Clik here to view.
2008 National Hill Climb Championship
The 2008 National Hill climb Championship took place on Bank Road, Matlock. Distance: 830m Average gradient of 14%. Maximum Gradient of 20%. Weather was good for late October. Sunny and dry. There was...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Streatley Hill Climb (national warm up event)
Today was a club event, promoted by Didcot Phoenix, on Streatley hill. It was partly a test run for the 2020 National hill climb which is scheduled for the end of October. Streatley hill is one of the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Bowden Hill
Last Saturday was Bowden Hill climb organised by Chippenham Wheelers. It was raining all day. I think it had been raining for 3 days solid, though it is easy to forget exactly how many days. It is not...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Brighton Mitre Hill Climbs 2020
Saturday was Brighton Mitre CC hill climbs on Steyning Borstal and Mill Hill. I raced these hills back in 2004-2006, but haven’t been back for 14 years. Mill Hill First up is Steyning Borstal, a tough...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Burrington Combe 2020
Today was my 10th entry for the Bristol South CC promotion on Burrington Combe. It’s always a hill climb I enjoy riding. A good long climb, nice scenery and, over the years, I have got to know quite a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
2020 National Hill Climb Championship
The 2020 National Hill Climb was held on Streatley Hill and was promoted by Reading CC. In many ways, it was quite an innovative event. Chip timing, live stream, live commentary (good quality) And...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Wheel spin in hill climbs
Wheelspin is not a pleasant experience, it can throw you off rhythm and make you feel like you are going nowhere. A reader asked for any advice after experieing several wheel slips on Streatley. Rake...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Winnats Pass
Winnats Pass is a tough climb in the Peak District from the village of Castleton heading West through a steep limestone cleft. It averages over 10%, with a considerable section of 20% + near the top....
View ArticleClik here to view.
The end of the long hibernation
After the national hill climb in late October. My cycling went into mini-hibernation. Every ride seemed to get shorter and slower. My mid December I was reduced to a few miles around Oxford here and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Personal experience of FAI – what worked
Shortly after finishing my first 12 hour TT in 2016, I started getting pains in my right hip and lower right back, and also delayed muscle fatigue in the right glute. I assumed it was related to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Review of End to End by Paul Jones
End to End by Paul Jones is a book about the people who have attempted the Lands End to John O Groats cycling record. It is also an exploration of the author’s own inner journey framed around his...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Pros and cons of Low traffic neighbourhoods (LTN)
To my surprise my local area (Cowley, Oxford) where I live has implemented a low traffic neighbourhood. It involves putting Bollards on some roads to block traffic Implementing bus/taxi gates where...
View ArticleClik here to view.
National Hill Climb Championship 2021
The National Hill Climb Championship this year is at Winnats Pass. It is an iconic venue for the event because it is an excellent hill (i.e. really hard 11% average, 20% max gradient). The hill has a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Clearing out bike parts – and spare parts for sale
I am currently going through a five year plan of clearing out my stuff. I have sold a lot of books on Ziffit. I have put five skinsuits in the loft and managed to throw away one. It’s amazing how you...
View ArticleClik here to view.
In honour of the hill climb season
In honour of the British Hill Climb Season, I cycled up a moderately steep hill near where I live. It was an all-out, lung-busting effort to get to the top of Rose Hill, I even overtook a young...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Surfing the Line – Hill climb film
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdGEbwxsauE I remember sitting down with Maciek about two years ago (2019). I always enjoy talking about hill climbs, so was happy to take part. We spent quite a few...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Old Shoe – Llangollen
The Old Shoe out of Llangollen is a short, steep climb in North Wales. It runs close to the better known Horseshoe Pass. (main A road). But the Old shoe makes an excellent venue for the national hill...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Electric bikes over 25mph
I have been cycling around Oxford quite a bit over winter. I try to make up to 100 miles a week if I can. It’s great fun cycling on certain roads and cycle paths. Although I am not training properly,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Fit at 100 years old – Centenarian Decathlon
I have a new fitness goal – training for the “Centenarian Decathlon” – i.e be fit when your really old. The idea is that as we get older, our muscle and fitness declines rapidly. It means we can spend...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Selling Up
Last September I had in mind to write a blog “I love intervals” I had just done a few intervals around Oxford. Short, small hills within the Oxford Ring Road. I even got a KOM on a hill up to a...
View Article
