Hill Climbing
The hill climb season continued apace on Saturday, 11th October, with a double-header of this very particular cycling discipline. Lewes Wanderers were represented in both by Club Hill climb champion Dan Street and its newest member, Alice Gilmore.
ESCA Hill Climb – Firle Beacon
They were joined for the morning’s ascent of the same Firle Beacon climb where Dan claimed his crown back in July by Alex Steer, who levered his way up the fearsome ascent in 5 minutes 35.8 seconds to finish 23rd of the 36 entrants in the East Sussex Cycling Association version of the event.
With virtually no sun or wind to aid or contend with, Dan crested the summit a few seconds faster than he managed in the Lewes event to claim 19th with 5:11.7. On her racing debut for the club, Alice recorded an impressive 5:42.9 to finish 25th overall and 4th of the eight female competitors.
Beachy Head CC Hill Climb – Butts Brow
The early afternoon event was promoted by Beachy Head Cycling Club and took place on the shorter, but possibly even more brutal Butts Brow climb on the northern outskirts of Eastbourne. This time around Dan’s time of 5 minutes 15.6 seconds was good enough for 18th overall, while Alice was 22nd from 29 overall and 5th of the 7 female entrants with a fine 5:39.9
Ditchling Beacon
Alex and Alice returned to action on Sunday 19th October, this time up Ditchling Beacon. The road was temporarily closed for the 68 racers to tackle this already testing climb without having to worry about motorised traffic heading down or trying to overtake.
The pair were a model of consistency as they were separated by almost exactly the same margin as up Firle Beacon eight days earlier. Alex recorded 6 minutes 29.6 seconds for 40th overall, while Alice’s time of 6:36.5 placed her 44th overall and 7th of the 14 female entrants.
Le Col South Downs Hill Climb Series
As a consequence of these results and previous events, Alice finished a fine 3rd from 7 overall in the 18-39 age group category of the Le Col South Downs Hill Climb series. Alex was 20th from 27 among men over 40, while Dan Street was 8th in that group and first overall in the 50-54 age group.
Cyclo-Cross
Darren Haynes by Nicola Hale
Round 5 of the Challenge Tyres London & South East Cyclo Cross League took place on Sunday, 26th October, in typically cool autumnal conditions. The event was held in the leafy and hilly grounds of Somerhill School near Tonbridge on a course devised by the promoting club, Southborough & District Wheelers.
In the women’s race, Georgina Wise, racing for Destination Bike RT, made a good start to stand 4th at the end of the first of half-a-dozen laps. She held on to that place all the way to the final lap when she was demoted to a still strong 5th from eleven.
In the race for men in their forties, Ryan Machin (also Destination Bike RT) was 12th at the conclusion of the first lap. A strong second circuit saw him rise to 10th, but he was pushed back to 11th the next time around and crossed the finish line after 6 laps in the same position from 39 racers.
Dan Street’s race was almost over before it began as a gear cable issue manifested itself during his warm-up. Thankfully, clubmate Darren Haynes was on hand to lend Dan his spare bike, which barely affected his performance. From 11th at the end of lap 1, he gained two places next time around and another on lap 3, and eventually claimed a fine 9th from 57 men in their fifties after half-a-dozen circuits.
Not that Darren suffered from not having a spare machine in what were surprisingly dry conditions. From 30th at the conclusion of lap 1 he improved to 29th the next time around. He gained another two places on the third lap and rocketed forward 4 more spots on the final tour to record a fine 22nd place.