Catford Hill Climb (Yorks Hill)

gattocattivo
gattocattivo Posts: 500
edited October 2011 in Amateur race
I've entered the Catford Hill Climb this year for the first time. I've only ridden up Yorks Hill once - from what I remember it was really steep all the way. Has anyone else done this event? Any advice?

Comments

  • porker33
    porker33 Posts: 636
    Ride it a few times before the day.

    This is part of my local route, so I am quite familiar with it. It is nowhere near as steep as I once thought it was and easier than some other local hills.

    The surface is fine, but was made trickier earlier today by leaves and sweet chestnut cases, hopefully they may sweep the surface by Sunday...or not?
  • gattocattivo
    gattocattivo Posts: 500
    Wow. That was fun. Well, very tough, but a great feeling being cheered on by hundreds of people. The only time I've been up Yorks Hill before was on my winter bike, with a nice 34x25 bottom gear. Today was my racing bike with 39x25 as the lowest and it was a bit of a grind on the steepest ramps. I managed 2:46, which is better than I was expecting. I reckon I'll go a bit faster if I do it again next year as I'll know that once you hit the thickest crowds you can give it everything because you're nearly there.

    This is part of my local route, so I am quite familiar with it. It is nowhere near as steep as I once thought it was and easier than some other local hills.

    Really? Which other local hills? I went on a reconnaisance ride down that way in February and went up Toy's Hill, Ide Hill and Biggin Hill (as well as Yorks Hill) and I thought Yorks was the toughest and steepest (albeit not the longest).
  • jibberjim
    jibberjim Posts: 2,810
    gattocattivo wrote:
    I reckon I'll go a bit faster if I do it again next year as I'll know that once you hit the thickest crowds you can give it everything because you're nearly there.

    Glad you enjoyed - I rode out and watched a few people, unfortunately couldn't stay ofr long as had to get back.

    Next year I'll make sure there's a massive pack of people much further down the hill than normal to cause some real pain near the top!
    Jibbering Sports Stuff: http://jibbering.com/sports/
  • gattocattivo
    gattocattivo Posts: 500
    Ha! Sadist
  • gattocattivo
    gattocattivo Posts: 500
    The pain!
    http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/crunchydog_2006/catfordresized.jpg
  • simon_e
    simon_e Posts: 1,706
    Video of this year's Catford hill climb at http://vimeo.com/30273999 which was mentioned in comments below a Guardian article http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/b ... b-cyclists
    Aspire not to have more, but to be more.
  • Zoomer37
    Zoomer37 Posts: 725
    gattocattivo wrote:
    The pain!
    http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/crunchydog_2006/catfordresized.jpg

    Hell yeah!

    Big ring all the way up? :)

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