Hill Climb Recce - Sunday 13th Sept.

[Andrew G]

I think I'm free next Sunday so will be going for a spin out to Yorks Hill and then back to White Lane to refamiliarise myself with the horrors that are the Catford and Bec HCs.

A simple ride out to Yorks and have a test run to see what goes wrong, then ride over to White Lane to see what goes wrong when I winch myself up that one. Depending on time, mood, etc some more miles can/may be added afterwards but plan on being home for lunch.

Meet at SELSDON LIGHTS at 9:15am for the spin over to Yorks. [edited from a GBs meet as I just have to ride down and up the same road and I can't be bothered. Others could meet at GBs at 9am and ride up to meet me if that suits better.]

Needless to say if the weather's grotty then I won't be doing this.

[Sylv]

Andrew you'r in luck someone's written your name all over the Catford climb road (well almost - Andy)

Will also go check out the Leith Hill climb after the President's 10 on Saturday (driving).

[Dombo]

Which is the Leith Hill climb? Is it Coldharbour Lane from Dorking? I had thought I was ok on the hills but after Saturday's pathetic effort on Ditchling I need to work on them a bit more.

[Sylv]

[quote]John Bornhoft Memorial Hill Climb
Saturday 3 October sees the third edition of the John Bornhoft Memorial Hill Climb on the one mile climb of Leith Hill. John Bornhoft was a President of the Kingston Wheelers CC until his death in 2003 and he was a regular on both club runs and races well into his retirement. The race is held in his memory and is a tribute to his work for the club.

There were 39 entries for this well known challenging climb last year and Bill Bell (Gemini BC) was the only rider under four minutes last year. Bell is a prolific hill climb rider, the winner of last year's Wigmore Hill Climb and a previous winner of the famous Catford Hill Climb. His time of 3.44.5 was a new course record by 3/4 of a second. Promoting club's Steve Saunders was fourth clocking 4.11.6 to take the club hill climb championship.

The course is 1570 yards long and takes the southern route, from the Forest Green/Ockley side. The precise details are as follows:
Start: in Abinger Road , just east of Forest Green, at a gate on the west side of the road opposite the footpath to New Barn House at the bottom Leith Hill 580 yards north of the junction with the B2126
Finish: Proceed in a northerly direction past Leith Hill place to finish near summit of hill opposite grey metal painted post 70 yards before bridleway to Leith Hill Tower.

Entries are open. You can enter online via the CTT website or send an entry form and £6.50 cheque ("Kingston Wheelers CC") to Tim Lawn.

[Andrew G]

Bounce.

Setting off from Selsdon lights at 9.15am. Steady pace, not too lumpy (unless you join in the "winch yourself up a stupidly steep hill to see if it's got any easier since last year's race and scream at what you've let yourself in for again this year" test runs), not too far (40ish miles), back for lunch.

[Andrew G]

According to the handbook Yorks is 660 yards and White lane 700 yards, despite that I find Yorks so much harder. The fluctuations in gradient were a killer, really not looking forward to this one, White Lane on the other hand being a more constant gradient seemed "easier". Both are devilishly steep and real leg breakers but the more constant gradient of White seems to suit my non-climbing legs better, knowing it quite well probably helps too whereas I've only ridden Yorks twice - last years race and this morning.

Very nice wheels Sylv .

[Amy]

Yep, I found White Lane easier than Yorks. I was a bit worried about getting up the next big hill, whichever one it was after climbing Yorks brought back the slightly nauseous feeling from the previous evening (in fact climbing Yorks made me feel like I was getting that muscle weakness back... )

Good ride though, thanks Andrew. Lovely view over Bough Beech Reservoir as we dropped down Yorks and the lane itself was lovely with trees meeting over the top of the sunken road.

Interesting company with Peter, Sylv and Ben - though I'm not sure what was worse, Peter's shorts* or Ben's dress sense...

*if you have a pair of those new Santini shorts, you'll be having the same problem Please wear with shortliners or undershorts...