The National Hill Climb Championships 2012 – The Rake

Pain!! velouk.net

I earmarked The Rake as a key target this season relatively early on, as it was on a short, steep climb – something I knew would suit me.

The increasingly good results I’d had over the previous two months really gave me the confidence I needed entering hill climb season. I managed 2 wins and 4 podiums in the hill climbs and wins in the track leagues leading up to the Nationals at the Ramsbottom Rake. In the hill climbs, I was never too far off the winning times, so position didn’t worry me. I was just focused on the Rake. I visited it on numerous occasions learning how best to ride it, how much effort to put in and what gears to use. I also did a lot of turbo intervals and reduced my weekly ride time to barely 5 hours a week, eat healthily (no cakes, no drinking). I picked up some super-light Vue des Alpes Light SuperSport Edco Carbon Wheels and stripped the bike down as far as possible. The most seriously I’ve ever prepared for an event.

I arrived on the morning of the climb early, pre rode it to test how slippery the surface was (it was pouring it down). I stayed in the car to keep warm until I needed to warm up. Preparation was spot on. I got to the start line with 3 minutes to go – plenty of time but not enough time to get cold. The timekeeper counted down – 30 seconds, 10 seconds, 5 seconds… paused. I thought I heard go, I didn’t. I tried to go but the starter pulled back. I was off balance leaving the start, and ploughed straight into the barrier – couldn’t avoid it – and both feet came out of the pedals. I tried to get them back in, but couldn’t. Shit. I almost cried, but thought sod it; I’ve trained so hard for this so I’ll damn well ride as hard as I can. I did. As I reached the steep section the legs started to scream, but I pushed on. The atmosphere was immense – the noise practically carried you to the top. I don’t think I’ve ever ridden so hard in my life. I reached the top of the section of 1 in 4 and could barely turn my legs. Still, I whack

Me, trying to go fast up Rawsons Rake - Ed Rollason Photography

ed the gears up and ‘sprinted’ as hard as I could for the line (although was probably actually going about 10mph). I almost rode into some poor bloke stood at the finish line, then collapsed at the finish with no colour in my face, unable to stand and talking utter gibberish. I had raced as hard as I could. Done everything I could. I finished in a time of 3:36 – only good enough for 6th woman. Third place finished in 3:23. Make of that what you will, maybe I lost out on a medal, maybe I didn’t.. It certainly gives me the confidence that I would have been well up there.

Just over a year ago, sat nursing a broken collarbone, with no outstanding results to note, I never thought I would be saying that I believed I could have medalled in a National Championship. Remembering where I was then, makes me realise even 6th isn’t so bad at all! Either way, I’m not giving up!

Top 20's, 10's second cat and Track Nationals

Me and Mel after a muddy crit in Buith Wells

I’ve been meaning to write a blog for quite some time, although it has been put to once side as I have been totally absorbed in my preparation for the National Hill Climb Championships.

I started performing better after a break in racing around June, after a few DNF’s, with a top 15 at Naseby – providing the boost in confidence I needed. A couple of weeks later, I travelled to Wales with Mel and her family to the Auchterloine Memorial stage race in Wales, which consisted of a time trial, rather muddy criterium and road race. I was dreading the crit, as it was round the Welsh Royal show ground, it was raining hard and there was a lot of mud and standing water. Once I got racing I absolutely loved it – probably the most fun race I’ve done all year! The main field was quickly whittled down to about 15 riders. After a crash split the main group, I found myself in the second group but recognising the other riders weaknesses managed to break away from them finishing 11th – my best result yet.
The second day I almost got dropped on a steep descent on the first lap (didn’t make that mistake twice). I went for a long one with 1km to go, but it wasn’t to be and finished mid bunch. With consistent results I finished 8th on the GC! Absolutely brilliant circuits to race on – will definitely be going back next year.

Following this I raced some crits at Tameside, getting a top ten in one of the mens races and also at Darley Moor Women’s Team Series. I would have liked to be in the break at Darley Moor but guest team mate Jo Smith got there first! I worked to control the bunch to allow them to get away, as Jo is a top class sprinter and I knew she wouldn’t let us down and she didn’t, finishing a close 2nd to none other than Lucy Garner soon to be double Junior World Road Race Champion! I look forward to having Jo guest for us again in the future!

I also made some progress in city centre criteriums at the Newport Nocturne, despite starting at the back due to being gridded base on category I was still in the main bunch on the final lap (containing about 25/60 starters) – something which I have never done before.

Not long after I also earned my 2nd Cat licence – a move up 2 categories in one year!

Track nationals were next on the list. I’d never competed in the National Track Championships before, so I was just riding for experience (aiming to peak for the hill climb rather than the track nationals). I didn’t have any problems keeping up whatsoever, although rode rather conservatively. Wish I had done a bit more in the points race, but came 10th in the scratch race which concluded in a sprint finish – total surprise, as I’m not the best of sprinters. All good progress ready for the hill climbs...

Back on the bike!

National Crit Champs, Sheffield

I’ve had a tough couple of months. More responsibility at work has been difficult – a very welcome change, although change is always challenging. Stressing about getting jobs finished off and tiredness from travelling long distances for bike races was starting to take its toll and my head just hasn’t been in it. So I decided to take a few weeks off racing. Expensive decision to make, as about £90 of races had already been paid for, but it needed to be done.

I did as much or as little as I felt like for those few weeks – riding Madison SQT’s at Manchester Velodrome and the Manchester to Blackpool ‘Sportive’. I also started doing the Buxton TT’s, which I have actually started to enjoy…there may be a tester in there somewhere yet. Maybe not.
What I’ve certainly learned is how to balance racing with work and I’ll perhaps be less quick just to enter a women’s event just because they put one on in future!
Since I’ve been back racing, I’ve actually been doing much better with a couple of top 20’s in the last couple of weeks. I came 13th at Naseby (one of my favourite courses), although spoiled somewhat by running an E/1/2 men’s race at the same time causing us to stop with just 3 miles to go. I also came 20th(I think) In the National Crit Champs in Sheffield, although only the top 19 were recorded. The course was fantastic, as the city centre crits always are with fast corners and a cobbled climb!

This weekend I took some more time out for myself and travelled up to Northumberland and the Lakes for the weekend to ride with the Kyklos team. I got to try various Edco wheels, deep sections on the first day and some lighter ‘Albula’ Competition wheels on the second day. With Kirkstone Pass on the route for day two I was grateful for the lighter wheels with ceramic braking surface (fantastic in the wet so I'm told), although NOT the 39 25 gear ratio. Everyone else was on compacts, triples or had a 29 (MARK!!). The weekend was brilliant fun, Eve and I enjoyed giving the boys a challenge and the scenery was awesome – in particular the Langdale Valley which looks like something from Jurassic Park! I can’t wait to go back!

Bit of a bling 'club' ride - pretty
much everyone on deep section Edcos.

A few races under the belt

After not having a hugely successful  start to the season, I’m pleased to say I’ve finished some road races, in the bunch with cranks and knees intact!
 

Oxford - 'The Corner'

It started with the first round of the Tour Series in Oxford. We travelled down in the morning to have a cycle round the city. It was the hottest day of the year so far, so brilliantly timed. We had a little cycle round, a look at the old university buildings and a picnic whilst watching the kids race, right by the tightest corner of the circuit – entertaining to say the least. Hayley arrived and we went to put on our lovely speedsuits and sign on. The Johnsons Health Tech Series Crits are always really exciting - the atmosphere with the large crowds and the tightly cornered city centre circuits, often cobbled are always great fun. I had absolutely no expectations as I had been ill in the run up to the race (and to be honest was still ill on the day), but I was there to have a good time – especially with the sun out!

Me and Hayley at the start line in
Oxford

We rolled up to the start line, somewhere near the back (doh) although by the time we had rolled forward it wasn’t too far from the front. We started the couple laps behind the bike and the girls were taking it cautiously round the set of triple hairpins, which were in a Y shape and each one got tighter. When the motorbike pulled away the race went BANG. The pace went right up and I got a little swamped on the first few corners. I managed to work my way up to the first chase group, where we tried to catch the main group in front. We were working well together, although eventually the illness caught up and I found myself struggling out of the final hairpin each time until I slowly lost contact with the group. I got lapped on the final lap, despite my best efforts to keep ahead. However, despite being ill this was still an achievement on the previous year when I had been lapped several times.  Hayley had done really well too and we’d both had a great time, although were so hot we went straight to find a shop and decided to buy a two litre bottle of water each! Our ‘race mechanics’ had wandered off so to get them back had to resort to stuffing them down the skinsuits – not a good look!

The next race on the calendar was the National Road Race Series Hillingdon GP. The weather was still glorious, although far too hot for a road race but I did have my bling Edco deep sections!! All the girls seemed pleased the race had been shortened by 10laps due to a big crash in the ¾ race earlier on. In the earlier stages of the race I managed to keep quite far forward, although when the decisive break went I found myself too far back to react. Unfortunately all the big teams were represented in the break so it was pretty much impossible to organise a constant chase. I decided to wait for the sprint finish as chasing was useless. I was on a good wheel until 2 to go when I got squeezed out and ended up at the back with no way through. I rolled in near the back of the bunch for 42^nd.

My next race in Banbury was practically the opposite of Hillingdon. It was around 14 degrees and pouring it down and I arrived to discover there was a 1 mile, 14% climb – good job I brought the light wheels!
Despite the poor weather, I was really up for the race as the course looked like it was going to be one of the most interesting I’d raced. It was 3 laps of a circuit that went up a ‘’Knowle’’ called Edge Hill. The climb is usually the sort my other half enjoys dragging me up, so I’d had plenty of practice! The race stayed pretty neutral until we started the climb. As expected, the race splintered.  I was a bit too far back, passing riders just to keep up the pace with the riders at the front, but they were too far away. I ended up in a chase group working hard with them to regain contact with the lead group on the run up to the climb for the second time. Unfortunately I’d spent a little too much energy to be able to hang on to the leaders and was dropped again. There were a group of four of us working together – two of which had been in the break at Hillingdon the previous week. The 4 became 10 as two groups merged towards the end of the race. The finish line was right at the top of a steep kick – just my kind of finish! I came 2^nd in our group, pipped by Louise Mahe who had finished 3^rd and won the sprint prize at Hillingdon. I was happy with my sprint, although slightly gutted I couldn’t have been up there on the main climb to be able to really see what I can do. Lessons to be learned, roll on Capernwray this weekend………..

One hec of a Mountain Time Trial, and some other racing..

The snow lined roads of the Buxton MTT. Yes,
saddlebag is still on - yes another schoolgirl error! Picture
by Steve Gait




It’s been a while since I’ve done one of my own blogs. So many things to write about but not had the time.

I’ve not had much luck in racing so far, at the season starter crits my crank played up, kindly falling off on both occasions. Fortunately found out before the race season started. New chainset, problem solved (so far…). I’ve had a better time of it on the track, getting two wins and a third in 1 night and getting moved up a group where I have had the opportunity to race a 10miler. Exhausting, but brilliant training! Looking forward to racing the Friday night track league when it starts up again in October.

I’ve had to go on a couple of away jobs with work lately, but I struck lucky when I learned that one was a week in Bowness-on-Windermere – just down the road from Eve who lives in Kendal. It also ‘happened’ to coincide with a team weekend. It was a brilliant week away and I was totally battered by Eve over the week up the various climbs around the area. We also had a ride round the Capernwray course - it is extremely tough, but I like a challenge.

This Easter weekend has been another tough one. I competed in the demanding Buxton CC Mountain on Good Friday, which I had entered having forgotten how hard it was. The course is 2 laps round 11 miles of climbing and descent with nothing in between! I remembered the section along Axe Edge being flat. It was not. It was merely a little flatter than the climb leading up to it.
The winners normally ride the course on Time Trial bikes, but with a generous athletes prize on offer (and an unsuitable bottom gear on the TT bike) I opted to ride on my race bike and try out a pair of Carbon Edco wheels, which looked awesome and felt great! Although I went slightly slower than the previous year, the conditions were worse with a headwind up the climb and cold temperatures with snow lining the sides of the road, I still managed to collect 4th in both the women’s and 2 lap athletes prizes.

Next up was the Stockport Clarion Hill Climb on Easter Sunday out of the Goyt Valley to Long Hill – a long straight road that seems to go-on forever. Strange time of year to have a hill climb, but why not?! I didn’t think the climb would be much fun in the wet, but I actually quite enjoyed it! Probably mostly because I beat Richard (sorry!), but I quite liked the climb as well. Will look forward to doing the Buxton CC club event on the same climb later in the year.

The final racing of the weekend was the Easter Monday Open Track Meet – a good opportunity to race with just women! Unfortunately the races were quite short and I made a few tactical errors, but still managed 3rd in the scratch and devil and 2nd in the Keirin and Courses des Primes.

I’m now looking forward to racing at the Cheshire Classic in a couple of weekends time!

Nicola and Sports Citys Lisa Daily in the Team Sprint



On the start line for a cold,
wet hill climb! Kenda tyres
were brilliant - no wheel
spin whatsoever!!
Photo by Steve Gait

10 minutes (and more) of hell

For anyone who didn't ride the Mersey tunnel time trial yesterday, you really missed out!! Glorious sunshine, closed roads and a lively atmosphere and there was quite a crowd. I would liken it to an early Monsal hill climb in terms if the number of people that we there. Not to mention the huge prize list...

Three of the Maxgearettes had entered, myself, Mel and Frankie. I had borrowed a time trial bike from my good friend George Rose - a beautiful black Hinde complete with Zipp disc! A big thank you to him! As well as the awesome new Champion System/Maxgear/Kyklos speedsuit, Limar had supported us with a couple of speed demon aero helmets for the event. We really looked the part!

As we warmed up in the sun, Mel was showing me the various tricks she can do on the rollers including dismounting whist on the bike (don't try that one in the kitchen!) and Frankie made good use of the turbos provided by Vita Cycles for warm up by the speakers to get in the zone'.

After an hard warm up, really important for such a short race, it was time to head off to the start line! I felt more nervous than I usually do for road races - in a time trial there's nowhere to hide. With a growl from the starters and a shove, I was off.

I usually find time trials a little dull, but this one was anything but. On the decent under the tunnel the speed really picked up and what had been a sweeping corner at 30mph in the car had to be leant into. It was really disorientating and I could hear the noise of the disk echoing off the tunnel walls. This was followed by a Climb back up to the top. I cant even tell you now what sort of gradient it was, I really couldn't tell. It looked really steep but could be big ringed fairly easily.

I turned in the road at the top and started the decent back under the river. By the time I reached the bottom I was already willing to see daylight. My feet had gone numb with the cold down in the tunnel and it was really hurting. As I got to the exit I got out of the saddle for the last push.

What turned out to be twelve minutes - and 4th place - most certainly hurt, but I don't think you'll find a more exhilarating time trial easily... I will be entering again faster and stronger next year.

Thanks to Vita Cycles for putting on a great event and to Ian and Alex who were on photo/tweeting/support duties.

Champion Systems/Maxgear/Kyklos team launch

Congratulations to the Maxgear riders racing in the Revolution Series - Jake Ragan took the future stars title with some of the best team work displayed of the evening and Champion Systems/Maxgear/Kyklos won overall for the second year running! It was some exciting racing - especially the Derny Race which I had never seen before, won in spectacular fashion by Simon Yates(Maxgear) who had also won the National Madison Championships earlier in the day!

Some good news for myself also - got a few podiums at the track league including a win, although that means I get moved to a faster group now...

The team launch last weekend was also a great success despite very cold and snowy conditions - some fantastic shots were taken by John Picton and we all got to meet the lovely sponsors from Moore & Large/Todays Cyclist and Veroli Limited (Kyklos/Edco distributors). It was an early start to get from Manchester to Northumberland. We were up at 4.30am! When we got there it was cold, but sunny and Matfen Hall looked beautiful. The new team van and all the new Kyklos bikes were there along with members from all the teams.

It was really great to meet the guys from the senior and junior teams and the weekend turned out to be loads of fun. Each team did a little presentation on their goals for the year before the ride out with shots. Just as we got on the bikes it started to snow. Still, being the tough northerners we are, we carried on. It was a little sketchy in places, but everyone managed to stay upright. Unfortunatley the weather was too bad to ride on the Sunday.



Overall it was a fun weekend some great shots were taken (see John Pictons facebook page) and everyone had a great time. It is great to be part of a team where everyone has a passion for cycling and really enjoys what they do! Roll on the next team weekend!!!

Track league, team launch, Revolution. Busy, busy, busy!

Ok, so perhaps not the best start to 2012. Ill twice in two weeks = not many road hours so far this year... Still, plenty of time for some big road rides before the season starts!


Our new team kit arrived at the weekend! Big thanks to Champion Systems :) looks great, as always and LOVING my new speedsuit!! Photos coming soon...

We have a busy couple of weeks to come - most of the girls will be ripping up the track league tomorrow so it will be a good chance for the team to meet. Then its off to the Revolution on Saturday which Maxgear is currently leading overall - fingers crossed for holding the title for the second year running!
The following weekend is the team launch at Matfen Hall, which i will include a big ride with the boys team. Should be good training :)



Racing will begin in March with a couple of the early season womens crits at Salt Eyre and Tameside, followed by the Buxton CC Mountain TT on 6th April around Longnor (Derbyshire) organised by the good old couch potato! In the meantime I'll be enjoying getting back into racing at MRTL and ACT track leagues - even had a few attacks off the front last week. Looks like my inner wimp might be disappearing..!