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JohnFindleyatNationalChampsSCC (John Findley) at the National Hill Climb Championship, 30th October, plus a few othersIt’s been a tough end to the season with four Hill Climbs crammed into two consecutive weekends. Just getting John to the Starts involved nearly 1000 miles’ driving (including some super-lumpy roads through mid-Wales, Lancashire and the Peak District), getting lost in unlit Cheshire lanes one night searching for a remote farm campsite, pitching up at another very wet and muddy farm site the following night and twice having to get up before Dawn (whoever she is) to persuade our drowsy Competitor to exit a very soggy tent. He didn’t need much coaxing. Did I say four Hill Climbs? Should that be three? Depends on who you talk to and which mag or blog you read. Here are some details of the events.
NB: The BUCS event Official Results appear to have been timed to the nearest whole second only which probably accounts for the high number of shared (“equal”) placings evident overall. Most will know that Long Hill was a controversial course choice for the RTTC National event; I keep well clear of such controversy of course but some might say a gradient of around 3% isn’t much and although you do still have to haul yourself up the 780ft ascent that’s still a climb rate of only 177 feet per mile. Some might also say they’ve been up steeper railway bridges in - let’s make a random suggestion here – Southport, although as I don’t live there I wouldn’t know. Were Long Hill only, say, 0.5 miles long (“Short Hill”?) the 90 feet of climbing involved would clearly not qualify for Hill Climb status, therefore, perhaps oddly, Long Hill relies on its 4.4 miles horizontal distance to provide the climbing challenge. Confusing. It certainly doesn’t come at you like, say, Ramsbottom Rake, which will happily inflict Serious Pain on many of us even with a “granny” mountain bike gear engaged. I heard one eminent person at the recent event on The Rake say, over the PA, “Long Hill? My Granny could ride that!” He should know, I thought; Granny might take all day but she would indeed probably arrive at the Finish to record a time. Eventually. Granny riding The Rake, on the other hand ….. let’s not go there. Marketing opportunity for a stairlift installer I reckon. Some might say I’m getting carried away on my own stairlift and comparing extremes and they’d be right! Anyhow, Long Hill self evidently is a hill but whilst the climbers seem to have been well represented in the results, TT kit and bikes were prominent on the road which perhaps suggests more than anything else the climb’s true nature. I’ll stop now. Long Hill was also busy with traffic – loads of cars and a sprinkling of buses and lorries meant plenty of drafting or (Click the image for a bigger picture) What the Results don’t show but which is worth mentioning here is that commentator David Harmon announced about 1h 40mins into the event i.e. with 100 riders through, that John held the fastest time to the halfway checkpoint at a little over 7mins. Perhaps significantly, he reckoned this first half was rather the steepest section but, more interesting, it was also the more sheltered, with the wind coming fully into play on the more exposed upper half and this was where he felt he lost time. He says this wasn’t a pacing or stamina issue, more an equipment one; he was using his standard road bike. Aero kit was limited to a skinsuit and cotton racing cap which should have secured some fashionable Marginal Gains but, as things turned out, these were rather too marginal! One of his mates said he'd fitted tri-bars for the event not really expecting to use them but had ridden on them all the way from start to finish! Equipment apart, hindsight suggests that riding two Championship events on consecutive days might not have been ideal as the legs will have carried some effects of the first into the second, but that was unavoidable. For those into Numerology here’s a thing – Long Hill was 4.44 miles long and John was initially recorded as finishing 44th in 14-44.4….. the organisers must have picked up on the -ology factor because they later revised his placing to 49th but that’s still a lot of “4’s”. John had hoped for a better position but that’s probably true of every rider behind the Winner. It’s all experience to be banked for the future we reckon, but wait - next year’s Championship’s on The Rake and will be a very different bag of wheels. Climber's Chalk vs Tester's Cheese, some might say! Personally, I’d prefer Long Hill. Anyway, congrats to Gunnar Gronlund on a worthy win and let’s hope he secures a contract next season. Credit also to the organisers for a well run and memorable event. John certainly appreciated seeing Jim Henderson, Colin Baldwin and Bill Lloyd there – they’ve all contributed to his effort this season in various ways (the benefits of SCC membership!) and he sends his Thanks for all that. In particular it was good to have Colin visit us at the Team Truck in the HQ car park and we’ll have the kettle on next time, Colin. Full Results on the CTT website (or, for Curbar, the BUCS website). Connoisseurs of others’ gurning and pain can get their fix via these weblinks………… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlANo27DSgk (John appears @ 1 minute 19 secs–ish – spot the overtake?) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trRKLMw0ZqA&list=FLMRymriRQ7r4R1D5W3zO6og&index=1&feature=plpp_video (John appears @ 0min-40 secs. This was filmed opposite David Harmon’s commentary position – have a listen!) http://www.sportsunday.co.uk/portfolio232283p2.html (stills) http://www.kimroy-photography.co.uk/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=100279&g2_page=8 (stills) ……………. and probably many more out there. John Findley -
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obstruction opportunities, depending on the rider’s luck. There were also a few non-competing cyclists out (actually millions, or so it seemed) and sadly not all of those riding up the hill to spectate were giving the competitors a clear run. Add in the brisk headwind and you have an intriguing mix of challenges for the racers.