Swains Lane Challenge (North London)

_Brun_

Road bike was worth 10 seconds over the fixed. Definitely feel like I've got something on my chest at the moment, was pretty wheezy when I got to the top. Hopefully shaking that off will get us another few seconds.

Also, must remember in future to make sure the zebra crossing is gonna be clear before starting.

Name................Time.........Mnth
mrc1................1:48.........Mar
willy b.............2:14..r......Sep
jds_1981............2:20.........Sep   with pannier
brun................2:22..s......Sep   road bike
willy b.............2:31.........Sep   53:18 old SS in commuter guise
brun................2:32..s......Sep   71" fixed (after four pints)
spasypaddy..........3:22.........Sep
t4tomo..............3.23.........Sep   Brompton

willy b

Agree, it's nice to see that the road bike is quicker. I was a little worried that my £35 ss would only be a few seconds slower than my road bike

Can't do my 10 laps of Swains today as I have a work thing to go to!

I'm also currently looking at moving house, is it wrong i'm trying to convince the Mrs that Highgate would be a good place to live, just so I have to go up Swains Lane every day

mrc1

I've lost track of where we are starting from. My time is based on the Urban Hill climb start (standing start). Happy for an extra amount of time to be added if others are timing from somewhere else?

jds_1981

mrc1 wrote:

I've lost track of where we are starting from. My time is based on the Urban Hill climb start (standing start). Happy for an extra amount of time to be added if others are timing from somewhere else?

See google links at start of thread. Bus stop on left hand side a bit back from the hill climb start point. finishing line probably where you are finishing.

willy b

jds_1981 wrote:

mrc1 wrote:

I've lost track of where we are starting from. My time is based on the Urban Hill climb start (standing start). Happy for an extra amount of time to be added if others are timing from somewhere else?

See google links at start of thread. Bus stop on left hand side a bit back from the hill climb start point. finishing line probably where you are finishing.

This.

Where did the Urban Hill Climb start?.

_Brun_

Just after Chester Rd, you can see it on Strava.

Looking at people's times, the difference between the two is a pretty consistent 15 seconds. In other words, mrc1 has nothing to worry about just yet.

willy b

Ah I see. I need to "find" around 10 seconds then

mrc1

_Brun_ wrote:

Just after Chester Rd, you can see it on Strava.

Looking at people's times, the difference between the two is a pretty consistent 15 seconds. In other words, mrc1 has nothing to worry about just yet.

Sweet - I have to say that the Chester Road start point seems a bit more logical as the bit between there and the bus stop is practically flat, but if the powers that be have decided otherwise I will fall into line. 8)

For the purposes of the 10x10 challenge I was turning around just before the zebra crossing.

mrc1

Name................Time.........Mnth
mrc1................2:03 .........Mar   1:48 Chester Road start - notional 15 secs added 
willy b.............2:14..r......Sep
jds_1981............2:20.........Sep   with pannier
brun................2:22..s......Sep   road bike
willy b.............2:31.........Sep   53:18 old SS in commuter guise
brun................2:32..s......Sep   71" fixed (after four pints)
spasypaddy..........3:22.........Sep
t4tomo..............3.23.........Sep   Brompton

[/quote]

jds_1981

Think I'm going to find it hard to beat my time.

Encountered a couple of people doing laps on it this morning. Seems to be quite popular.

There was one climbing machine who appeared to be clad in rapha (my bike clothing/machinery awareness is below par), who went up the top steep section like a whippet.

willy b

Did two laps tonight, did a 1:57 from Chester Road, then a 2:10 from the bus stop.

Name................Time.........Mnth
mrc1................2:03 .........Mar   1:48 Chester Road start - notional 15 secs added 
willy b.............2:10.........Sep
willy b.............2:14..r......Sep
jds_1981............2:20.........Sep   with pannier
brun................2:22..s......Sep   road bike
willy b.............2:31.........Sep   53:18 old SS in commuter guise
brun................2:32..s......Sep   71" fixed (after four pints)
spasypaddy..........3:22.........Sep
t4tomo..............3.23.........Sep   Brompton

[/quote]

willy b

Name................Time.........Mnth
mrc1................2:03 .........Mar   1:48 Chester Road start - notional 15 secs added 
willy b.............2:09.........Oct
willy b.............2:10.........Sep
willy b.............2:14..r......Sep
jds_1981............2:20.........Sep   with pannier
brun................2:22..s......Sep   road bike
willy b.............2:31.........Sep   53:18 old SS in commuter guise
brun................2:32..s......Sep   71" fixed (after four pints)
spasypaddy..........3:22.........Sep
t4tomo..............3.23.........Sep   Brompton

Did two Swains Lane laps this morning, then Highgate West Hill. Only did a 3:06 but had just done Swains twice, so i'll have a go tomorrow. Here is the Strava Segment if anybody cares http://app.strava.com/rides/1827759#29518880

Ben6899

I've just moved down here and now have my bike with me. I headed out last Sunday (after a 2-week chest cold) and posted a 2:35. That's the first time I have ridden Swains and I will definitely pay it less respect the next time; I think it warrants being really attacked with a gear change down at the cemetry to give it full+1 beans on the second section.

I was unsure how my cycling would go down here, but the topography in North London is promising.

Name................Time.........Mnth
mrc1................1:48.........Mar
willy b.............2:14..r......Sep
jds_1981............2:20.........Sep   with pannier
willy b.............2:31.........Sep   53:18 old SS in commuter guise
brun................2:32..s......Sep   71" fixed (after four pints)
Ben6899.............2:35.........Nov   Cadex
spasypaddy..........3:22.........Sep
t4tomo..............3.23.........Sep   Brompton

Ben6899

Sorry chaps, I didn’t attempt Swain’s Lane this weekend. The weather was exactly the kind to open its arms and welcome my EIB to join the party... so I wouldn’t have made it up the hill in anything like a competitive time and I wouldn’t sleep all week if I recorded a 4min or similar!

So I just did a dozen laps of Regent’s Park... easing off when the bronchioles felt tight.

Next week...

willy b

Not ridden it for a while tbh. Riding Highgate West abit, which is quite a bit longer.

Ben6899

I don't know if I'll be anywhere near it, "competetively", now until the weather becomes damp. This cold and dry air affects me too much. I set off on the steady climb up Haverstock Hill last Sunday (to explore from a cycling perspective more than anything), but it was bumper-to-bumper with Series 1 Beemers and notMinis driven by people who probably had "just the one" with their sunday lunch in Hampstead!

So I gave up.

rubertoe

i challenged swains lane today and got beaten very badly, I think i must have been dehydrated also didn't have the computer on my commuter - first time up it but now thinking of adding it to my commute as it beats Archway road/Highgate hill any day of the week.

Will post some times when i am not embarrassed, dehydrated and in my commuting gear.

the_moodster

rubertoe wrote:

i challenged swains lane today and got beaten very badly, I think i must have been dehydrated also didn't have the computer on my commuter - first time up it but now thinking of adding it to my commute as it beats Archway road/Highgate hill any day of the week.

Will post some times when i am not embarrassed, dehydrated and in my commuting gear.

I've been swapping between Highgate Hill and Archway Road depending on the mood. Tried West Hill the other day and not felt sufficiently masochistic again since; yet to challenge Swains Lane yet. Think I'll have to break out the proper bike if I do.

spasypaddy

i dont live anywhere near swains any more

willy b

Did 10 laps the other night, 2,800ft of climbing Was good, but snapped my chain half way up on one lap, which hurt!

Ben6899

I need to get back up there, now the warmer air is here. Hopefully on one chain!

rubertoe

willy b wrote:

Did 10 laps the other night, 2,800ft of climbing Was good, but snapped my chain half way up on one lap, which hurt!

Not sure about 10 laps - could probably muster 4/5 but ten would have me on my knees! its just too steep

willy b

rubertoe wrote:

Not sure about 10 laps - could probably muster 4/5 but ten would have me on my knees! its just too steep

I lived in Sheffield for 4 years. There was no way out the city without climbing for 30 mins Living down here I really do miss the hills!

The climbing doesn't hurt, just gets a little boring :roll:

mrc1

willy b wrote:

rubertoe wrote:

Not sure about 10 laps - could probably muster 4/5 but ten would have me on my knees! its just too steep

I lived in Sheffield for 4 years. There was no way out the city without climbing for 30 mins Living down here I really do miss the hills!

The climbing doesn't hurt, just gets a little boring :roll:

I did the 10x10 one afternoon when there was a tour of the cemetary going on. I got lots of funny looks from the people waiting outside as I kept going up and down....

Is it really 280ft of climbing each time?

rubertoe

All this talk of Swains - now i am going to have deviate up it on the moro if it isn't raining to heavily.

willy b

actually I stand corrected, the whole ride was 2,800ft of climbing (21 miles) Swains is 237ft from bottom to top: http://app.strava.com/segments/1065241

rubertoe

Still the 10x10 is 2370ft - which is a third of the way up alpe du'huez!

willy b

rubertoe wrote:

Still the 10x10 is 2370ft - which is a third of the way up alpe du'huez!

8) 30 laps anybody?

rubertoe

Whats the length, About 820 meters?

willy b

Well from the roundabout at the bottom to the very top is 0.7 miles.