FCA Midweek Series – Event 21 – Purrin Den Hill Climb – 29th August 2012

Report by Paul Lawson.

This weeks Fife Cycling Association event (and FCA members HC Championship) was moved from Purrin Den because of the poor road surface to another climb in the Lomond Hills area. The Craigmeads hill climb was even tougher than last weeks 1.4 mile haul up the Cleish Hills. Measuring 1.7 miles in length and rising 651ft it was a stern test for riders already very wet from the heavy rain just prior to the start. Fortunately the skies cleared as the first rider tore up the hill and conditions were more tolerable – 10’C and no noticeable wind to hinder our ascent. The few spectators urging the competitors on was about the only thing that kept me going towards the end when my lungs were burning and my legs screaming on the steep and unrelenting final ramp to the finish.
Next weeks final evening event of the season should be much easier – a 1 mile flat sprint near Thornton north of Kirkcaldy in Fife.