2015 Irish National Hill Climb Championship

rappid

Hi there

I will share few things with you coz I couldn't find propoer post about hill climb champs.
I have done route recon 2 weeks ago and I think it looks like TT with a bit of climb.
For the first 4.5km we have roller coaster terrain with many ups and downs with
sharp ends. The surface is not so good, with grass in the middle and loose gravel.
Last 2km is a 'proper' climb with 2 or 3 short ramps.
Gradient? nothing too crazy Road surface gets better from there.

Here is the climb: 6.6km / avg3%
www . strava . com/segments/10365047
Last 2.3km/avg7% (proper climb):
www . strava . com/segments/1212083

So, the route fits all-rounder strong rider more than pure climber.
I would prefer this climb (on the other side of the hill): 1.7km/avg10%:
www . strava . com/segments/710603

I think National Champs deserves something better than this.
Anyway, I will give it a go.
How about you?

Cheers!

easygoing39

When is it on,what date?

rappid

easygoing39 wrote: »

When is it on,what date?

Sorry, I forgot to mention
Ballingeary, Co. Cork on 3rd October 2015.

Amprodude

I'm doing it I hope. It says that the gradient goes to 20% when you meet the climb after 4.5km, so wondering would something lower than a 28 cog be needed on rear cassette for that? I.e 30 or compact crankset? If it's not too hilly would you get away with TT bike?

rappid

you will be fine with 28 back and 34 on the front

Amprodude

rappid wrote: »

you will be fine with 28 back and 34 on the front

Are you trying to slow me down?

I have a 39 on the front so I might switch cassette on back to 30 in case I do need it. climbing gears should be ok here. It's not a full on road race.

Lumen

From what I recall one mad boardsie did it on a fixed gear a couple of years back

2 Wheels Good

Tri bike for the first 4.5km then switch to a climbing specific bike for the last 2k?

Amprodude

Lumen wrote: »

From what I recall one mad boardsie did it on a fixed gear a couple of years back

Mad. Did he win?

Zyzz

Amprodude wrote: »

Mad. Did he win?

He still hasn't made it to the top.

jinkypolly

Amprodude wrote: »

I'm doing it I hope. It says that the gradient goes to 20% when you meet the climb after 4.5km, so wondering would something lower than a 28 cog be needed on rear cassette for that? I.e 30 or compact crankset? If it's not too hilly would you get away with TT bike?

There's no part that goes as high as 20%.

JK.BMC

Amprodude wrote: »

Are you trying to slow me down?

I have a 39 on the front so I might switch cassette on back to 30 in case I do need it. climbing gears should be ok here. It's not a full on road race.

And get a long-cage derailler while you are at it.

Raam

Amprodude wrote: »

If it's not too hilly...

:pac::pac::pac:

Lusk_Doyle

Amprodude wrote: »

I'm doing it I hope. It says that the gradient goes to 20% when you meet the climb after 4.5km, so wondering would something lower than a 28 cog be needed on rear cassette for that? I.e 30 or compact crankset? If it's not too hilly would you get away with TT bike?

Try it on a tt bike and see how you do.

devonp

out of interest...how are hill climbs set up?
is it like a TT with a release every 30 secs or so...or a mass start ?
and do you need a full race licence or is there a 1 day option ?
good luck

Lusk_Doyle

devonp wrote: »

out of interest...how are hill climbs set up?
is it like a TT with a release every 30 secs or so...or a mass start ?
and do you need a full race licence or is there a 1 day option ?
good luck

Minute intervals usually. Full licence.

nilhg

Lusk_Doyle wrote: »

Minute intervals usually. Full licence.

Full licence and limited comp, looks like no one days.

http://valleywheelerscc.com/home/index.php/nhcc-2015-competition-categories/

VR46

If you use the big ring then it's not a hill climb. What's the point of the first 4km?

Lusk_Doyle

VR46 wrote: »

If you use the big ring then it's not a hill climb. What's the point of the first 4km?

I use the big ring all the way up Howth. That's a hill climb.

Amprodude

jinkypolly wrote: »

There's no part that goes as high as 20%.

It said it on their website or Facebook page. Sure I don't know the route at all. Most people doing the TT have it checked it I guess.

Amprodude

JK.BMC wrote: »

And get a long-cage derailler while you are at it.

Forgot about that. I think I will leave the 28 on altogether, it's not that steep from what people saying here.

quozl

Lusk_Doyle wrote: »

I use the big ring all the way up Howth. That's a hill climb.

No it's not. People who live in areas starved of real climbs may think it is...

endacl

Lusk_Doyle wrote: »

I use the big ring all the way up Howth. That's a hill climb.

@fulltimemadbastard

:pac:

Lumen

VR46 wrote: »

If you use the big ring then it's not a hill climb. What's the point of the first 4km?

To induce some fool to do it on a TT bike

Derrydingle

quozl wrote:

No it's not. People who live in areas starved of real climbs may think it is...

It's no push over if your taking it at a good pace

quozl

Derrydingle wrote: »

It's no push over if your taking it at a good pace

The same can be said of a 2% incline. Or a 1% one. Doesn't make it a hill climb...

manwithaplan

Lusk_Doyle wrote: »

I use the big ring all the way up Howth. That's a hill climb.

Yeah but you shouldn't have.

Lusk_Doyle

quozl wrote: »

The same can be said of a 2% incline. Or a 1% one. Doesn't make it a hill climb...

What does then?

SomeFool

Lumen wrote: »

To induce some fool to do it on a TT bike

Not this year anyway.,.,,

rappid

Big ring for the first 4.5km and then small ring.
Good luck!

Amprodude

rappid wrote: »

Big ring for the first 4.5km and then small ring.
Good luck!

Anyone using a TT helmet for this or is there any point? First 4.5km isn't that hilly right? I don't do enough of these hill TTs to know exactly but most hill climbs I have done are hills climbs and you will know they are climbs. Not sure about this one.

JK.BMC

Weigh your helmet
Then weigh an aero helmet
Then "do the math"

buffalo

JK.BMC wrote: »

Then "do the math"

We don't 'do the math' in Ireland, especially not in Irish cycling. We make the calculation.

Amprodude

JK.BMC wrote: »

Weigh your helmet
Then weigh an aero helmet
Then "do the math"

Only reason I asked is first 4.5km isn't that hilly apparently and so be good opportunity to get some speed up.

devonp

any results ?

Amprodude

Well whoever said here that no part of this route goes up to 20% must have cycled a different route. The last 500m of this definitely hit 20%. It was a horrible finish. It would have been nice to have a 30 on the back which I didn't when it really hurt. Not the best route for national hill climb championships, hard to find too.

jinkypolly

I've ridden it and it doesn't hit 20%, maybe you were justin hurting a wee bit.

The Flying Vet

Have to say I really enjoyed the route even thou I suffered like a dog for the last k. Hard to get the balance of how deep to go on the first 4k and leave a bit in the tank for the cruel stuff!! Don't think I mastered it. Wasn't a Hillclimb for the pure climber but still a good test. Well organised and great spread after.

killalanerr

Just back, its was an inserting route ok,more roubaix with a hill at the end fast and very tec at the start,I made a hallix of the finish got lost on the last part of the hill and went all out only to find I still had 150m to go almost came to a stop ,a bit disappointed as i felt i was going ok up to that

I think they should have stuck to plan A and ran it up the hill on the other side

But can't fault the organisers well ran and on closed road with one hell of a feed not to mention the cake ,take a bow lads

Amprodude

jinkypolly wrote: »

I've ridden it and it doesn't hit 20%, maybe you were justin hurting a wee bit.

I sure was hurting. Nearly died when I crossed the line.

Amprodude

I was the same. Went too hard at the start and died down towards the end for the cruel stuff.

rappid

good stuff lads! check your emails for results.

jinkypolly

Are the results going to be published online? That's a long wait for a National Championship event to give out results.

fat bloke

I didn't realise you could do it on an LC licence? I might have give it a go in that case seeing as I was in that part of the country.

I did the Valley Wheelers Trasna na Gleannta sportive the day after and it was a fabulous spin. Great route. Really scenic, some fantastic little roads I hadn't been along in years and years, and a food stop with gorgeous ham sandwiches and luscious curranty bread like only country sportives can make.

Amprodude

jinkypolly wrote: »

Are the results going to be published online? That's a long wait for a National Championship event to give out results.

Agree, for a national event, waiting that long for results was a joke. They should be made public too.

jinkypolly

Unfortunately one of the riders who was presented with his gold medal on the podium on Saturday was then informed on Sunday that there had been a mistake and that he hadn't actually won. I know mistakes can be made but for that to happen in a National Championship is just inexcusable.

killalanerr

jinkypolly wrote: »

Unfortunately one of the riders who was presented with his gold medal on the podium on Saturday was then informed on Sunday that there had been a mistake and that he hadn't actually won. I know mistakes can be made but for that to happen in a National Championship is just inexcusable.

Which one do tell ?

jinkypolly

M50

Amprodude

jinkypolly wrote: »

M50

I wouldn't give medal back. Fcuk them it was their error. They should just present the other rider with a medal too end of.

wanderer 22

Amprodude wrote: »

I wouldn't give medal back. Fcuk them it was their error. They should just present the other rider with a medal too end of.

Seriously? Surely you wouldn't want a gold medal if you weren't actually the fastest?

Lumen

Amprodude wrote: »

I wouldn't give medal back. Fcuk them it was their error. They should just present the other rider with a medal too end of.

You could just make yourself a medal out of one of those chocolate coins.