Circuit of the Cotswolds this Sunday

jimmoffatt · June 2007

Anybody riding this and aiming for under 6 hours and want some company?
Jim

JWSurrey · June 2007

A few of the guys at Highclere were talking about it - Got a link to the site?
They were with some internet based cycling club - wearing red jerseys - not sure of the name though.
I think my legs will still be suffering, so will probably go for the MK ride this weekend instead.

abchandler · June 2007

Yes and no and yes.

So I'm probably not who you're looking for.[:)]
Under 7 I might manage but no way under 6

Link to site

"I don't want to change the world. For me, happiness is the most important thing and if I'm happy then it shows in my work." Freddie Mercury

oldwelshman · June 2007

Jim, theres around 14 from our club riding this as prep for Gran Pinarello in Italy so they will be going steady I would think for first 60 miles, probably averaging 18 to 20mph.
There are a couple of really good climbers there so guess it will break up a bit around 65 miles Cleeve Hill and others.
You can join us, I replied to your mail about riding with us and maybe a lift for you.
Under 6 hours is good time for this, think 3 of the guys did it last year under 6, even though one of htem walked Cleeve Hill [:D]
I am taking 39 x 27 same as North Wales.

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abchandler · June 2007

So is a 39 x 25 asking for trouble on Cleeve Hill?

"I don't want to change the world. For me, happiness is the most important thing and if I'm happy then it shows in my work." Freddie Mercury

oldwelshman · June 2007

Unless your a very very strong climber and a 1st cat rider I would say probably [:D]

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ClaireV · June 2007

I made it up Cleeve Hill with a 39x25 last year (not on the Circuit of the Cotswolds though, just on an ordinary ride), but it was probably the hardest climb I've ever done. This year I'll have 34x27, and I'm expecting to be using it!

oldwelshman · June 2007

Claire you can join our group and tow me up then [:D]
I think we hit it after about 60 miles.
In sportives I generally end up using 2 or 3 gears lower than races not to get my legs to tired [:D]
That will be my excuse for going slowly

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ClaireV

I made it up Cleeve Hill with a 39x25 last year (not on the Circuit of the Cotswolds though, just on an ordinary ride), but it was probably the hardest climb I've ever done. This year I'll have 34x27, and I'm expecting to be using it!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

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ClaireV · June 2007

I had enough trouble getting myself up it! I'm more than a little apprehensive about hitting it after about 80 miles of cycling (it's going to be a long day for me - I have to cycle out to Witney and back from Oxford on top of the Circuit itself - I'm hoping to find some nice friendly people to pull me along!).

jpembrokecp · June 2007

Doesn't it go up Bushcombe Lane? Nasty.

well, yes and no......but mainly no.

jpembrokecp · June 2007

Oh boy! According to the map it goes up Bushcombe Lane and Corndean Lane. That's a 25% followed by a 20% within 1 mile! Bit misleading of them to call it Cleeve Hill as everyone will assume that is the normal climb via the B4632. Bushcombe Lane is a different kettle of fish. That is one brick hard route. Good luck people.

well, yes and no......but mainly no.

jimmoffatt · June 2007

Jim Henderson (Cotswold organiser) has written about Bushcombe Lane in this weeks comic in the killer climb article. Sounds very difficult and if Jim H says it is 'one of the hardest climbs I have ever ridden' we should be worried [;)]
Jim

ClaireV · June 2007

I'm glad it's not just me then!

oldwelshman · June 2007

I was confused about the name of the hill being called Cleeve Hill as I could see it was Bushcombe. I could see the single chevron followed by the bouble chevron [8D]

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jpembrokecp · June 2007

and it was definitely Bushcombe Lane you went up? If not then you may be in for a shock. One day I'm going to have to do the unholy trinity in succession: Gambles Lane, Stockwell Lane, Bushcombe Lane. All next door to each other on Cleeve Hill and all 25%.

well, yes and no......but mainly no.

oldwelshman · June 2007

I have not been up it, but on map O was shown by some one who rode it last year it is Bushcombe lane up to longwood farm.
It cannot be worse than the climb in my pics in link below which is almost 2 miles with a long 20 and 25% bit!![:D]

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sylvanus · June 2007

You will be walking with a 39x25 unless you are below 70kgs and very strong. Its one of those climbs where you keep doing wheelies as you pedal - its so steep! What really is horrendous is not just Cleeve Hill but the 2 or 3 climbs after since by then you will be completely physically destroyed.

I used to live at the top of it and it was some years before I realised that cycling wasn't always meant to make you weep.

jpembrokecp · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by oldwelshman

I have not been up it, but on map O was shown by some one who rode it last year it is Bushcombe lane up to longwood farm.
It cannot be worse than the climb in my pics in link below which is almost 2 miles with a long 20 and 25% bit!![:D]

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<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Question was really aimed at ClaireV who said she'd been up Cleeve Hill. I reckon there will be a few people looking at the list and thinking they know the climb and then getting there and discovering that the climb is not the one everyone refers to as Cleeve Hill i.e. the B4632 past The Rising Sun pub. Rather it is an absolute wheelie-inducing horror show. A little unfair of the organisers to refer to it as Cleeve Hill.

and then of course you have the small matter of Corndean Lane 2 minutes later. Shudder.

well, yes and no......but mainly no.

jimmoffatt · June 2007

I thought we were in for something special knowing that Jim Henderson is 5 times National Hill Climb Champion and he refers to it as 'one of the hardest climbs I have ever ridden'. [:0]

ClaireV · June 2007

I would definitely agree with him! I only just made it up, more through pure stubborness than anything else (I was with one of the best climbers in my club at the time and he was chatting away merrily to me the entire way up - I didn't have any breath for anything other than turning the pedals round very slowly, but I was damned if I was going to stop and be accused of being girly!). I guess I do have the advantage of not being particularly heavy, but I was right on my limit the entire way.

The bit at the top's nice though.

JWSurrey · June 2007

What's the earliest/latest start time, and can one enter on the day?
Not sure what's best this weekend as yet, since I put my back out. Hoping to have recovered by Sunday to get out and something though.

ClaireV · June 2007

Start times 8am - 9am, and it's been full up for months! I'm not sure the Circuit of the Cotswolds would be the best first ride after putting your back out...

Naughts · June 2007

Interesting thread this. I'm 67kg and will be taking 39 x 26 bottom gear which I'd assumed will be low enough. Fingers crossed then!

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by JWSurrey

What's the earliest/latest start time, and can one enter on the day?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Riders are set off in groups between 8 & 9am but there's no entry on the day and it's full up.

<hr noshade size="1">
"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger - Mont Ventoux, 2005"
My trusty steed

JWSurrey · June 2007

Oh no! I thought from the guys chatting at Highclere that there were still spare places.
Damn - Looks like either a club run or the MK sportive... Very few details on hill profile for the MK one though.

Never mind - thanks for the heads-up, saves me turning up on the day to find there's no spare slots.

Brycp · June 2007

I've got a cold so now sure now whether I'm doing it (gutted!)...and if I am whether I will go for the long route or the short route.

What are the chances of me being able to get up that hill whilst blowing my nose every 3 seconds?! ;-)

And I get over the breaks
And I, I stumble and fall

oldwelshman · June 2007

I am 78kg and taking 39 x 27. I have ridden a similar hill (possibly worse lol) on 39 x 23 but very nearly got off !!

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ClaireV · June 2007

Was there even a single hill in all of the Cotswolds that they didn't make us cycle up today?!

Brycp · June 2007

No, is the answer to that! It was just one after another, wasn't it?

I am happy to say that I was brave and opted for the longer route (cold wasn't too bad), but can't say I cycled up THAT hill!

Good day, wasn't it? Glad we didn't get rained on!

And I get over the breaks
And I, I stumble and fall

oldwelshman · June 2007

What was you wearing Claire I passed several ladies on route, I finished around 2:40.
Steve, me and Jim managed 5hr 33mins, including feed stops [:D]
There were loads and loads walking up Cleeve hill, I managed it up and only saw about a dozen others, saw about 80 walking!!!
After the climbs at about 60 miles we got in a small group and picked up a couple of otheres and rode with 2 reading guys, me,Jim and 2 from Sindon until the end.
We had two passenger (mind one of them did throw up inlast couple of miles[:D]) so with 5 miles to go I went on my own and watched Jim chase me [:D]
I let him catch me just enterring the town [;)]
Roll on next week with some gradual climbs instead of a brick wall.
By the way I still think Cleeve is not as bad as Abertridw climb, same steepness but a lot shorter.

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oldwelshman · June 2007

I am off of out to do a 5 mile warm down ride before a bath, my muscles are like jelly !!!!

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Brycp · June 2007

Mine are also a bit wobbly. Don't think I fancy any more miles today though.

And I get over the breaks
And I, I stumble and fall

Circuit of the Cotswolds this Sunday

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