[photo by Gavin Morton]
Being a big guy (6'1" weighing ~79kilos) lumping my body over steep gradients is not easy. However, I'm always keen on competition and since Leith Hill (North Downs, Surrey) is very local to me, I thought I'd give it a shot. So I entered the Kingston Wheelers hillclimb.
After receiving the start sheet (PDF of the startsheet) well ahead of the event I was able to see exactly where the climb started and ended plus my start time. So, on Saturday morning I geared up and rode to the climb to recce it - to make sense of the profile and get some idea of where I'd push real hard and where I'd conserve. I actually recorded the climb so once I download it I'll share it here.
Off at 11.54 I smashed my way up the first section - long gentle start. Onto the first steep section the burn became apparent and my lungs began to burn. Push on I told myself. At the first reprieve I dutiful support awaited screaming their heads off: "move it", "come one", I heard. On the second of the steep sections - arguably the toughest - it started hurting real bad and the physiological emergency signs kick in. "Lactic Emergency" is not simply a build up of lactic acid, it's the bodies anaphylactic-like response felt by its inability to cope with this sudden overzealous lactic production.
With my cardio-vascular system on borrowed time I pushed on, on to the final ascent where a small group of eager people spurred me on. By now things were bad, my legs were slowing and pleading to stop. Before long I crossed the line in relief. I could taste the blood - a sure sign that you squeezed max out.
I managed 4mins 3sec enough to finish 7th. My AW Cycles team mate, Matt Melville, finished 5th after an encounter with a slow moving tractor. Matt, modestly confesses he'd have climbed another position if he had a clear road.
The final result revealed Pete Tadros, from InGear RT, winning by a very comfortable margin in 3mins 43sec claiming the course record. I managed to pull Pete across aside for a short interview.
After receiving the start sheet (PDF of the startsheet) well ahead of the event I was able to see exactly where the climb started and ended plus my start time. So, on Saturday morning I geared up and rode to the climb to recce it - to make sense of the profile and get some idea of where I'd push real hard and where I'd conserve. I actually recorded the climb so once I download it I'll share it here.
Off at 11.54 I smashed my way up the first section - long gentle start. Onto the first steep section the burn became apparent and my lungs began to burn. Push on I told myself. At the first reprieve I dutiful support awaited screaming their heads off: "move it", "come one", I heard. On the second of the steep sections - arguably the toughest - it started hurting real bad and the physiological emergency signs kick in. "Lactic Emergency" is not simply a build up of lactic acid, it's the bodies anaphylactic-like response felt by its inability to cope with this sudden overzealous lactic production.
With my cardio-vascular system on borrowed time I pushed on, on to the final ascent where a small group of eager people spurred me on. By now things were bad, my legs were slowing and pleading to stop. Before long I crossed the line in relief. I could taste the blood - a sure sign that you squeezed max out.
I managed 4mins 3sec enough to finish 7th. My AW Cycles team mate, Matt Melville, finished 5th after an encounter with a slow moving tractor. Matt, modestly confesses he'd have climbed another position if he had a clear road.
The final result revealed Pete Tadros, from InGear RT, winning by a very comfortable margin in 3mins 43sec claiming the course record. I managed to pull Pete across aside for a short interview.
Pete Tadros interview from Rob Enslin on Vimeo.
Hillclimb stats:
Time: 04:03 (min:sec)
Heart Rate: 181 / 199 (average/max)
Ascent: 120m
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