Hill Climb Set Up & Position

All the TT/Hill Climb code from a hundred years ago pisses me off massively.
All the V1399 an the RH1274 is such bullshit in this day and age.
I love to go see TT and hillclimb events but the clique-ism keeps so many new enthusiasts away.

I use my Bob Jackson for a fair bit of hill climbing. I have looked into changing saddle position, stem length, bar angle you name it. But I always come back to my normal road riding set-up. I am personaly against increasing crank length, unless you currently run short cranks for reasons other than fit (avoiding pedal strike). I find my 165's (I have ikle legs) allow me to apply force though most of the pedal stroke. This shares the pain out amongst my leg muscles in a fair manner.

Bar-wise as long as you can sit up and grip tops, stand up and grip hoods/bar-ends/bull-horns, and can find a leant forward position (to vary muscle useage slightly). It all works.

All the TT/Hill Climb code from a hundred years ago pisses me off massively.
All the V1399 an the RH1274 is such bullshit in this day and age.
I love to go see TT and hillclimb events but the clique-ism keeps so many new enthusiasts away.

This^^

Tested the fixed hill machine this evening.

Despite not eating enough today (work was silly busy) I haven't felt that strong or fast going up hills in a long time.

I've had to do the transformation from track bike to hill climber on a zero pound budget so far and it's pretty good. I chopped some old drop bars to make bull horns, used an old innertube for bar tape etc. so it looks pretty messy, but so what. I might indulge and buy some bartape when I get paid. Definitely need to buy a brake... walking down swains is fucking boring and when you're doing reps surprisingly difficult.

Swains is fucking boring whichever way you deal with it. Like Box Hill.

Zero budget today. But once the climbing bug grabs you, you'll be surfing German bike sites for the latest gram savers ;)

Seriously though. I dont think the front end of my bike affects climbing much. Correct saddle fore-aft position and crank length are vital though. A solid pedal connection helps too.

Nah, it all gets flexy as fuck if you go down the WW route, unless the engine weighs less than 55kg or something stupid.

walking down swains is fucking boring

I think we passed you on our way to the Flask. A front brake does make your way down easier!

I think we passed you on our way to the Flask. A front brake does make your way down easier!

Yeah, loads of people passed me on the way to the flask.

I'll be a regular installment at Swains on Tuesday nights for the next month and a half, but will hopefully have a front brake before long. Say hello next time.

Swains is fucking boring whichever way you deal with it. Like Box Hill.

Not last night it wasn't. Ascending swains was fucking sexual last night. But it was more about the bike than the hill.

you are always pretty darn quick up the hills anyway.....I remember watching you disappear on that fun Ashdown reccy we did. hope this goes well for you

Nah, it all gets flexy as fuck if you go down the WW route, unless the engine weighs less than 55kg or something stupid.

Depends on how much you spend, and not getting carried away on the weight front. I'm hoping to go well under the UCI limit (just because) for my next bike (geared road bike), and thats with a heavy (by todays standards) Storck C1.1 frame, and stiff 48mm deep section wheels. The finishing kit I have in mind is bloody pricey though.

you are always pretty darn quick up the hills anyway.....I remember watching you disappear on that fun Ashdown reccy we did. hope this goes well for you

To this day that is still the most unpleasant ride I've been on, despite the good company and awesome route.

I'm using a very tidy rear veloflex at the moment, it has fuck all puncture protection but is light and feels much grippier in the wet than the bontranger ones currently on my road bike.

I need to replcae the front Michelin Pro 3 tyre though as it's pretty torn up. Any recomendations?

Another Veloflex?

does anyone else want to go and watch the catford climb?

Another Veloflex?

Seems sensible. The rear was given to me from a friend who replaced both tyres when the front was slashed... not sure if I want to splash out on another for the front. Also grip is less of an issue at the front end and there may well be lighter tyres for my money.

does anyone else want to go and watch the catford climb?

I'm sure there'll be a spectators ride sorted. I'm getting the train out though.

Hoping for an early start time so that I can watch the rest without the pre race/TT nerves and just cope with the post race/TT dissapointment.