I love climbing hills. This year it was my 3rd year of racing the SCCA hill climbs, and I looked to improve all of the times I set last year. The courses I did this year were Stiperstones, Oswestry, Ludlow and Hafren, with my favourite definitely being Ludlow.
Stiperstones
The Stiperstones climb is about a mile long, and is set almost entirely within tree cover. You go though the village and into the trees, and the gradient is consistent for most of the way up. With about 500m to go there is a short downhill before the final steep kick to the finish. This year the tarmac had been smoothed, and I loved it. My time the previous year was 5.03, and I wanted to get below 4.40 this year.
After my foot unclipped at NWYT, I was more cautious with my start, before starting up the lower slopes. I controlled my effort at the start, which was definitely a major mistake. By the final stretch I wan’t as tired as I should have been, and I crossed the line out of breath, but knowing that I could, and should, have given more. While I got 4.30, smashing my PB, I was disappointed as I felt I could have given more. I was more annoyed that I finished 2nd in the junior category by 1 second, and it made me desperate for another attempt.
Oswestry
Probably the hardest hill climb in the series, the last part of this climb is straight and steep. The weather was much better than in previous years, with sunshine and warm temperatures. The first half of the hill isn’t too bad, and there is a downhill section around halfway through. Then it gets difficult, about 800m of dead straight pain, with the finish at the top of it. Warmed up on the rollers today instead of the road to get as good a time as possible.
This time I didn’t look at my power meter as much, I just went full gas. My PB was 7.11 and I knew going up the final section that I was going to beat it. I set a new 5 minute power record, surprising seeing as the race was 6 and a half minutes! I finished with a time of 6.27, and won the junior category by a considerable distance.
Ludlow
My favourite climb of the series, the Ludlow climb is just over 3km, and never too steep. Last year I got 8.39, so I was hoping to try and get under 8 minutes this year. The course and weather was as good as ever, and I warmed up on the climb itself as well as a small steep section before the official climb started.
I manged to pace my effort well, maybe could have gone a little bit harder but I could say that about any race I do! The final part is slightly flatter so I knew I couldn’t really save much until the end, and I finished in 7.35, over a minute faster than last year and 21 seconds ahead of the next best junior. I would probably call this my best result of the SCCA rounds, especially as only 3 seniors beat me!
Hafren
Second race in 2 days and again the weather was kind. The Hafren climb is the shortest that I do in the series, it’s less than 4 minutes long. One of my favourite parts of this event is that there is plenty of road to warm up on, meaning the rollers aren’t needed, which I definitely prefer. The climb is in the trees for the first half and then opens up after a hairpin before the final straight to the top.
I went flat out from the start as it’s not long enough to try to conserve any energy. I caught one rider at the halfway point, and from there it was almost a sprint to the top. I got 3.50, so my 4th PB of the season. I won the junior category by 2 seconds, which I was delighted with, and finished 5th out of the seniors. I had really enjoyed my 3rd year of hill climbing, and I hope to get more PB’s next year as well.