Catford CC Hill Climb

Le Commentateur

The saplings there seem to be growing out of stumps, so I would guess it is managed woodland that eventually gets harvestedd and cut back.

Riders would be using steel or alu frames right through to the 2000s, as full monocoque carbon frames weren't generally available. The nearest would be carbon tubes held by lugs, such as a classic Look frame, or an alu frame with carbon seat stays, such as Pinarellos had in late 90s.

frenchfighter

Thanks for the info Trev and Fixed

Extralight

Thanks for all the advice and support folks. I had an interesting experience up Yorks Hill (Catford), as my back wheel skidded and I fell as I hit the final steep section out of the saddle, and in doing so dropped my chain. In a scene remiscent of Andy Schleck in the 2010 Tour, I couldn't get it back on, and was stationary for 30 seconds whilst trying to fix it. Thanks to one of the spectators, we got the chain on, I got given a big push, and I was off again, although I couldn't then clip into my left pedal. Disaster upon disaster - my Garmin ride data shows that it was another 30 seconds until I engaged and was able to get back to 'speed'. I finished though, in 3.13, and was amazed not to be caught by my minute man, and even more stunned to find I beat Sean Yates! It was a shame I skidded, fell, and had a mechanical, as I think I was on a bit of a ride there. I could say it was bad luck, but of course it's part of the challenge picking a good line, avoiding wheelspin, and staying upright!

In the afternoon for the Bec climb up White Lane, I felt a bit wheezy, and my legs got tired quickly, so I was pleased to finish 41st in 2'31. In 1993 when I last raced this I did it in 2'19, so although I'm alot older, I'm only a bit slower.

I was genuinely worried about the Yorks Hill climb. Three weeks ago I struggled to get over it pushing 39 x 25, having ridden too hard on the lower slopes and then blown on the 1 in 4. On the day, with adrenaline and support from the crowd (and some training too, repeatedly grinding up my local hill in the middle of the night in 53 x 13 to build leg strength), I ended up at the top of both hills in 39 x 19. I had fitted a 13 - 29 cassette, I was that worried about it!

frenchfighter

Extralight wrote:

repeatedly grinding up my local hill in the middle of the night in 53 x 13 to build leg strength

This is brilliant...proper old school Big Ring Riding!

Fixed Wheelnut

Extralight wrote:

Thanks for all the advice and support folks. I had an interesting experience up Yorks Hill (Catford), as my back wheel skidded and I fell as I hit the final steep section out of the saddle, and in doing so dropped my chain. In a scene remiscent of Andy Schleck in the 2010 Tour, I couldn't get it back on, and was stationary for 30 seconds whilst trying to fix it. Thanks to one of the spectators, we got the chain on, I got given a big push, and I was off again, although I couldn't then clip into my left pedal.

Extralight that may have been me if it was at the first steep bit, a riders back wheel slipped in the mud at the gutter and chain came off, I could see the panic setting in as you couldn't get it on so put the camera down and ran up to put it on, then another spectator and I shoved you off.

Extralight

Fixed Wheelnut wrote:

Extralight that may have been me if it was at the first steep bit, a riders back wheel slipped in the mud at the gutter and chain came off, I could see the panic setting in as you couldn't get it on so put the camera down and ran up to put it on, then another spectator and I shoved you off.

Thanks Fixed Wheelnut, I'm extremely grateful, both for fixing the chain and the big push. You're right, I got in a bit of a fluster! Normally I'd have the chain on in seconds (and equally wouldn't have any problem clipping in), but I was in a right panic. I was gutted to loose so much time, then and immediately after faffing around trying to get my foot in the pedal whilst not stalling on the climb, but got spurred on by the crowds who were brilliant.

I'm so glad it's over, but in a sick way already looking forward to next year!

Extralight

frenchfighter wrote:

Extralight wrote:

repeatedly grinding up my local hill in the middle of the night in 53 x 13 to build leg strength

This is brilliant...proper old school Big Ring Riding!

Cheers FrenchFighter, I'm chuffed by your comments. I am old school, but I've never been characterised as a Big Ring type of rider (no filthy pun intended). If I was to flatter myself, I'd say my emaciated and runty physique marks me out as a grimpeur.

Incidentally, given this talk of technology and weight of bikes, and how much this affects the times today compared to 20+ years ago, I was riding the same bike as in 1993 (Merlin Extralight), and it was 7kg then, and 7kg this weekend. Most of the specialists ride the Hillclimbs on track bikes, and I'd be surprised (but don't know) if they are significantly lighter no than before the arrival of Carbon and Ti frames. I think the weight makes a massive difference, but no doubt it's in part psychological. In training, my bike was 11kg (loaded with a cement-filled large water bottle, and all the lights, pumps, bags and anything else I could put on it to make it heavier on the hills which, together with pushing silly gears, I hoped would give me the strength to race rather than grovel up the 1 in 4s for the hillclimbs. The bike felt amazingly different on race day because it was noticeably so much lighter, and I felt stronger pushing much bigger gears.

frenchfighter

Extralight wrote:

a cement-filled large water bottle

Are you pulling our legs? This just gets better and better, classic stuff!


I think you are right re the effect of the change to the bike weight and the effect it has on your mind.

Doesn't matter what you weigh - Big Ring riding: 'IT'S NOT JUST A CHAINRING, IT'S A STATE OF MIND' : )
http://bigringriding.com/

Extralight

frenchfighter wrote:

Extralight wrote:

a cement-filled large water bottle

Are you pulling our legs? This just gets better and better, classic stuff!

No, honest Guv! My cement bottle weights 1.2kg. For the real weight-weenies out there, or anyone else as weirdly obsessive as me, here's what I changed from training set up to race set up (sorry, can't get this to look like a table here, but you might be able to make sense of it):

Component/ Weight(g)/ Replaced with/ Weight/ Weight saving
KMC 10sp chain 263 KMC X10L 259 4
Saddle bag 581 na 0 581
Saddle bag bracket 41 na 0 41
Rear LED lights x 2 141 na 0 141
Front light+battery 346 na 0 346
Small front light 125 na 0 125
Flite Ti saddle 220 Terry 152 68
Cement bottle 1211 na 0 1211
Water bottle 615 na 0 615
Bottle cages x 2 86 na 0 86
Lezyne Pump 104 na 0 104
Rear innertube 94 Latex 82 12
Front tube 104 Latex 83 21
Krylion Comp (rear) 248 Open CX 217 31
Gatorskin (front) 301 Pro4 204 97
Total weight saving 3334

I know, I'm a very sad man to have done this :oops: . All part of the psychological prep trying to convince myself it would be alright (my bike will be lighter, I will be stronger, I will go faster, etc - I was still sh1tting myself about these events though!)

jibberjim

Extralight wrote:

and even more stunned to find I beat Sean Yates! It was a shame I skidded, fell, and had a mechanical, as I think I was on a bit of a ride there. I could say it was bad luck, but of course it's part of the challenge picking a good line, avoiding wheelspin, and staying upright!

Actually you should've been DQ'd putting a food down is a DQ in a hill climb (because there are HC's particularly 100 years ago where running up would be a lot faster!)

Extralight

jibberjim wrote:

Actually you should've been DQ'd putting a food down is a DQ in a hill climb (because there are HC's particularly 100 years ago where running up would be a lot faster!)

Oh dear! I don't think my finsihing time posed any real threat to the leaderboard. I think I came 109th, but apologies to anyone I inadvertently cheated out of a place (including Big Sean, an idol of mine when I first got into cycling).

Pross

Just claim your feet stayed clipped into the pedals whilst you were on the deck and you never put a foot on the ground. It will explain your difficulty in putting the chain back on

jibberjim

Extralight wrote:

jibberjim wrote:

Actually you should've been DQ'd putting a food down is a DQ in a hill climb (because there are HC's particularly 100 years ago where running up would be a lot faster!)

Oh dear! I don't think my finsihing time posed any real threat to the leaderboard. I think I came 109th, but apologies to anyone I inadvertently cheated out of a place (including Big Sean, an idol of mine when I first got into cycling).

I don't think the rule is really enforced - but it might be funny to try just running up carrying a kids bike and see what the time keeper does

disquieting_museeuws

CTT rule 31b says 'a [hill climb] competitor may not cover any part of the course on foot'.

Is that the same as putting a foot down? I don't know.

As for taking a dive just so you can get a free push, that's just plain lazy!

I hope the starters weren't pushing-off either (rule 31a).

Extralight

disquieting_museeuws wrote:

CTT rule 31b says 'a [hill climb] competitor may not cover any part of the course on foot'.

Is that the same as putting a foot down? I don't know.

As for taking a dive just so you can get a free push, that's just plain lazy!

I hope the starters weren't pushing-off either (rule 31a).

Yes, it was slack of me to stop for a breather and get a push

No push off from the starters at either event, and for the Catford thankfully they forewarned me on the start line that I wouldn't be getting one. If it wasn't for this, I might have been kissing tarmac before I'd even got going!

gattocattivo

I don't understand why there's all this discussion about whether 'extralight' should have been disqualified for putting a foot down. After all, 'jibberjim' clearly stated:

jibberjim wrote:

Actually you should've been DQ'd putting a food down is a DQ in a hill climb (because there are HC's particularly 100 years ago where running up would be a lot faster!)

so as long as he didn't drop a hamburger or banana or something he should be fine.