GRIMPEURS CHALLENGE - Sat 7th June + Report

[Andrew G]

[size=150]THE LITTLE GREEN MAN'S GRIMPEURS CHALLENGE
100km – 11 Hills[/size]

I will do this on Saturday 7th June as I have a window in my TT schedule and it's the week before the Dragon Ride, so will use it for preparation.

Start - CSS 9am as per normal CR (first group off). Finish at GBs - time unknown but this will be a long ride.
Café stop at 50 miles and after 9 of the hills so food needs to be taken.
Steady pace between hills as I want to keep it sensible and not just destroy my legs, vent your energy on the hills.
KOM on each hill (1st 3pts, 2nd 2pts, 3rd 1pt if you like but the only prize is bragging rights), regroup at the top of each hill.
Standard required - Minimum good/strong 18s riders not for speed but as the number, repetition, and severity of the hills will take their toll. (Other speeds info at bottom of post).

Hills:
1= St.James’ Road
2= Mitchley Hill
3= Slines Oak Road
4= Chalkpit Lane
5= Titsey/White Hill
6= Toys Hill
7= Polhill
8= Old Hill
9= Shire Lane & Rookery Road
Café stop in Tatsfield at Reptile Zoo
10= Hesiers Hill
11= Bug Hill

The route is [url=http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1719608]here[/url]. Max group size 12, so 11 plus me.

I will obviously bounce this nearer the time but just giving you a heads up.

Other speed groups
If someone wants to take another / slower group then I can sort out a route card for them, but it is a very hard route so would suggest possibly dropping some or all of the following hills:
Chalkpit – 20% very hard climb and can be a tricky/sketchy descent to get to the bottom of it.
Titsey/White Hill – A little loop I added in to make it harder but could be dropped to give the legs a bit more recovery between Slines Oak and Toys.
Either Bug Hill or Hesiers and Bug Hills – Would depend how peoples legs were after the café stop and if they wanted anymore hills. You could just go along the main top road and drop back in to Croydon for a quicker return.
Dropping all the those hills would give about a 50 mile ride with the café at 35-40 miles – still a tough ride and would need to be reasonable riders (probably 17s) as the hills really start to get to the legs (there are a couple of nasty drag sections too). It could be done as a “Super 15s” ride but may end up as a bit of an all-dayer or war of attrition.

[Robh]

See you then Andrew.

[mlocke]

I'll join this one Andrew

[Antloony]

Yep Im up for this to, cheers Andrew. Hopefully going to get some good climbing training in before then so Im not left struggling at the rear panting and puffing.

[Marky Mark]

I love the sound of that, So I am now in training for the 2009 hill event. see I have goals!

[adrian]

[quote]...struggling at the rear panting and puffing.

[Ivor]

er, are there any corners?

hmm, I was going to do the white rose classic on 8th June... so wouldn't be able to do both... but there's also the UCI Highclere Castle on the 8th that I'm missing. time to rethink calendar....

[Andrew G]

Just bouncing this folks as the time is approaching.

Looking at the thread there's a few who look like they'll be joining me, but can do a group up to 12 including me - nice Dragon prep, it's what I'm using it for. I'm doing the SCCU 10 next Saturday so won't be on the CR, can someone mention it or give a shout to alert people it's the following week and off first group from CSS.

See top of post for standard of riders - also if anyone wants to do it (probably modified) for 16/17s riders then give me a shout and I'll do you a route card if you want one.

Cheers,

Andrew.

[Nick W]

I would like to have a crack at this and am Dragon Riding too the following week so could do with the climbs.

Thanks.

Nick

[carl f]

Pretty sure i can make this andrew
Carl

[Dombo]

Sounds good. How does it compare to TOSH or Legs of Steel, both of which I've been doing regularly for Dragon/Etape training?

[Andrew G]

Don't know ToSH or LoS that well (well I don't really know the LoS route at all if I'm honest - any chance you could put it up in the Routes section please )

In summary it's a very hard route. The run down to Toys from White Hill is the only real breather your legs get.
Hill notes:
1= St.James’ Road - Short but very steep (Wild Stab in Dark = 20-25%) and from practically a standing start.
2= Mitchley Hill - Nothing drastic, just a link hill (WSiD = 8-10%)
3= Slines Oak Road - Longish, quite steep (WSiD = 10-12%)
4= Chalkpit Lane - A b*****d. Fairly long, drags up for a little bit bit gets very steep very quickly and just keeps going. (20%)
5= Titsey/White Hill - Bottom steep bit of Titsey and right on to White Hill, longish, steep (15-17% I think)
6= Toys Hill - Everyone must know this one, long, steep, nasty (18% I think)
7= Polhill - quite a nice drag up, a good leg spinner (WSiD = 5%).
8= Old Hill - Short and you can charge up it (WSiD = 8-10%).
9= Shire Lane & Rookery Road - Imperceptible drag which kick up at the end, then short down and kick up again. (WSiD = 10% both bits but both short).
Café stop in Tatsfield at Reptile Zoo
10= Hesiers Hill - Steep but not that long, but long enough to hurt (WSiD = 13-15%).
11= Bug Hill - Not that bad and a doddle after the others . Anyone feeling really brave/stupid could swap this for Succomb's Hill if they have a death wish .

I reserve the right to be miles out on my WSiDs but i don't think I'm that far off, it's certainly what they feel like.

[Maria David]

This looks very tantalising ! Good idea Andrew. If I am in London that weekend I might tag along if numbers permit. I'll let you know.

White Lane is the most nightmarish one for me. I think it's 'cos a few times I tried to ride up it at race pace in preparation for the Bec Hill climb. I was nearly sick at the top.

Succombs would be a real sting in the tail if you do it. Personally that's the sort of climb I'd do either before half 6 in the morning or after 7 in the evening - mainly because with a 25% ramp I have enough on my plate let alone having to battle against the traffic cutting through to get to/from the A22.

Maria
http://www.2wheelchick.blogspot.com/

[Andrew G]

[quote="Maria"]Personally that's the sort of climb I'd do either before half 6 in the morning or after 7 in the evening - mainly because with a 25% ramp I have enough on my plate let alone having to battle against the traffic cutting through to get to/from the A22.

[CaroleH]

Are you all for real?

Sounds like a lovely ride, but all those hills

Enjoy - I will not partake in such madness!!!!

Carole H