but this way you can pick your start time!

You can also ride this and do the Eagle hill climb up Lippits hill as well if you like. It's at 11am.

Anybody off here ride the national champs?

This lad went so hard he turned into Steve Buscemi.

There’s some great pics here from Ellen Isherwood who gets to loads of races across the north with her camera https://www.flickr.com/photos/100713057@N05/sets/72157701393792851?fbclid=IwAR2-eOuKvlz7WIXfMfOu6VkGwSHuCW5Zlxcgydhq-Ro1Nu3sI_5H7h96JZE

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Cracking pics; I've spotted my brother and a mate in a couple of them. Looks like it was a good day.

who won?

Turns out CTT has a twatter. Who knew
https://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/race-report/16471#anchor

Anyone know where the 2019 National HC will be? @xavierdisley?

North Midlands apparently.

Handbook says North Midlands (Pea Royd) as it was printed before the course swap this year. It's Haytor Vale in Devon.

5.3km @ 6%... might have to do the long drive next year, that’s right up my street.

Haytor Vale

https://traumfahrrad.com/2012/09/29/mdcc-haytor-open-hill-climb-more-pain-vicar/

Sounds perfect! ☺️ Gutted I couldn’t make the Nationals this year.

Anybody know of any good hill climb events for beginners? Something feisible fixed and not too serious, I did the urban hill climbs last year and had a great time. Thanks in advance, cheers!

Anybody know of any good hill climb events for beginners?

You'll get into almost any of them except the big ticket events.

That's good to know! :)
Do you know of a website that's lists such events? A Google search isn't throwing much up..?

Mott Street - LVCC and ELV both do hill climbs up there. Easy to ride out from London.

https://cyclingtimetrials.org.uk Is the place to find all the hill climbs, but maybe not till later in the year. @dbr is a good source for the tricks and tips.

I’ve never raced a hill climb in England, but will do my first of the season in Japan this coming Sunday (14th). It’ll be up in the mountains of Nagano (event is called the Tour De Yatsugatake).

25km and 1,300m of up, starting around 800m and finishing close to 2,100m - there will still be snow walls at the finish.

For numerous reasons I haven’t raced really since summer 2015, so I’m interested to know where my training since then will take me (not very far I suspect, given that most of the better competitors are well under 60kg).

Loads of inspiration derived from this thread - I’ll try not to make too much of a tit of myself.

Jesus.
Can you spend some time at the altitude before the competition?

Cannot imagine the "fun" of thin air and O2 deficits ...

Race sounds awesome, completely different to any British hill climb.
It will be a long TT effort, so I guess you’ll have to pace for a 1+ hour effort allowing for the reduction in power as you go higher?

There were a few good Trainerroad podcasts relating to high altitude training and pacing races at higher altitude.

I’ve kind of factored altitude in by training on some higher climbs, but not quite above 1,500m (more around 1,000 to 1,500m).

For background, I’ve listened to some TR and other podcasts on the subject (thanks for the pointer, in any case). While I know roughly where my W/KG should be for the duration, I also know that I’ll really have to be conscious of my power as we get into the higher parts of the course.

Next race after this will be a race up part of Mount Fuji in June (similar kind of distance and elevation gain), which mirrors a race I did back in 2015.

Ride With GPS course gives an idea of what’s in store for the race this Sunday...

Tour de Yatsugatake

Race got shortened to 15km, 800m^ (finishing at 1,600m or so) due to snowfall in race week.

Managed to push my record power to the finish (44mins4secs) and came 13th in my age class from 71 starters (top 10% in the race overall).

Relatively happy with the result given that I haven’t raced since September 2015, but hope to push on in future HC races.

Friend was there and took some photos...

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