Summary 2024 January Started off strong, with the first weekend of the year having an alternative Breakfast Blast ride hosted by Ian S, unfortunately for him it resulted in a trip to A&E. Tony D also hosted a session of loops at Cramlington later in the month, the cafe stop was good old Greggs in […]
2024 Roundup Part 1 Read More »
As I sit down to write my final race report of the season, I’m flooded with a mix of pride, gratitude, and disbelief at just how far I’ve come. This season has been a journey like no other. Every climb, every race, and every challenge was a piece of a larger story – a story
2024 Hill Climb Season Finale – The Journey of a Lifetime Read More »
Quarrington Hill Climb – Oct 20, 2024 Statistics and Course Records Quarrington Hill is a challenging ascent featured in the Houghton Cycling Club event. The climb covers a distance of 0.89 kilometers, with an elevation gain of 62 meters, resulting in an average gradient of 6.9%. Starting just outside Bowburn in Durham, England, the route ascends past the
The Venue Many of our riders will be familiar with Kirkley cafe, a popular spot for road cyclists to have a bacon sandwich and a cuppa located just outside of Ponteland. It also being a farm means there is a lot of land that can be used each year for our cyclocross racing. The conditions
CXNE 2024 – Round 5 Kirkley Read More »
Pre-Race The week leading up to the Kibblesworth Hill Climb felt like a turning point for me. After the ups and downs of previous races, this was the final qualifier before the National Hill Climb Championships on the 27th of October. It felt like the real start of my push toward Nationals, so I was
Kyle’s Race Report: Sunderland Clarion CC Kibblesworth Hill Climb (MH20) Read More »
The week leading up to the Allen Valley Velo Hill Climb on the 22nd of September started with me still licking my wounds from the last race. After dropping my chain mid-climb in the previous event, I was mentally and emotionally bruised. My ego, slightly dented, led me to spend most of Monday not doing
Kyle’s Race Report: Two Hill Climbs, One Chaotic Week Read More »
On a rare dry weekend in September, a mix of roadies and dirtbags headed to the Scottish borders. Based at Whithaugh Park in Newcastleton, the weekend got off to a good start with a cracking meal at the local pub, The Grapes. Day 1 Half the party took on the Ken Laidlaw sportive route, a
Newcastleton Weekender Read More »
My third hill climb race brought its share of challenges—tough gradients, a dropped chain, and battling a headwind. But despite the setbacks, I pushed through, crossing the finish line and smashing my target time. Every race brings new lessons and experiences, and this one was no different. The thrill of pushing myself, surrounded by the amazing NTR community, makes every climb worth it!
Kyle’s Race Report: Protech Velo (Paradise Bank) Hill Climb Read More »
The Anticipation: 6 Days to Go It’s Sunday evening, and I’m still buzzing from my first ever time trial race. The thrill of crossing the line with a personal best has barely worn off, but now the realization is hitting me: in just six days, I’ll be tackling my next challenge—my first hill climb. Winters
Race Report: Winters Gibbet Hill Climb Read More »
The Decision to Race After months of contemplating entering a race—and chickening out on my first attempt—I finally mustered the courage to put my name down for a competition. The event: a 25-mile time trial on an anti-clockwise loop around Northumberland, including parts of the east coastal route. With no real idea of how fast
Race Report: My First 25-Mile Time Trial Read More »
