Monsal Head HC

It's been a little while since I wrote a post. Mainly due to not having any hill climbs for a couple of weekends and a busy time on placement.

On sunday was Sheffrec's famous Monsal Head hill climb. This year, the 89th edition had the most riders ever - 233. Attracting some of the biggest names in the hill climb scene, coupled with the roaring crowds, it was without doubt the most amazing hill climb I've ever done.

Monsal Head - 600m @ 12%, most at a constant 17%.

I decided to ride out to the climb from matlock (after getting the train from notts) and was greeted to a block headwind and torrential rain. If it was meant to be a warm up, I failed miserably. Thankfully, the weather cleared and showed the true colours of autumn.

After a soaking, I took to soaking up the atmosphere as some of the earlier riders raced up it.

This was the reason I loved hill climbing. The first to set off was a tandem, followed by an 8yo (the youngest starter ever) and many more whether in their first decade of life or their seventh. Each one a true competitor roared on by the crowd.

I had set some targets, realistic and crazy. I wanted to try for a sub 2min ride. Though would be easily content with a PB and nothing left in the legs.

I started off hard and held on for dear life. At 100m to go the crowds lined the barriers. I don't remember anything of the last 100m, the focus was giving every last drop of leg strength. Eventually I crossed the line and sat against the barriers with others, all trying to get as much air back as possible.

In the end I posted a 2:13, beating my PB by 30s and setting a new 1min and 2min power PB.

More importantly, I could not have given anymore.

I stood after the ride, beer in hand, watching the favourites speed up the climb, the winner recording a 1min 16s time. The spectacle was something unrivalled.

Without doubt, I will never forget racing at Monsal and being part of such a dedicated, friendly collective. It was the perfect illustration of what Hill Climbing is.