I love hill climb season and in this area of the country we have plenty to have a go at. Hill climbs generally don't attract many riders and some events seem to be disapearing so I would encourage riders to enter some local events to help keep the hill climbs going.

Here is a little list of ones people could have a go at. Club events just turn up and sign on on the line, open events you need to enter in advance.

1) Ankerdine. Worcester st Johns / sevale club event, Tues 6th Sept.

In my view one of the toughest hill climbs, hard to judge your pace as too long to sprint from the bottom and a varied gradient from steep to very steep! Get up it in 3 mins and you are flying, under 4 takes some doing and just getting to the top is good going.

2) Saintbury Hill. 6.30pm start, club event. http://www.stratfordcc.co.uk/calendar_tt.asp

Saintbury Is a longer climb than Ankerdine but not as steep. average of about 10% with tree cover that really gives it a special atmosphere.  My favourite of the local hill climbs, takes me about twice as long as Ankerdine would.

3) Gorcott, 7pm start, club event  http://www.rrpcc.co.uk/events.html

Never done this one but going to give it a go this year.

4) Warwickshire road club DOUBLE hill climb. Open event. 25th sept. https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=204463886274565&ref=ts

Event organised by Alex Lay**** and features hand made prizes and a fantastic freindly atmosphere. An awesome challenge, Dovers hill and Saintbury hill on the same day. Dovers has been used as the national hill climb course many times, it's tough at about 12% average and it's great to be able to compare you time to hill climbing legends of the past. I've entered, as has Matt Clinton (national hill climb champion 2008 and runner up in 09 and 10) My aim is Dovers in under 5 mins and Saintbury in under 7.30. Matt C will be somewhat faster..

Anyway, these are just a few of the local events. Have a go at one or two of them and help to keep hill climbs alive. It's got to be more fun than going up and down dual tracks searching for a pb in a 10.