The ‘Buxton Mountain’ is an early season open time trial over a very hilly circuit in the Peak District and is renown as one of the toughest in the UK covering a total of 33 miles (for Seniors and Vets) and 22miles (Juniors and Women). The event traditionally takes place on Good Friday and this year saw some of the more extreme weather!!!
Gunnar Gronlund (National hill climb champion), Matt Clinton (former hill climb champion) and Tejvan Pettinger are all on the start list, headed up by reigning course Champion Matt Bottrill.
“What the ecky thump made me enter this race again after 8 years” was my thoughts as I got changed in Longnor! The last time I did this race I climbed off after one lap! The weather was unbelievable with heavy snow fall earlier in the week making the course look more like the Alps!
I hadn’t brought any leg warmers or proper gloves and was beginning to shake while waiting for the start. Simon Bridge was my minute man who I used to race with some years ago and he was looking leaner than ever! He passed me within minutes up the Hollinsclough Rake climb and commented after that he thought I had slipped my chain!!! I felt absolutely awful on that first climb and my only thought was “3 laps!!! S&*t!!!”
Reaching the Travellers Rest for the first time I was now frozen and clicked into a bigger gear and headed towards Leek. I started to feel a little better and then set about just trying to keep a nice steady pace with a view to finishing. I was not bothered about my overall time.
It was good to see some old familiar faces and the shouts of encouragement definitely helped, except that is the odd “only another 2 laps!!!”.
The road that takes you back across the Staffordshire Moorlands was like something from the Alps and with the descending made for a very chilly section!
Starting the 2nd lap I felt a lot better and continued in a steady rhythm and I knew at this point I was going to finish. I also realised at my current weight I am by no means a climber!!!
On the final asscent up Hollinsclough I passed Gwill Morris from Manchester Wheelers and asked how he was doing? He turned to me and simply said “I am in the Pain Cave!”… I knew exactly where that was 🙂
I was so glad to descend for the final time and see the finish board, I wasn’t particularly worried about my time of 1:56:08 just pleased to have finished!!
A video taken by Dane Walker of Weaver Valley with his GoPro Hero HD Camera of the 1st lap of the 2012 Buxton CC Mountain Time Trial.
Matthew Bottrill (www.drag2zero.com) won the event in a time of 1.26.34 holding off a challenge from Trejvan Pettinger (Sri Chinmoy cycling team) 1.27.21, and National hill climb champion Gunnar Gronlund (RST/Trigon) 1.28.34. Sarah Storey (ForViored) took the women’s title with a time of 1.03.19 (2 laps)
Just wanted to say thanks to Richard Touse for a well organised event. I would also like to say thanks to all the marshals, timekeepers and volunteers for their top efforts without which we wouldn’t race.
Enjoyed the day and it was worth the 180 mile round trip 🙂 Good to see some old faces.
Photos courtesy of Steve Gait