Hill Climbs

Haven’t ridden Brasted in ages!

For short ones in general, I’ll look at power for the first 30 or 45 seconds, just to keep things in check, then ride on feel. Under two mins is largely a mind game I reckon. You should be absolutely ruined by the effort if you do it right.

Also, save some for the finish. A wise hill climber once said you probably won’t win a HC in the last 100m, but you can definitely lose it.

My memories of Brasted was always riding the full hill from Brasted village as an effort, so by the top you're just trying to hold on desperately. I think it'd be hard to have enough momentum for a great time if you turned onto that segment from Pilgrims Way.

If you want to focus on that shorter segment, though, maybe you could ride the start of the full hill fairly easy, hit the gas a bit before the segment starts to give yourself a cheeky flying start, try and stay seated until the gradient hits double digits and as dbr says, save some for the end.

From memory, I think I used to try and avoid standing up before you hit the tree lined bit. You then shouldn't be too horribly exhausted through the corners, which feel evil. Having some energy for the part after the corners which actually mellows out a bit will buy you some time.

Everyone is different, but I'd try and ride a hill like that to power until I feel I have to get out of the saddle. With something this steep I also try to stay in slightly harder gears for longer than usual so that I've got something decent to push against. Often my mind tells me to shift right down but then I can't make the power I could if I were in a harder gear. I find this particularly true when I get out of the saddle. I'll generally shift down 2 cogs just before I stand up out the saddle.

On a motorbike.

I'd second the comments for staying in a bigger gear in the top section. I try and keep it spinning until the first gate on the left side before the corners and then push it hard after that.

Managed a 2:06 in last years HC, was on fixed 39x21 which felt slightly light for the bottom but pretty spot on for the top corners. Also helped that it was a closed road and could take a better line on the right hander when it kicks up

I've not got round to it, no. But it's still in the back of my mind. I've not got the legs as it is, so never been a better time to benchmark I guess...