I’ve always been little and quite spunky on the hills since I started riding, and as I’ve got more into cycling – with a bike that fits – I’ve found I can get up them fairly well even when I’ve not been training that much. Last year, on Specialized Summit, I started to speak to the gals about hill climbs and it planted a seed. A seed I didn’t really act on until some drunken chats with Phoebe Sneddon (Sneds) this summer. I was roped into Monsal Head Hill climb, with a full support crew from Phoebe, her dad, and Diane from Magspeed.
Now, living in Cambridge was likely the worst prep possible, but perhaps the wind resistance helped a little bit? I’ve certainly improved my cadence since moving down here, I’m not so much of a gear grinder now! And I also had some training plans from Heidi Blunden over the summer which were crit specific – so my cycling consistency has been way UP on previous years! A few days training camp in Mallorca with Sneddon in September also boded well for some strength and enthusiasm in winter racing. Hill reps for 1 minute on, 1 minute off, x 20 was pretty brutal in one of her sessions.
Anyway, onto the interesting bit.
Hill climbing, it is a niche sport…
Off I trotted to the Peak District. Staying at Chez Sneddon. The night before me and Phoebe walked the course; I was out of breath just walking up it! Shit, what have I entered!
A good night’s sleep, a pint, and some spag bol set me up the night before. At 09:30 I turned up on my old Specialized Amira, with some Roval deep set carbon race wheels (thanks Grant for letting me borrow!) and I felt instantly underprepared. I knew I needed a light bike, but I don’t think I quite realised how light, or what efforts people go to to save weight. Apart from the ‘race weight diets’ (which I whole heartedly disagree with), my gosh – people really had chopped their bikes up! My face when I saw Rebecca Richardson’s bike – half the handlebars weren’t there!
It was so wet I was scared to get my rollers out, for thought of falling off them, injuring myself and being unable to drive home! The girls (Sneds & Di – Magspeed Ladies!) had so kindly ridden out to support me and they must have been frozen! My warm up was a bit mixed, I had no idea what I was doing, I rode the course once, and it seemed OK. I was excited!
I went off at 11:11. The 11th rider – After the tandem, and in amongst the kiddos. I was unseeded and had written this on my initial entry form. Hardly anyone stood at the side of the road. I did wonder what all the fuss was about, I thought there was a crowd at the top, but no I was too early – this was quite different to the Youtube footage I’d watched!! It was wet, slippery, windy and grey. There were only 2 photographers at the top, and one cow bell on the way up!
I had set up my gears and there was nothing left to do! I rode hard from the start, changed down 2 gears – 1 more than planned, but kept my legs ticking over! I could hear some shouting but not really see where it was from. Keep pushing, keep pushing, I knew I was grimacing, pulling at the bike with all I could, pushing the power down, trying to keep some kind of momentum! And suddenly I was out of the trees, with a cowbell shoved in my face on the right hand side, and I only had 50m to go! I pushed harder and harder, came round the barriers and then I was done! What a great feeling! Type 2 fun, definitely.
I had that lactic feeling, a wave of sickness, a wave of euphoria! Great, lovely, I can pack up now and go home! But alas, no – my time was pretty good, well under 2 mins (1.56). It turned out I’d have to wait for the next 4 hours until the fastest girls went so that I could see where I finished! I hung around, got cold, ate some hot dogs, drank some tea, and my time was still in the lead! I was absolutely gobsmacked…. It was only until the last two girls went that I was into 3rd place! I could NOT believe it, honestly, if you saw anything on Instagram that day – I was so shocked!!
It was fantastic, by now the crowds had really turned up, the weather was less miserable, people were excited, there was a buzz. The blokes were smashing it up the hill! There really were some disgustingly quick times! I was sold, into this world of hill climbing, this niche sport with fantastic support, where every one chats to you and encourages you. Where everyone is interested in how you’ve done, and at how they can help you. I’ve not met a nicer group of people. And I’m so so glad I tried it, obviously the result made it even better, and I will 100% be back next year.
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