Norton Attack!

I've had a pretty dramatic 24 hours.

First off, last night I was riding with a friend down prospect road, he swerved and clipped my tire, and I came tumbling down. (Just a couple of bruises, nothing too much to worry about). The bike was fortunately fine, and we went on our way. The guy who saw it happen probably thought we were a pair of idiots though.

Then this morning the two of us went for a slightly bigger ride, thought we'd tackle Norton Summit for the first time. I've done Mt Lofty a few times before, so I was confident of getting up there fine, but did wonder where my time would be. I thought anything around 20 minutes and I'd be more than happy. Off we went, and nary had I gone 10 kilometers, and I got a flat. (a couple of cyclists passed me looking dejected near the MFS shed on the parade) This wasn't the end of the world, but it did take an awful long time to fix it. We got going again, eventually, and by now the day was really starting to heat up.

There were no more dramas on the way to Norton Summit, and I entered the climb first at a pretty steady 10 miles an hour. I assumed my mate Angus was right behind me, but didn't look back until I came around the first proper bend... and couldn't see him! Knowing I could expect a call if anything was wrong, I pushed on, and on, and on. I expected the hill to get harder, but little did I know that Norton Summit is a very even climb with everything to offer and little to say against it. I changed up a couple of gears, settling in at 11 or 12 miles an hour, and before I could blink twice (I blinked a lot more than twice) I'd hit the top. Not too long after Angus made it up as well. He got 22 minutes flat, so I knew I was close to my goal, but I had to wait till I got home for strava to tell me.

My time? 18:22, chuffed doesn't start to describe it.

Next time I'll try to get below 18 minutes, I reckon.

Tags: Climb, Hill, Norton, Summit

2 members like this

Comment by Rob (Chewbacca) on February 23, 2012 at 14:22: You would probably like Greenhill Rd as a climb as it launches you out of town very quickly and after a few bends and a look over the shoulder and the world is only a memory behind you...when you reach bus stop 19 only 7.3km later the possiblies are bountiful and you will see a world that is totally wonderful to see :)

Comment by Sam Young on February 23, 2012 at 15:12: Greenhill is probably the next one on the bucket list, although the traffic up and down there can be somewhat worse.

Comment by Jase "Flatty" C on February 23, 2012 at 15:13: Nice work. It's one of my favourite climbs out there. You must have been cranking a bit faster though - I average 13.4kmh and my best time is 24.36 on the Strava segment. Next up, Montecute Road ascent ;)

Comment by Sam Young on February 23, 2012 at 15:34: Yep, I averaged 11.2miles through the segment, which is about 18k's

Yeah, I'm pretty keen for Montacute too. So many hills to climb!

Comment by rossmg on February 25, 2012 at 12:48: Think I saw you fixing your puncture. I was heading into work down The Parade and spotted a couple of guys at the Beaulh Park Fire Station fixing a puncture. However that was at about 15:30 ...

Comment by Sam Young on February 25, 2012 at 13:14: Sounds like us... but it was more like 11.

Comment by rossmg on February 26, 2012 at 2:29: Well that wasn't you then as I was not 4.5hrs early for work! Must be some glass ot something on the road - 2 in one day at the same spot!!

Norton Attack!

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