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!