Who Cares about Segment Times?

It seems I do. Garn. When Mike started using Strava I understood why. At (as he was then) 18 it was natural to be competitive. I was happy to help him with the odd lead out, content to let him go on some sections and meet him further up the road when he'd done that bit and was waiting for me and frankly unable to stay anywhere near him when he set the (then) Strava record for the descent of Shipham Road - glad to see that Strava seem to have deleted that one as too dangerous. But I wasn't competing. I told myself that it wasn't what I cycled for...

...and then my Garmin started reporting segment times and ranks. Initially it was just casual interest that I looked to see how I compared to other people's times through sections. In the main I hadn't known that the segments were there when I was out on the bike, they just appeared in the report when I uploaded what I'd done - Garmin Touring you see - not a gadget that is meant for competitive types. The more I casually looked the more I realised that I was doing pretty well compared to other folk in the 45-55 bracket. I've come to realise that I wasn't interested in the competition when I thought I wasn't in it. But I am, and I am. Today, basically because I ended up riding with two very handy accomplices in the lower and top sections of Cheddar Gorge, I ended up getting onto the top 25 sheet for the section from the bridge in the tourist bit to the white line where the official hill climb finishes. I know I've done it faster in a pre-Garmin segments era but I found, rather oddly, that I was really rather pleased with myself - so much so that I had to phone Mike and tell him!

I guess I knew that I'd got the bug when, out on the road, I met up with a complete stranger on the way back across from Nailsea Wall to Yatton. This was the second time this had occurred in a short space of time, say three weeks. The first time had turned into a paired time trial. We had some fun doing alternate leads and, given that he was a Bristol University team member (so he told me), it ended up pretty quick.  My Garmin report told me that I was sixth on the section for a male of my age, and I was pleased. I was vaguely galled that it didn't put me into the lists as times from Garmin Touring machines weren't included at that point.  But I knew - and I was pleased. And then, the second time, with a different stranger, I told him about the first one and we tried to beat the first time. Poor fellow. We didn't get close and it probably cost him the equivalent effort of cycling 15 miles at his normal pace. Why had we done it; probably because my competitiveness had infected him. Who ever you were - sorry!

So what am I to do. I still tell myself that segment times are not what I go cycling for. I even largely believe it; but I'll still check the segments report every time I get back from a ride. This evening I found myself scheming as to how I could knock a hole in the time I'd set today up the gorge. I may have a problem, and I don't mean in beating the time. Garmin - you got me. If I start putting up pages reporting best time attempts on the climbs in the blog you'll know I got properly addicted. The bad news (for me at least) is that, just at the moment, it seems like a perfectly natural extension to the piece - gives me a reason to go and do them all again. Oh no.

DP 

Belmont Hill, Failand

There I was, hunting about for a possible cycling club meet when I came across an article about the Bristol Road Club's hill climbing competition. Well, I had to read it, didn't I? Unsurprisingly they'd had a bash up Cheddar but, there at the bottom of the web page was their bit about Belmont Hill. I'd been intending going close to it anyway on a route round North Somerset so I guess it just was meant to be.

I hit the bottom 30km into the day, about ideal, and with a successful push up Brockley Coombe already under the belt. After that I'd dropped down to Winford and, for a change, turned left as opposed to right. 'Nuff rambling...

Turning right onto the climb you can see from the bottom that it's going to be quite steep. The initial section is easy but there's a rightwards bend onto a steeper bit easily visible. I presume it's the Bristol Road Club that have put the marks on the road, every 100m to start with and every 50m from around a third of the way up. Of course, I didn't know how long the route was so ticking off the 50m intervals only served to raise the question as to what length of climb would be marked off in 50m sections. The answer is 1400m.

As the profile shows, that steep bit at the bottom proves to be the hardest section of the lot but given it's about 20% let's be thankful for that. In truth, this never gets that hard as there are rest sections after all the hard bits and the hill isn't very long anyway. It's marginal as to whether you'd call this top end of grade 4 or right on the base of grade 3 - I'd go 4 but if you hit it 130km in instead of 30 then you'd probably disagree...

It's short, it's steep for a while and it takes you up onto the ridge above Portishead - and there are some really good descents off this ridge. I went down Portbury Lane to Easton in Gordano but, if you've never done Naish Hill, then it's an experience not to be missed - but make sure your brakes are FULLY functional and don't hit the top bend too quick or it gets very exciting. Very...

DP