Hill Climbing, why is it so attractive?

In the lull between the road race season and the track and cross season sits hill climbing where all those guys who don't feel they've had enough punishment during the year give themselves some more.

For those who don't know what hill climbing is it basically a race from the bottom of a climb to the top, the winner is who ever does it in the quickest time. The climbs can vary in length from 1min 20 secs up to the big ones of 15mins.

I'm not the fastest and won't win a race anytime soon, but it's the enjoyment (if you can call it that) of pushing your body to the limit, using all your energy to the point that some one has to help you off the bike at the top, the pain you feel and ultimately the satisfaction of knowing you've done everything you can in pursuit of that time.

This year I'm limiting my hill climbs to just a few, Monsall (short, and just gets steeper), Beeley Moor (long, steep for the first 2thirds turning in to a drag at the top), Riber (super steep and hair pinned), Banks Road (short and steep) and Corbar Gap (new one to me but it's super steep). There is a theme to the hill climbs (except Beeley) they're all short and steep. Others describe me as a climber others a sprinter, me I see myself as a general all rounder, not the best but not too bad either. The short steeper hill climbs suit me more as they play to my attributes being fairly tall and lightweight I can use my power to climb without losing too much because of excess weight (spare tyre).

Not everyone sees the attraction but you ask a cyclist what's the best piece of road to ride on and I'll guarantee a majority of the time it will be a hill.

I'll post again to let you know how I get on.