There were two Rye Wheelers on the start sheet on this annual hill climb, courtesy of the Wigmore cycle club – now in its fifth decade! Sadly, Steve had to be a DNS (A) due to an urgent car repair – this left yours truly to represent the club. A shame as Steve is very good at riding up very steep, short climbs.

Out of all of the TT events, hill climbs are my least favourite, due to the event needing a very high,  intensive effort with a W/KG number needing to be higher than at least five. For me, that would mean pushing nearly four hundred watts during the 0.7 mile ascent, something that the specialists exceed with ease, but sadly, not me!

As usual, I cycled to the event in Hollingbourne from Folkestone, averaging 19mph with ease, despite it being very cold. When I arrived, at the sign-in, having climbed the hill in a 36/23 gearing, I soon met the Ashford contingent – three riding the event and around ten to witness the pain of their clubmates!

I warmed up around the lanes with Mick Clayden from Ashford as I was his minute man and it was soon time for me to start. The heart certainly races a little during countdown and then I was off and hitting the lower slopes with speeds up at 16mph. Anyone knows the first two sections are the easiest and I think I went too hard as I was gasping as the slope went up and my speed soon was in single figures. Any assembled crowds accumulate near the top and I could make out some welcome cheering being shouted at me as my cadence dropped and I fought the bike, seated, on the horrendous gradients and I could see the top where it flattens out. I had nothing left to sprint to the finish and my time was sub-five minutes – just at 4:58:9! 

It was time for cakes and a sausage roll to supplement my cup of tea and a good chat to lots of people before deciding to tackle the climb for a third time and then heading home into a stiff headwind along the A20 – it took me nearly two hours at an average of 15.5mph!

It was good to get under five minutes as the last two years, I didn’t manage that, but a PB was a little off (4:40 in 2012). The winner recorded a time of 3:03 on a special, climbing bike – I think the rider and his bike weighed around 66kg!

There is one more TT event next week, with, I believe,  at least four club riders before a well earned rest from racing against a clock!

Mark Amon