Club Run A&B: Four Elms, Edenbridge (Catford Hill Climb)

The venue for the Catford CC Hill Climb (York’s Hill) of the one of the world’s oldest cycle races.

The full climb is 0.8 miles, climbing 353ft / 108m and one of the steepest climbs in the south of England.  But, it is the last half a miles of the climb which is the really interesting part (20-25%) and where most of the club runners cheer on the riders before riding onto Four Elms for elevensies.

Veloviewer

Strava: Jamie Lowden (2nd Claim) still holds the top spot for LWCC riders at 2:04 with Joss Lowden at 3:11 for the ladies.

Photography Bernard Thompson

The first Catford CC hill climb was held at Westerham Hill on August 20th 1887. In those days, it was considered an achievement to get to the top without falling off. Riders rode a mixture of ‘safety bicycles’ and penny farthings – all on solid tyres. Of 24 starters,  only 12 made it to the top. (Modern generation are soft!)

• The lowest permitted gear was 52 inches.
• There was also a minimum weight limit of 35lbs (15.8 kg) for bicycles and 45lbs for tricycles
• Catford CC hill climb
• How to enter the hill climb