The Long and Winding Road to the Nationals
After another excellent season of hill climbing, including the three-peat on Leith as best climber in the club, Tom Kennett breaks down his run to the Nationals on Bank Road.
Right, hill climb season! It wasn’t something I’d been planning to focus on this year, but after the Maratona, I came out surprisingly motivated.
I didn’t quite ride as well in Italy as I’d hoped, but I got some solid training in beforehand and some great base miles while I was out there, and came back with the itch to have a proper go at this year’s John Bornhoft Memorial Hill Climb on Leith Hill – not just to defend the fastest Wheeler jersey, but to set a sub-4 minute time – something I’d never quite managed before.
So, post-Maratona, I spent about two months preparing almost entirely for that one climb. I followed a tried-and-trusted plan: shave every gram possible off the bike (the first year I’ve really properly looked at doing so), off of me and sharpen up the engine as much as possible.
With some very welcome help from Henrik Persson and Neil Grunshaw, and a small fortune spent on eBay, I got the Leith Hill setup down to 6.3kg – and even lower, 5.7kg, for the Nationals later on.
Leith Hill itself started with near disaster when I managed to unclip right off the line, but I pulled it together to sneak under four minutes with a 3:56. That was enough to narrowly edge Adam Cook (who also achieved a fantastic sub-4) and take the Kingston Wheelers jersey – something I’m proud to have earned and looking forward to wearing again next year.
Following that, I decided to make it a proper hill climb season. I entered a few opens across the South East, picking up a handful of top-tens along the way. Highlights included 10th at Catford – one of the oldest and most prestigious events in the country – as well as a PB at Bec as part of the double-header with Harry Bunnell and Andy Martin. It’s a cracking day out, and I’d highly recommend other Wheelers give them a go next season.
Nationals were next. The last time I did them was “The Struggle” — a 15-minute grind — so this year’s two-to-three-minute effort at Bank Road was a totally different proposal.
I went down a couple of days before and was somehow surprised by just how steep it was. By the time the day came, if I’m honest, I’d peaked a bit early for Leith and was clinging to form by the time I got to the start line, but I was still pleased with a 2:53 and 64th overall – my best Nationals performance yet.
The atmosphere was incredible: packed crowds, cowbells, and encouraging shouts all the way up. It’s the closest most of us will ever get to riding a Tour de France climb. Nevertheless it was still incredibly humbling to see hitters such as Harry Mac and Andrew Feather (the top 2 from our own club hill climb this year!) doing their thing – a different level entirely.
Next year’s Nationals are on the Porlock Toll Road (7km @ 5%) – a much longer and steadier effort, closer in a way to a club 10 than a lung-bursting three-minute hill – and I can’t wait. I’ve already started trying to work out how to make my bike both as light and aero as possible for it. The scene’s in great shape, and it’s brilliant to see more riders giving it a go. If you’ve ever been tempted, take this as your nudge to pin on a number next autumn.
Photos by Mark James.
