Hill Climbs

A minute?
Really?? FUCKSSAKE.

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...

Hmm pretty much as I’ve been riding it. Wondered about mixing things up and trying to go harder earlier and as the steeper late gradient will force a higher power anyway.

That and lose the 10kgs plus to match most of you 🤣

Do it! Where are you based?

Near Stroud. There's a hill (Culver Hill) 2mins from me that would need 6 reps to get to 1000m. My PB (I've never gone flat out up it) is 8:40, so if repping would drop to 9-10mins average. So it's doable, for sure, just an "interesting" local challenge.

Sounds pretty good. Remember the down time too.
I’d say do it. Two gels half a bottle of water on the bike one for after.
For me I tried to ride a little over threshold on the climbs, it’s tough but I don’t recall it being all that horrible. Mine was 20 reps.

Good plan, I was going to go empty handed, after work and childcare, to really up the ante. But your way sounds sensible! I'll report back (don't hold your breath)

We’re running our inaugural Open Hill Climb on the 1st September down by Salisbury. Should be a great vibe, late summer, sprinters’ kinda hill. Please put an entry in if you can make it 📈💪🏻🔥

https://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/race-details/27192

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https://www.muckle.cc/national-hill-climb-2024

It's that time of year again when the time trialling season comes to a close, summer yields to autumn and the hill climb season well under way, culminating in the National Hill Climb.

This year Muckle CC are hosting this, the pinnacle of hill climb events. Following the change from Prospect Hill to Dipton Mill Road the entry capacity has been increased to accommodate up to 370 riders. With only a few days to go before entries close now's your chance to take part in what will be a superb event.

Event HQ, situated at the nearby Hexham Race Course, provides excellent facilities.

While the course has changed, don't be fooled, there's plenty of vertical suffering and glory to be had!

Dipton Mill Rd is a 1.2km climb at an average gradient of 9.8%, topping out at 13.4%. A tough climb that changes gradient many times.

For those of you familiar with Whiteleaf Hill (near Princes Risborough, Bucks) Dipton Mill Rd has a very similar profile. So what's not to like?!

Want to know more? Check out Dipton Mill Road on VELOVIEWER
https://veloviewer.com/segments/37204251

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Enjoy :)

Nice - but fucking freezing - day out to watch the Catford York’s Hill and Becc’s White Lane double ….. couple of tough climbs , great to see a lot of youngsters riding - mainly thanks to Team Cyclopark who brought a bus load …some were super fast - hats off to them …. but both rides said they were down on entrant numbers - like half …. what a shame , especially the York’s Hill ride - the longest established race …. ever !
Hope it was circumstances / a blip … such a great bonkers British thing … ride out to the hills in the freezing cold to watch a load of nutters ( extremely fit nutters - some serious legs on show ) ride up steep hills for two minutes …
Daft ! oh , and fucking freezing …..

Our boy Ryan got second place at Bec!

Ha , yes - he was well gutted to not go under two minutes … by a smidge …!
Harry in first was fast though - second on York’s Hill …. just a shame not so many regular / old fast lot entered though …
new team for you - noticed the Sussex rides … ?

Harry is a great lad. If he gave up the booze and fags for a couple of months in autumn he’d win everything!

Yeah second season for Elevate. Been great. I loved representing LFGSS.CC but it is quite a nice change to have teammates and a support network at races having been flying solo for 9 years!

It’d be nasty to Ryan if I posted this on our team chat, and no one else will care, but I checked back on old stava rides and I scraped under 2 mins (by three tenths of a second!) in 2017 on Bec. Still only good enough for 11th though. Ah the good old days.

Harry Mac smashed it on Dipton Mill Lane yesterday to take the National Hill Climb Championship title. Great event, perfect weather, beautiful views. 9/10

(didn’t take any photos of Harry)

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Catching your 3 min man?

Really lovely weather for it! The road surface where you took pics looks lovely, which is often not the case with recently chosen national hillclimb hills.

@dbr looks like you did a really good time. Far better than I would have managed up there even before the baby weight, chapeau! How did it feel?

Andrew Feather finally dethroned then. But did Harry MacFarlane win Bank Road, Yorks Hill, and Monsal, though?

Just kidding. He hadn't really been on my radar for some reason, but looking at results that's an incredible rise from sorta top 10 the last 3 years to winning it this year at the age of 27. Very impressive!

1.5 min man, went off at 30 second intervals. The whole field was 400+!

I actually had to squeeze past that guy at the tightest Alp d'Huez style crowd-lined finish.

A few of our team were set off early with the slower riders, which was fine tbh, meant I could go watch other people, and lend my bike and shoes to a junior on our team who had his stolen the week before!

Felt pretty good, not the best, but I had fun and being there with the team was great. Cracked 400w for 4 mins which is a general season goal so that's good. Feather did 600w for 3 mins!

Cracking win for Harry. Who knows what he'd be capable of if he gave up the fags, booze and fry ups

I am I reading the results right that the 1st junior was 3rd overall?

Yeah, Harry Hudson. He was 3rd overall last year on the Struggle as well. Didn’t see his ride (was busy regaining some lung capacity!)

Harry Mac and Jude Taylor (8th Sen) looked strongest from where we were stood. Feather didn’t look like he was trying.

Feather didn’t look like he was trying

He never does!

I organise the Catford CC Hill Climb now and 54 entries is the lowest for a long time, I was chatting to Gary Beckett organiser for the Bec Hill Climb and we have both heard from other organisers and Dave Hayward event photographer that entries have been very low across all Time Trials this year, a real shame.