I rode these today for CS Grupetto in the hope that it would help me defend my own club hill climb trophy. ‘Training’ I believe it’s called?
The MDCC champs are trickier though in that you ride over 3 different hills and it’s the total time that decides the winner. I found it quite difficult to pace, going to easy on the first hill, not being able to breath on the second hill and not doing too bad on my old favourite Windsor Hill.
The first hill – Quarry Wood Hill, Marlow – HHC024
Site of a broken collarbone on a LFGSS ride to Oxford (I think) I’d never ridden up this, only down. It’s a long flat and then mild climb with a kicker left and then drags on. I knew I couldn’t go all out after since that would require me to sit down for 30min before vowing never to climb again. Unfortunately I took it too easy, as I turned around almost straight away and was cheering riders coming up after me (I was rider #1). I could even hold a conversation back at the start line. Waaay too easy. 🙁
The second hill – Burroughs Grove Hill, Marlow – HHC025
I’d never ridden this before and didn’t get a practise ride either so I was going in blind. All I knew was everyone saying it’s LONG but not too steep. It did go on for ages and I thought I was pushing pretty hard, certainly harder than the first climb, but still didn’t feel like I’d done it properly at the top.
The third hill – Windsor Hill, Wooburn Green – HHC011
I’ve won at Windsor Hill before (and come in second winning my club’s HC trophy, last year) so I knew the climb. I think because I’ve not been doing any riding other than commuting I just can’t handle long bouts out of the saddle like I could after having come back from the Pyrenees last year. So, I would get out of the saddle, dig in but quickly blow up so I’d have to sit and grind. This hill is shorter and more suited to brief powerful efforts so sitting down and grinding isn’t going to help. I was still happy that with a cold, with no food and next to no training AND having done two hills already, I was only 15 seconds off my time from last year. So, mixed messages really. One thing I know.. I need to start riding again!
Thanks to MDCC for letting me ride (EOL FTW!)