There was much trepidation as Wednesday night came around as a result of the preparation that had gone into the first North Hill Freewheeling Challenge. The process started with RULES being drawn up during the previous week’s training run which must of meant that it was being taken serious. There had been evidence of recce parties at the weekend, test runs by a number of people (as it was my commute I reckon that isn't practice) and working out whether weight or aerodynamics mattered most.
All of which added to be the most amount of FORWARD PLANNING I have ever seen by the group.
The biggest give away was we hadn't decided on a pub until the day of the event!
The rendezvous was at Paper Mill Lock bridge, which for those of you who know The Mighty North Hill understand it is at the BOTTOM of the hill, and at 8pm the café was shut :-( For those of who live at the top of the hill, and as the game was top roll DOWN the hill it meant yet another ascent that day.
The group of ACME cyclists grew from the designated time with BFC arriving on a full aero bike, aero suit and hat.
The Retiree arrived on something that would only just make the UCI weight limit and most of us on “normal bikes”. We all paled in insignificance when Huggy rolled up on a brand new, two tone lime green “bish bash bosh” which justifiably generated a lot of talk, as well as necessitating the donning of sunnies to tone down the brightness.
Oscar’s Dad arrived with a fully laden bike comprising of beer, adjudicators seat, silly hats filling two panniers and a saddle bag. The weight factor was being taken serious, but the socks and sandals made a different statement.
With Caroline setup by the bridge to record where we rolled to a halt the group began the ascent of TMNH.
Ten minutes later the group arrived at the village green at the top of the hill where zip ties were deployed to ensure there was no mechanical doping in this freewheel challenge.
And then we were off!
With a couple of minutes between each we paddled to the start and then push off and sat tight! The hill lasts for 0.9 miles according to Strava, but that is going up, going down is much further.
My video of the descent is here
https://youtu.be/9rDwZ7hNz0kCaroline had to run for yards to keep up with the big descenders with Tippers-Kiwi being the winner for distance.
Oscar’s Dad, our illustrious organiser came last, but he did leave the panniers and saddle bag on the bridge ☹
So after a the last descent, some tried a second run (but that also meant a second climb).
As 9:00pm approached it was beer time so we all moved halfway up the hill to the Rodney for the official ceremony and a few beers.
Congratulation to Nik for winning the inaugural event, and buying us all a beer.
Here's to the second event.
