Hills and Hill Climbs
Posted on Monday 22 October 2007 by Nick Bloom
Sunday Oct 21st, a few of us (myself, Camille, Linus,Paul, Inez and George decided to join the Rapha sponsored ride to the Catford Hill Climb - the oldest hill-climb in the world, possibly the oldest cycle race. 8.30 on a decidedly cold morning saw a gathering of riders at the Host Gallery in Clerkenwell. Time for a quick rummage through the sale clothing, then about 50 riders, were marshalled for the off. Plenty of fancy framework, mainly of the classic lightweight school. Camille and I were the only two who had fallen for the ’suitable for fixed’ tag - there were two singlespeeds, but everyone else had enough sense to ride gears. Clothing predominately black. This was after all a Rapha event - style is the new speed.
The route through London was a little strange, but once we’d climbed up to Crystal Palace and windmilled down Anerley Hill the ride took off. Unfortunately on the next climb up to New Addington, someone clipped Camille’s wheel, breaking a spoke. Luckily Linus was around to fettle. The rest of us pressed on as yet unaware, to be presented with Jewel Hill, leading up to Biggin Hill Aerodrome. This is not fixed friendly. It isn’t friendly at all. Walkies.
As we got to the top, the excellent marshalling brought us word of the mechanical, so Paul, Inez & I waited, leaving the main ride. A number of calls later, it was clear Linus and Camille had gone further astray, but were headed in the right direction. I had the Rapha route, so lead us on. After a long descent, we were climbing again. Between Cudham and Knockholt, there was another wall - 25% is not ’suitable for fixed’. Walkies again.
Meanwhile, Linus was exhausted from his wheel-trueing, so was towed by Camille at speed till we met at Brasted - they had avoided all the climbs. As time was getting on, we decided to skip Catford, and go via lunch to the Bec climb. We had thought that by the time we climbed Ide Hill, we would have been to late, but heard later from George that the Rapha crowd were only a few minutes ahead of us.
A pleasant and relaxed lunch in the sun at Westerham, then a long but gradual climb to the Bec. Take a leafy country lane in the middle of nowhere, with an impossible gradient rangeing from 1 in 6 to 1 in 4. Add tea and cakes, a good commentator, and fill with cheering bystanders. The riders were male and female, juniors through to vets. Only 700 yards, but it looked hell. Eyes popping, tongues hanging out, bikes wobbling. Weather geared or fixed, some blew just before the top, others were too comfortable, hence too slow. The winner broke the course record in style. And there were even freebie pink caps.
Paul lead us back at speed to Purley, in time to return via London Bridgeto the sale for purchases. So a great mixture, a friendly ride with Rapha, some testing hills - for those who didn’t avoid them - an exciting event and even shopping.