Feel the burn: Swain's Lane

After work I decided that I'd head to Regent's Park for some Chaingang action then do some hill sprints up Swain's Lane. The plan was to do an hour or so getting to the Inner Circle and around it and then head up to Swain's Lane. John my mate and I were lucky to join in with some of the London Pheonix club who where were doing quite a well drilled ride. It wasn't too hard but we knew the climbing later would be tough.
Coming out of the wrong gate (it all looks the same) we took the wrong turn and ended up going up a massive climb (for London).

The plan was to do 5 flat out (well as near as flat out as possible) climbs of Swain's Lane. It's Evil what ever speed you ride it. We scrubbed one go so we were down to four as we had just done the big climb to Hampstead.
The last time I did repaeats of Swain's Lane was the very last ride before I got Swine Flu. The pain was back.
The first one was evil. My legs were screaming before I'd even got to the halfway point where it gets steeper. 2nd time I just couldn't ride so hard at the start. Going through the steep bit I felt OK and this was the pathetic one. The 3rd was better as I went hard over the top. The 4th and final just felt terrible. I knew this was the last so I sprinted going over the top slightly cramping as I got to the last speed hump. Oxygen debt is an understatement. I couldn't talk. Just how it's supposed to be.
Back for more next week but with my PowerTap to see how pathetic my legs really are.
http://connect.garmin.com/player/73504640

A Book For Christmas - Wales Mountain Biking & 100 Great Cycling Climbs

Wales Mountain Biking by Tom Hutton

So I found this in Tescos last night but my wife informs me that this small guide to mountain biking in Wales has be bought for me by my 7 yrd daughter so I put it down quick. I will have a good look at it on Christmas day. Hope it's good. Tom Hutton has dome some of the routes found in MBR magazine so I'm confident it will be good

For the first time, here is a pocket-sized guide to the 100 greatest climbs in Britain... Written by a cyclist for cyclists.

One of my Norwood Paragon CC club mates (Simon Warren) has designed & written this book. 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs is an excellent guide to some of the best road climbs in the UK. It can purchase from all good books shops and can be found here at Cycling Weekly's online shop. I've been working on the website for Simon for a bit too long now (my fault) but we should have it live soon. This book would make an excellent Christmas present.
I'm looking forward ticking off a few more of the climbs featured in the book. I've done quite a few of the Welsh ones and a few in and around London. Those up North Look amazing. I don't know how many cycling wives are ever going to read this blog but if your hubby is a cyclist this would make the ideal small gift. 100climbs.co.uk

Climb 27 Swains Lane - Home of the Rollapaluza Urban Hill Climb