The British hill climb racing scene thrives on a passionate, grassroots tradition that brings cyclists and followers collectively to have a good time the uncooked problem of ascending steep, relentless gradients.
However whereas the racing itself might be fairly the spectacle, the bikes on which riders sort out the double-digit gradients are additionally usually relatively eye-catching. With the occasions falling beneath the Biking Time Trials (CTT) ruling relatively than UCI ruling, bikes haven’t got to fulfill a minimal weight restrict, nor have they got to have drop handlebars, and in consequence, the UK hill climbing scene exhibits off among the greatest garage-built bikes on the planet.
And at this time we’re looking on the completely nonstandard bike belonging to hill climb veteran, Andy Nichols of Group Lifting Gear Merchandise. The mismatched wheels, chopped handlebars and a really very brief chain won’t seem like fastidiously thought-about efficiency decisions, however there’s a meticulous technique behind this relatively wild-looking bike construct.
As soon as once more rim brakes keep sturdy within the British Hill Climb scene
(Picture credit score: Future (Andy Jones))
This single goal racing machine is nearly utterly non-standard, however as typical, we’ll begin with the center of the bike, the frameset.
Nichols constructed the bike across the final era rim brake Orbea Orca frameset, which could be a couple of years outdated now, however nonetheless manages to assist obtain an general bike weight of 5.70kg.
A small chainring an 11-28 cassette are all Nichols must energy up steep gradients
(Picture credit score: Future (Andy Jones))
The groupset is the place the sport of spot the non-standard elements turns into a complete lot simpler. Nichols’ groupset began off life as a Shimano Ultegra 6800 Di2 groupset, which hit the cabinets over a decade in the past now. Because of some relatively excessive modifications although, you would be forgiven for not recognizing the Shimano engineering.
A carbon fiber mech cage has been added to avoid wasting weight on the rear, whereas the entrance chainring has been switched out for an oval chainring, which Nicholls prefers for his out of the saddle driving fashion on steep climbs. The chain has additionally been upgraded (and shortened) to a KMC X11 SL, including a bit of glitz to the bike.
Ouch… it is actually efficiency over consolation on the entrance of Nichols’ bike
(Picture credit score: Future / Andy Jones)
Up entrance, the shifters too have been nicely and really butchered. In a bid to avoid wasting a valuable 30 grams, Nichols has forgone the consolation of the rubber shifter hood covers on his handlebars, as a substitute choosing only a single wrap {of electrical} tape. It isn’t essentially the most comfy, and probably slippery when moist, however actually committing to saving each gram attainable.
The Bontrager XXX handlebar and stem mixture has been chopped too. Nichols prefers to climb on the hoods, making the drops redundant, and subsequently thought-about as extra weight. We estimate this mod saves round 40-60 grams on a light-weight handlebar such because the Bontrager XXX.
Carbon fiver brake callipers assist hold the burden even decrease
(Picture credit score: Future / Andy Jones)
Because the hill climbing season is so brief, riders solely are likely to get to make use of their specialist bikes for about 2 months of the yr, that means many construct their bikes on a strict finances. Nichols too has made some price efficient purchases on his bike from on-line retailer AliExpress – not at all times synonymous with high quality…
Nichols described the bike construct as an ‘Ode to AliExpress’, with the saddle, seatpost, and maybe most worryingly the brake callipers all coming from the web retailer and costing not more than $20 per merchandise.
Zero padding on the saddle isn’t any bother, as most hill climbs are lower than 5 minutes in period
(Picture credit score: Future / Andy Jones)
Beneath the relatively uncomfrotable trying carbon saddle, you may additionally discover a tiny LED gentle that has been bonded onto the bike. Whereas CTT would not have a minimal weight restrict, it does require all riders to make use of a entrance and rear bike gentle in competitors, so Nichols discovered this extremely light-weight choice to abide by the foundations.
I suppose hill climbs are time trials – so is that this entrance wheel actually misplaced?
(Picture credit score: Future (Andy Jones))
Now then let’s sort out what looks like a relatively unusual wheel setup for hill climbing. As an alternative of choosing all out weight saving, Nichols has fitted an 80mm entrance wheel to his bike to enhance aerodynamics. Talking to Biking Weekly, Nichols mentioned that following some very ‘unscientific testing’, he concluded that on sure programs, having a quicker entrance wheel was really extra vital than an excellent gentle low profile one just like the rear wheel.
With the entrance wheel having a bigger impression than the rear wheel, Nichols settled on this balanced method, finishing a very bespoke construct that any true bike fettler can recognize.
