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Otley Hill Climb
OTLEY CYCLE CLUB Open two-stage hill-climb 2 October 2004
Otley CC was my first cycling club. I remember doing the Otley Hill climb over 10 years ago (without much distinction). As my parents still live in Yorkshire I wanted to come over and have another go at this race.
It is a 2 stage hill climb. The morning race is up Norwood Edge just outside Otley. The climb is over a mile long. After a steep (16%) start it flattens out a little.
The afternoon stage is up East Chevin. This climb is a little shorter but the average gradient is higher with no flat sections to give any respite.
On the first stage I came second in a time of 5.05. I was pleased because the only rider to go faster was Jim Henderson (Jim is an old club mate from Oxford University CC and has been the national hill climb champion 5 times)
I thought I had 3 hours to the next race so I went back to the Otley clubhouse and helped myself to a few cakes. However I began to wonder where all the riders were. They had gone to warm up for the next stage. It was beginning an hour earlier than it used to 10 years ago. I regretted eating all the cakes because my stomach felt a bit full. I don’t think it made much difference but in the second stage I came 4th out of 38. It was a little disappointing after coming second in the first race but overall I was happy with the race.
There is about 400 metres to go. The hill has levelled off, but its still hard work.
