Hill climbing champs Matlock

[Milzy]

Who’s going? Where will be good to park? What time is the first rider setting off? Cow bells at the ready.

 

[gbb]

I bet that's something that's great to watch...

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

The nationals segment (~0.64 miles, 313 feet) is very similar to the last 0.7 miles of Harvesting Lane, on the side of Butser Hill near Petersfield... Would have made a great training climb for anyone local who is doing Matlock this weekend!
https://www.strava.com/segments/16537811 (Matlock)
https://www.strava.com/segments/1571724 (Harvesting Lane)

I'm optimistic that the top riders will go under 3mins this weekend, but by how much?
Will Andrew Feather get the top spot in the mens again, after coming second last year by ~2 secs, with the winning time being 3mins9secs?

Good luck to any CC forumers taking part!

 

[Dorset Boy]

500 or so riders entered I believe, so the event will last 4+ hours.

 

[Sharky]

Wish I was there!

Only been to one national HC (to watch) and that was on Winnats. Too many years ago. It was a great spectacle.

 

[Norry1]

I believe @Legs will be participating

 

[Legs]

The nationals segment (~0.64 miles, 313 feet) is very similar to the last 0.7 miles of Harvesting Lane, on the side of Butser Hill near Petersfield... Would have made a great training climb for anyone local who is doing Matlock this weekend!
https://www.strava.com/segments/16537811 (Matlock)
https://www.strava.com/segments/1571724 (Harvesting Lane)

I'm optimistic that the top riders will go under 3mins this weekend, but by how much?
Will Andrew Feather get the top spot in the mens again, after coming second last year by ~2 secs, with the winning time being 3mins9secs?

Good luck to any CC forumers taking part!

That segment is longer than the Bank Road HC course, so doesn't capture most race efforts. Last time the Nationals were held in Matlock, Adam Kenway won in 2:18.
https://cyclinguphill.com/national-hill-climb-championship-2016/

Maybe a bit short for Andrew Feather? Andy Nichols had the beating of him at Monsal, and beat reigning National Champion Harry Macfarlane in the short-course Bank Road race last Sunday.

I'm aiming for around 2:45-2:50, which would probably put me around 100th. I'm off at 13:48 (no 329).

 

[Legs]

Who’s going? Where will be good to park? What time is the first rider setting off? Cow bells at the ready.

I am, and loads of other people!

Matlock will be chaos on Sunday so I can't recommend anywhere in particular. If you park at the event HQ you'll be trapped there until the road closure is lifted at 15:30. (I'm parking at my boss's house just outside town and riding in.)

First rider off is at 10:45. Full race manual is here:
https://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/docs/32184-rttc-national-hill-climb-championship-startsheet

It's going to be crazy - if you're going, please make lots of noise!

 

[ColinJ]

I bet that's something that's great to watch...

I went to watch it on the horribly steep Ramsbottom Rake climb about 20 years ago. That was a lot more fun to watch than it would have been to ride! Quite a few riders did it on fixed. The ones that chose the gear wisely and/or were super strong made it look almost easy; the others died a thousand deaths!!

 

[Big John]

Wish I was there!

Only been to one national HC (to watch) and that was on Winnats. Too many years ago. It was a great spectacle.

Christ on a bike! Winnats? How cruel is that?

 

[Sharky]

Christ on a bike! Winnats? How cruel is that?

Yep, we rode out to watch, think it was 67 or '68.

 

[albion]

Wish I was there!

Only been to one national HC (to watch) and that was on Winnats. Too many years ago. It was a great spectacle.

Not that long ago. 2021, it was a busy hill I cycled up prior to the weekends events. Though I much preferred the old land slipped Mam Tor route for its easier cycling.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

Tried another route for the first time on MyWhoosh a little earlier, called Puncheur's Playground (in "UCI 2025" group of routes), it has a climb that matches the Matlock climb very well... ~324 feet over ~0.6 miles, a very painful grind in just under 7mins after attacking the earlier bumps as best I could!

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Have a look at the ‘on screen’ numbers here!!


View: https://youtu.be/gX-BQJxea14?si=hnRHDbxfKgBPfSec

 

[Ming the Merciless]

@Milzy best thing is to ride there and up the hill to your viewing spot.