Hill Climbs

Closed road 👌🏻 I loved Haytor Vale down in Devon but the traffic was a nightmare. Think I was relatively lucky but I hear some horror stories about people being stuck in traffic etc.

Organised to stay with friends in Sheffield for Nationals weekend, so will be making my annual hillgrimage from Norfolk to cheer you lot on, assuming the usual crew will all be entering? Closed road Winnats is going to be iconic; the hill climb amphitheatre.

Same friend was one of the unfortunate ones at Haytor, came to a complete stop behind a car turning right across the traffic just before the HQ, had to unclip, foot down and everything. I think he's just going to watch this year!

Fair play to them for sorting that. It will make it much more enjoyable for everyone.

I’m sure there’ll be the odd sheep knocking about but they’re easy to avoid going up the hill. Coming down, less so.

I'd like to come to this just for the historical significance - apparently my Godfather is buying a flat in Castleton, wonder if that will complete in time.

Booked a room at the very fancy looking YHA in Castleton, just need to qualify now :)

Anyone else planning a trip?

Loads of “discussion” on qualification in the FB hill climb group, I know some of you aren’t on there so thought worthwhile copying across.

NATIONAL HILL CLIMB - CLARIFICATION OF SPINDATA RANKINGS.

As has previously been stated, Spindata rankings will be used to determine the field for the national hill climb championships, but it has been pointed out that the information regarding this was a bit vague, so below I have set out in detail how the Spindata rankings will be calculated and how they will be used.

The Spindata ranking will be based on the average of a competitor’s 3 best hill climb rides of 2021.

If more than 3 performances are recorded, the worst performance(s) will not count. Furthermore, a competitor’s best performance WILL count in the calculation (this is currently not the case with the Spindata rankings). It is hoped that the new algorithm will be implemented from Wednesday 15th September, so please note that the rankings before the change will not reflect the selection criteria that will be used (and also note that most people will not have ridden 3 events, so the rankings won’t start to look “right” until most people have got 3 rides in).

The rankings as of Wednesday 13th October will be used to determine entry to the national hill climb.

Provisional rankings will not be included in the selection criteria, and you will need at least 3 performances to be eligible for inclusion in the championships. The exception to this being those riders who have achieved a top placing in the 2018, 2019 or 2020 championships, as detailed in the previous statement regarding entry criteria. Also, as stated before, the rankings will only be used to select the field for each category if that category is over-subscribed.

Chris Myhill

10th September 2021

A mate of mine is booked in at the same place at one of their camping pods.

I'll be there (assuming I qualify), but now only about an hour's drive away, so will come up on the morning.

Reckon there will be a bunch of skinny weirdos staying at the youth hostel 😆

First 6:15am alarm of the season. Didn’t miss this.

Ride well!

https://stolengoat.com/2021/09/stolen-goat-hill-climb-series-2021/

Kelvin spotted that a while ago. Looks like I’ll be riding most or all of them, just hope I can find some kind of form in the next three weeks 🥴

What are peoples schedules here?
Might come cheer if this is allowed again now.

Kingston Wheelers 18th
Watford Velosport 19th

Wigmore CC 26th

Sussex CA 2nd

2x Brighton Mitre 9th

ESCA & Beachy Head CC 16th
Farnham RC 17th (maybe)

23rd and 24th are a bit thin for HCs, annoyingly the week before the Nats

31st National HC

7th Sussex Nomads if I'm going well and have a chance at the Stolen Goat thing

The hill climb scene down here in South district is almost non-existant, which is odd as we have plenty of big hills. 2 opens in the whole P district, no opens in my county (Dorset) and I can only make one club event this year...

Think I might have a go at organising one next year. Any idea when event dates have to submitted by?

You associated with club? Think events have to be done via clubs right?

I bailed on the Leith Hill one, but hoping to do all the South Downs / Stolen Goat series but might have to actually bite the bullet and enter some.

Oooh interesting.
Any hill in mind?

Celebrated my retirement from the 2021 season by eating loads of peanut butter and getting a bit pissed last night 😵‍💫

Haha too work, not feeling it this year or done all you wanted to?

String of bad luck, mishaps and just not as strong this year. Changed my training and it's made me go backwards :/

Sorry to hear hasn't gone as you've planned this time around, sounds like a bad string of luck.

What'd you do differently on the training?

I've essentially given up already this year as well DNS-ed on Saturday ostensibly as recovering from a bit of lurgy but really because I didn't think I was gonna go better than last year and the weather looked a bit shit.

That was the only open I'd actually entered as I'd decided to leave them all last minute and missed a couple.

My powers been improving but not been able to get my weight down to where I was last year, optimistically I'm probably up in absolute watts but level on W/KG terms. Been doing the ride load, eat loads, thing.

Half tempted to get proper serious on food for a few weeks and give the closed road Ditchling Beacon a proper tilt, but if I couldn't get ass in gear already not sure I'm going turn it around now.

Tried 12 weeks of polarised training coming into the season. Plans from High North, been really impressed with their knowledge and help, Emma has answered all my questions and given loads of advice for free but it’s just not worked for me. Probs go back to TR next year, and less volume, seems to be quite effective for me.

I might just be fatigued but the mishaps (late start, dropped chain, stopped by cars) mean I almost certainly won’t qualify for the Nats and have no chance at the Stolen Goat series so I’m just sacking it in. I’ll probs do one or two local club ones on Mott St, ride out on the road bike, race then do a few hours in the lanes, like the old days.

If no turbo training for a couple of weeks translates to smashing Mott St I might see you on Ditching!

That’s interesting, I know there’s a lot of people that swear by polarised but do wonder if there’s tipping point of hours you have to do to make it work.

And clearly the TR approach has delivered results for you in the past, so makes sense to go back.

If you do fancy something a little different I reckon you’d absolutely smash the top end of Zwift racing but appreciate that’s not everyone’s cup of tea!

Yeah I reckon it's about even more volume for polarised. My understanding is that you want to be doing 80% Z2 and 20% intense stuff, but that split is number of sessions rather than time in zones.

When I could follow the plan closely I was doing 2x hard interval sessions a week and 2x zone 2 rides, which doesn't really add up.

I'm sure zwift would be fun, but I'm going to enjoy non competitive easy weekend rides with friends this autumn for a change. Might go running in the week too.

No such thing as an original idea but can I tempt anyone?
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/37293615