The Buxton Mountain Time Trial – an early season challenge with a difference

If ever there was an early season challenge, Buxton Cycling Club Mountain Time Trial is arguably one of the hardest time trials you can do in the UK.

The time trial is based around Longnor in Staffordshire (about 10 miles south of Buxton) and incorporates some of the toughest roads available for use in any time trial.

It starts just outside the village school, turning left and pretty much starting with steepest climbing section of the course.  The climb continues up to the main road, where riders won’t be able to view the spectacular scenery if they’re trying hard enough. The course joins the A53 for a rolling few miles before a left turn and the start of an exhilarating, technical decent back into Longnor. The race is 3 laps (33miles) for men and 2 laps (22miles) for women and juniors.

This year has the added incentive that Matt Botrill can equal Geoff Platts record of 7 wins in the MTT. It will be interesting to see if he can break the course record while matching the record of wins.

It is kindly supported by Detail Design Engineers Ltd, Veroli Limited, Cooper Hartley & Williams Solicitors and Sett Valley Cycles.

In addition to the normal prizes on offer in time trials we have a generous ‘athletes prize’, which is for the fastest rider on a road bike (no aero assistance, see the website for the rules).

The event regularly attracts top class athletes, with this year’s event expected to be no different.

Matt Botrill 2012

Want your chance to compete against champions? Or want to prove you’re tough enough!? There is still time to enter either through the Internet entry on the CTT website or via a CTT entry form to Richard Towse, 14 Jodrell Street, New Mills, High Peak, SK22 3HJ. Entry fee is £8.00 with cheques made payable to “Buxton Cycling Club”.  The closing date is the 19th March 2013.

We have set up a website specifically for the MTT at www.buxtonmtt.co.uk, giving all the information on the course and history of the event.

There is also a twitter, @BuxtonMTT, which gives regular updates on the run up to and during the event (phone signal permitting).

For Facebook users we also have a group, Buxton Mountain Time Trial: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001127056730#!/groups/236375376455888/

Whether in for the win or just going for the best ride you can do, there will be a support group available providing tea, coffee and cakes.

A Few Minutes with… Buxton CC

Richard Towse – Buxton CC

Featured Club
A Few Minutes with… Richard Towse of Buxton CC

I have been looking at the “Wiggo Effect” in the North West of England, as I wanted to see whether Bradley Wiggins’ success in the Olympics and Tour de France has had an effect on the general public.  I decided that one of the best ways to do this would be to speak to a cross section of cycling clubs/teams to ask their opinion, and whilst I was at it, to ask them for some information about their club.

The first one up is Buxton CC, and Richard Towse, organiser of the Buxton Mountain Time Trial for the club, has kindly answered a few questions for me.  So without further ado, here goes…

1. How big is the membership of Buxton CC? Have you seen this grow since the Tour de France/Olympics? Are you seeing an increase in membership in general or are there more increases in particular areas (e.g. women’s riding, time trialling, etc)

Buxton Cycling Club has around 70 members with an age range of between 7/8 years old up to 70 plus.  We haven’t seen a rise in membership since the tour or Olympics but we have noticed that more people are cycling in the local area. We expect an increase in membership in 2013 and attendance of our weekly time trials.

 2. What type of rider do you cater for?

We mainly cater for the road rider (recreational, race or time trial) although we have members who ride at the Manchester Velodrome, go mountain biking or do cyclo-cross.

3. Do you promote events? If so, what type of events do you do?

We run a series of time trials during the summer months on a Tuesday night just outside of Buxton where anyone can turn up and ride the 9.8mile TT either for fun or to chase a time. These are followed up with a series of 3 hill climbs.

The club also organises 2 open time trials: a mountain time trial (follow @BuxtonMTT if you are on Twitter) which is probably the toughest in the country held on Good Friday each year and a 10 mile time trial in June (follow @BuxtonCCOpenTT if you’re on Twitter). There is also the Bole Hill road race we host on behalf of the CDNW [Cycling Development North West], which is one of the toughest circuits in the North West.  We also host one of the first hill climbs of the season on Long Hill which hosted the National Championships in 2011.

4. Is there any development/coaching at the club which is available to all members?

We don’t have any structured development or coaching available in the club but we have a lot of members who have a vast range of knowledge who are willing to pass it on to those who want it.  This ranges from the basic “how do I survive a club run” to road race or time trial training tips.

5. Do you still have traditional club runs? Are these well-attended?

The club has the Sunday club run every week throughout the year, usually we have about 6 or 7 riders (on good weather days).  Due to the nature of where Buxton is club runs are hilly but are only as fast as the slowest rider, no rider is left behind.

6. If anybody reading this article would like to join Buxton CC, who is the best person to contact?

The best person for a quick chat is Sam at Sett Valley Cycles (www.settvalleycycles.co.uk), as our website (www.buxtoncyclingclub.co.uk) is undergoing a rebuild at the moment and should be back up and running towards the end of November. Full contact details will be on there.

7. Do you struggle to find marshals for events?

As with any event you always feel you’re marshal short, we are fortunate in the Club we have 2 qualified time keepers and a committed group of guys who want to see events run and be successful.

8. Finally, are there any riders at Buxton CC who deserve a mention? Any results that the club are particularly proud of?

Lee Baldwin had an impressive Hill Climb season culminating in 4th place at the National Hill Climb championships on the Rake, his result along with Chris Baines and Sam Mansfield contributed to winning the Team Prize, the Hill Climbers in the club have been chasing this for a few years.

 
If you would like to have your club [ no matter where in the world you are] featured please contact a member of the team we will be happy to chat and find out what you’re all about. Click to contact us.
 

 

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