My 20 minute Cragg Vale hill climb challenge

[ColinJ]

Colin, why not do a CC meet there in the new year, say April? Give yourself a target.

I did have a cunning plan ...

The idea was to organise a CycleChat 'event' on the climb. The plan was to all race up the climb as fast as we could and use our times to calculate handicaps for a second run later. When we got to the summit, we could go off and ride around a nice, hilly circuit which eventually leads back to the foot of the climb. We then set off again, one at a time, according to the handicaps calculated earlier. Each rider tries to catch the ones in front, and stay ahead of the ones behind. I was thinking that no rider could drop another rider, so when a faster rider caught a slower rider, the faster rider would have to moderate his/her pace to encourage the slower rider(s). This way, the riders would gradually coalesce into larger groups

The ideal scenario would be for the whole CycleChat peloton to come together in the last mile or so, which is at a shallow gradient, and then do a team time trial to the reservoir at the top!

 

[potsy]

If the top 7 riders are not cheating, then they all went faster than the official HC record!

They might have done it with tail winds?

Big Steve's on the list, just over 33 minutes

 

[ColinJ]

Look at 7th place Colin

What ...

Ah - 2 riders on the same time!

 

[Rob3rt]

What ...

Ah - 2 riders on the same time!

No, he means it is Simon Yates

 

[ColinJ]

They might have done it with tail winds?

Big Steve's on the list, just over 33 minutes

Actually, the course record was set into a stiff headwind, so you could be right. It can take minutes off your time.

It must be that the HC event has never had a decent tailwind, which doesn't surprise me because they only seem to happen about 1% of the time. I'd guess that 25% of the time there is a slight cross/headwind, 25% of the time a moderate cross/headwind, and 25% of the time a b*stard cross/headwind!

 

[Rob3rt]

The record was set in July with favourable conditions.

 

[ColinJ]

No, he means it is Simon Yates

Obviously, I am not au fait with top HC specialists!

I do know some of the names like (maybe past it now?) Jim Henderson and Matt Clinton.

 

[400bhp]

I did have a cunning plan ...

You didn't really mean "race" did you.

You meant "ride up it at intervals, perferably 1 minute apart, completely at one's discretion and personal liability"

 

[400bhp]

Obviously, I am not au fait with top HC specialists!

I do know some of the names like (maybe past it now?) Jim Henderson and Matt Clinton.

Future GT winner Colin

 

[Rob3rt]

Obviously, I am not au fait with top HC specialists!

I do know some of the names like (maybe past it now?) Jim Henderson and Matt Clinton.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Yates_(cyclist)

Matty Clinton is deffo not past it, been on the podium 7 years in a row at the National HC, inc this year. The blokes a beast! Unparalleled levels of consistency!

 

[400bhp]

You come across Ben G, Rob? There or thereabouts all over climbs. Clearly pretty handy.

 

[Rob3rt]

You come across Ben G, Rob? There or thereabouts all over climbs. Clearly pretty handy.

He is a strong lad, he came 4th on the Cat and Fiddle, but I THINK he become ill or injured or something.

 

[Hill Wimp]

There is a bus turning area halfway up the steeper section in the middle of the climb. I know from experience of doing the climb frequently over the years, that I get to that point about midway through my ride. I can tell by then whether I am track to hit my goal for the day. If I am, I push on and go for it. If I am struggling, I accept it, back off, and just twiddle my way up the second half.

I normally turn left at the top, descend towards Ripponden, and turn left along Blue Ball Lane for a quiet scenic ride back to Mytholmroyd. Looks nice, doesn't it ...

Unfortunately, that route gets a bit dodgy later in the year when ice is about ...

I have the option of turning right at the top, descending to Littleborough and returning home via Todmorden instead, all on A-roads, which should be kept clear of ice in any scenario in which I would still be cycling!.

Colin that scenery is beautiful is it part of the TDF route ?

 

[classic33]

Will the time taken to do it decrease when the road is relaid & straightened in preperation for the TDF?

 

[Rob3rt]

Will the time taken to do it decrease when the road is relaided in preperation for the TDF?

Maybe, maybe not, hah! Conclusive I know. But ultimately it depends how they do it and the quality of the work.