Clinton's fixed idea goes out of his head after Nationals dress rehearsal

With only a week to go before the National Hill Climb Championships, 2008 champion Matt Clinton (Mike Vaughan Cycles) headed up to Matlock last Sunday to compete in the annual double-header, which included a shortened version of the upcoming title race.
Matt ClintonMatt Clinton
Matt Clinton

The morning event saw damp conditions for the Riber climb, a relatively simple and easy ascent for the first half, with the second half containing five hairpins as the ascent reaches slopes of 25 per cent.

Riding a fixed-wheel bike, Clinton finished in 3min 43.8sec which was around ten seconds slower than his best time on the climb.

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“I knew that the course didn’t suit fixed, but I gave it a go anyway,” said Clinton.

“Riber’s a bit too technical for me.”

This would place him a slightly disappointing ninth place, with championship favourite Joe Clark storming to a win in 3:17.9, a new course record.

The Bank Road event was more suited to a fixed wheel but despite using a smaller gear than when he won there in 2008, Clinton struggled to turn it in the face of a strong headwind.

A time of 1:57.8 put Clinton in ninth for the second time in the day, with Clark almost ten seconds ahead to take another win.

“I’m surprised how hard Bank Road was,” said Clinton.

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“It’s never been easy, but I’ve always used a harder gear.

“I’m glad I rode this today as I’ve decided to opt for gears again for the National.

“If this had been it today, I’d have regretted being on fixed.

“You have to make a choice on gear at the start and deal with it. With gears, you can make that choice as you’re riding, you’ve more choice on a ‘get-out-gear’ and more options to accelerate if needed.”

He added: “It’s fuelled the fire for next weekend. I usually pull something special out of the bag for the National, the Matlock events a week before aren’t normally my best rides of the season.”

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