Hill Climbs

was it a mass start hill climb? sounds amazing

There were ‘waves’ for certain categories, but for my class, we started with two different age groups too. Must’ve been about 200 or so in that group.

Pretty mad start, to be honest (already on a 6% hill from the off).

That’s like my dream HC! I sometimes wonder what would happen if my wife and I move to another country. We’ve got the volume and history of HCs here in the UK, but the one-offs in Taiwan and stuff where they’re proper mountains are very appealing.

It’s funny moving from south east England to a country that’s over 75% mountains, as you kind of need to learn to embrace climbing. Plenty of events here, but really spread about the country.

After Mount Fuji in June and another event TBC, I think I’ll jump over to Taiwan to do the KOM with some friends (not racing, just finishing!).

@xDOMx know anyone who's doing/done the Happougahara hillclimb?

I may register for this year's event in either the B category or the 'Heavyweight' :o Tho' if I train there's a good chance I'd be just under that 80kg mark.

I'd be aiming to not come last.

I don’t know anyone doing it or that has done it, but it may work for me...

I’d be in the same class if you did the B category.

I'm signed up, cat B :D

That means I’ll have to finally get off my arse and sign up. Cheers for the motivation!

My local club, the Macclesfield Wheelers is organising a closed road hill climb on the May 27th Bank Holiday Monday in Bollington, Cheshire. The road is Beeston Brow, a cobbled climb 0.8 miles long ave gradient 6%.

The event isn't CTT affiliated but there will apparently be cakes and prizes on the line. Some years ago it was won by Stuart Dangerfield so you could potentially see your name recorded up in history along with his...

Would be great to see some of you down here. There's loads of good climbing around here so could easily make a good day of it if you're based in the northwest region.

https://www.macclesfieldwheelers.org.uk/beestonbrow

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Looks like a good-un!

.... ouch .... !

Ooh a race for my plus tyre mtb!

Rode down that last week. Horrible surface. I’ll be there to watch.

The 6% ave is somewhat misleading.

Signed up for Cat B too. Now let’s see just how brutal the heat and humidity are...

Cool :)

I'm hoping it remains overcast. That'll be one saving grace if there's no direct sun on us.

We'll be there the night before the race to sign in. I'm not sure where we're staying though yet. Maybe the wife had something in mind in Yaita but I know she said it's quite pricey, and dull, and largely booked up. So there's been mumblings about staying in either Nasu or Nikko that night before. Did you have anything in mind or will you come up on the day?

I have an Aussie mate who lives near the event, so I’ll probably stop with him.

I have a race next Sunday, which I did an effort on today (West of Tokyo). Humidity was brutal and resulted in the effort feeling much worse, but that may be because rainy season is still in full flow.

From the options you stated, Nasu may be good. They did a Rapha Prestige there a few years back and it’s a pretty town.

in case anyone's hunting for some HC wheels, I've got these for sale - https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/336483

Seen this light bargain frame on Facebook:

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So I've been cycling the last three days in this heat, and even not the worst of it. Getting out as early as possible each day with a plan to be back for 9:30 latest. It's too hot for me any later at the moment.
Given the start times for the B group that's slightly worrying! I hope it cools down but I'm not so optimistic.

I just rode a race/event called Attack!299, which goes from Hanno (Saitama) through to Chino (Nagano).

205km and 3,700m of climbing.

There’s coping mechanisms, but not sure they apply to a race (as much of a worry to me as to you, I’m sure).

Anyway, you/we will be fine (the amount of time it takes is a different question, however!).

Last race of HC season here in Japan and a proper ‘cycling connects’ moment, as I had the pleasure of meeting @Tychom for the first time.

The 12.8km, 930m elevation gain course was tougher than the 7.1% average gradient sounds, and the (stupidly) humid Japan summer didn’t make things any easier.

In any case, a really well-run event and another time benchmarked for HC races next year.

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Looks so good! Wish we had the mountains for events like that.

Off to Girona next week to sharpen before the UK season begins.

Wouldn’t mind a trip to Girona myself, but Japan’s mountains will have to suffice for now!

Andrew Feather is on the start sheet for the Kingston Wheelers HC on Leith Hill next weekend. Thought I might have a chance of winning that one 😭

Hah, he turned up to our Weds evening club TT in August (Dundry hill near Bristol)