Winter - Norwood Paragon

BLAH!
Aiming for the top
A trip up memory lane, average gradient 1 in 7 steepest 1 in 4
by Jack Platts
My most pleasant memory must be
winning the North Midds and Herts
CA. Event in 1961 in Hertfordshire.
Next is coming second in the Bec CC
hill climb in 1960 and in the process
beating the previous week’s Catford
hill climb’s winner and winning the
team prize with Keith Butler and John
Fisher, yes that’s the same Keith who
won the Downhill Trophy – a true allrounder
is our Keith.
The Bec hill climb is held up White
Lane off Titsey Hill near Tatsfield,
Surrey. But in one of the national papers
it was described as Pitsea Hill
Sussex, it’s a wonder I ever found the
start.
I didn’t get in the frame for the
ride illustrated, sixth place in the 1963
Catford hill climb with a time of 2
minutes 18 seconds. The event was
won by Dave Patten of Tunbridge
Wells in 2 minutes 5¹/5 seconds.
To any aspiring hill climber I
would offer a couple of helpful tips.
At the end of the racing season your
legs should be strong, so strengthen
the arms and shoulders with press-ups
and weights. When climbing don’t look
up just keep your eyes on the road at
about 20 yards ahead.
All my rides were done on a fixed
wheel, but the choice is yours.
Jack in full flight or as the Croydon Advertiser of the day had it ‘struggling’
Have you got a tale about that unforgettable racing, training or social ride.
Unforgettable, either because it was the best win of your career or because you
suffered more than you thought possible. Write it down send it with a photograph
if possible and have it printed in Blah! and achieve fame and fortune.
All kinds of articles with a cycling connection are welcome and indeed necessary to fill the
pages of Blah! Send them to the editor.
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Blah! is printed and distributed by Peter Ansell