NATIONAL HILLCLIMB CHAMPIONSHIP, PEAK HILL, SIDMOUTH, DEVON

by Bob Parrish

Even though the hill climb is the shortest time trial discipline, it is not until you ride one that you find out that that you require the maximum fitness of heart, lungs and legs to do so, otherwise you suffer.
So what is it about bikies that makes them travel vast distances – at considerable expense – to ride in a time trial one mile long and which they know will result in excruciating pain? Even when they know they have no chance of a place or a prize?
It’s part of being a real clubman and dedicated cyclist, I suppose, and it is one of the things that delights me that I have been associated with our sport and those fellow cyclists for so long. So I went, with eager anticipation to this year’s championship, which was being held so close to where I now live.
This year’s National Hill Climb was held on the one mile long, 20%, (average) or one in five in old money, Peak Hill at Sidmouth in Devon, and promoted by the Sid Valley CC. The road was closed to traffic for the race and supporters and very vocal spectators lined both sides of it. For those that bothered to look, there was also a spectacular view of the coastline towards Lyme Regis from the top of the hill.
This monster starts beside the sea, on the promenade in fact, and climbs up between one of the cliffs of the Jurrassic Coast. It starts gently uphill and gets steeper, and steeper – until, about two-thirds of the way up it turns a bend that, I am assured, is 1 in 3?! Then it goes on for another 400 yards or so, of about 1 in 6.
But by then it’s too late. Unless you are the champion to be, or a close contender, all the effort that has been put into a fast start on the lower slopes leaves nothing for the near vertical bit and you are found very wanting for those final yards – just imagine it – go on  – FEEL IT!
I found out about the championship whilst at a timekeeping accreditation session with the Mid Devon CC, who have adopted me as one of their own, the week before it was to take place. There was a start sheet, so I looked down it for any familiar names and saw – Dave Candy, North Road CC. I also saw a Leigh Taylor – and, during the week, discovered it was our Leigh.
That was it! I cancelled my golf for that Sunday, pumped up the tyres of my ATB (you know – the one with the lowest of gears) and set about a search for my North Road top. I gave no thought for my underused legs and unfit heart. I consulted the OS map and discovered that – yes, you’ve guessed it – I could drive to within three miles of the hill.
Approaching the course from the opposite direction, I only had to contend with one short stretch of road marked with a single arrow! And that’s what I did. I parked in Otterton, a village on the River Otter that flows down to Budliegh Salterton and, once on the bike, climbed steadily for a couple of miles until the arrow bit, which I gave due respect to, and walked. (I should explain that, I have only been on my bike three times in the three years I have been living down here, and the last one of those was two months ago).
Anyway, I crossed the finish line, looked appreciatively at the ambulance parked nearby and consulted my watch. I was just in time to see our Dave romp across the line. Leigh was due off later and in the meantime I watched riders from as far afield as Lancashire and the Lake District, Wiltshire, Nottingham and Holyhead (!)
tackle the hill. The vast majority favoured multiple gears, albeit most were in the lowest of them. Of those on fixed wheel many were obviously over-geared and struggled for momentum after the steep bit. A few used flat bars with bar ends, which I had never seen before in a hill climb. This apparently helps to get the air in more efficiently and I’m sure will find favour in the future.
Eventually Leigh came into view and was going very well for her first “real” hill climb. I managed to yell encouragement and take a photo at the same time, although I am sure she would not have known who I was at that point, even if she had seen me through the haze of pain that she was going through. Dave was running up the hill beside her, whilst pushing his bike and yelling encouragement!
I caught up with her and Dave at the top for more photos and congratulations from me to both of them. She appeared to have enjoyed her experience and, between the gasps for breath, described the discomfort she was predictably feeling. I am sure that evidence of her all out effort was telling for some time afterwards.
The times? Dave did 6 minutes 14.9 seconds (49th) and Leigh 8.57 (9th lady). The winner was James Dobbin of Arctic Shorter Rochford RT in an obscene 4.44, and Arctic Shorter Rochford, including Steve Nunn, got the Team prize.
But, in all truth, the times were irrelevant. It was the atmosphere, the location and being amongst fellow club cyclists which made it a great morning out – and one I shall remember for a long time to come. Oh, and I discovered that you have to be pretty fit to ride out and be a spectator too. But I was ok going back down to my van! Didn’t even need to stop for a pint.

Bob Parrish

Written in memory of Tim Dolphin, who represented the club in many hill climb championships during his competitive years with the North Road.