This is a local hill to my family home and I've done some training on Bowden Hill so I know it well. I tried my new (well new to me, second hand) hill climb bike, weighing just over 5kg, for the first time in a race.

I was nervous as always especially knowing there's some fierce competition but hoping my lighter bike might give me a bit of an edge especially against my road bike which is over 8kg.

The weather forecast was showing typical hill climbing weather: torrential rain but on the day it was actually quite on and off and not too heavy compared to the previous day and per the forecast.

Just before I started, of course, the heavens opened up so I wasn't quite as warm as I had hoped but luckily there was a tree to shelter across the road to keep somewhat dry before lining up to start.

At the start line, I got chatting to the steward as I sometimes do just to calm my nerves. Next thing I know 5,4,3,2,1 go..

Covid means clipping in to start and luckily I managed okay this time.

The first 20 seconds is just me trying my hardest not to over do it but still putting a decent effort in.

After what feels like 1 minute in, I see the steep section appearing and start really worrying about the lack of gears on my bike with 42T and 28 cassette. I get into my lowest gear which feels far too high at the bottom of the hill and start standing a lot earlier than I usually would plan to.

I get about 3/4s into the steep part of the climb and I'm starting to really feel it. Cadence has dropped lower than I would like but I just have to keep churning the legs. I'm breathing so hard the oxygen is starting to leave my arms and I'm relieved when it flattens off. I gain faster cadence but I'm going a lot slower than I would have wanted but just trying to give my all while saving a little for the final ramp up at the end. 50m from the end I imagine seeing the results with someone only 1 second ahead of me. I'd kick myself so I give it my all imagining someone is racing me to the line.

Not having a bike computer means I have no recorded time so I was waiting with anticipation for the results and to my luck they post them that evening. I get a message from friend, Viv, saying 'you've won' !!

Maddie Heywood

Chippenham & District Wheelers Hill Climb, 3 Oct 2020

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