100 Climbs #26 - Mott Street

I went to visit my parents on the weekend of 7/8 February 2015, but after a quick look at the "bible" - 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs I saw #26 - Mott Street a stones throw from J25/J26 of the M25. This was an "ideal" location for a lunch stop on the way down and then a quick ride up and down to tick another one off the list.

We stopped at The Plough in Sewardstone - right on the junction of Mott Street.



We had a lunch from the Light Lunch Menu. Reasonably priced, freshly cooked and very good service - highly recommended.

After that I got changed in the car, put the wheels back on my bike, cycled out of the car park, turned right to the junction (20m), did a U-Turn, dropped onto the 34 ring and started the climb - no warm-up and no preparation.

The first 1/2 mile or so was fairly flat and I got a good cadence going. After that it started to increase in gradient gently and then there was a small kick up just before the mile mark before easing off a bit then steepening finally for the last 1/4 mile or so. The fact that I'd just had some lunch and done no warm up started to show just about here but then it was over. The steepest parts were probably 10-12% only and for a short distance. I rode on for another 1/2 mile or so to be sure I'd got the the end, turned at the T junction at the top and rode down.

And that was it it - 3.1 miles, 302ft of ascent and 13 minutes and 25 seconds of riding:

The key segment data was:
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/6691219
Length: 0.9miles
Height Gain: 254ft
Average Gradient: 5%
My time: 5:21
My Speed: 10.5
My position: 1111/2142

Book time is 6'30" so the time of 5'21" is pretty good

I'd hoped to be in the top 1/3rd but given no warm up and quite cold weather will take that time and tick the hill off the list. I know I could do better but probably won't ride it again.

I have now done 15 of the 1st 100 - so only 85 to go!

Here's my table of progress:

No	Name (rating/10)	My Time Book time	Strava Link
1	Cheddar Gorge (3/10)	14:17 (13:00)	http://app.strava.com/segments/6665302
14	Box Hill (3/10)	07:50 (7:00)	http://app.strava.com/segments/6695759
15	Yorks Hill (6/10)	04:20 (3:00)	http://www.strava.com/segments/6691251
16	White Lane (5/10)	03:41 (3:00)	http://www.strava.com/segments/6691229
20	Toys Hill (7/10)	10:50 (8:00)	http://www.strava.com/segments/6691062
22	Ditchling Beacon (6/10)	06:47 (6:30)	http://app.strava.com/segments/6691384
26	Mott Street (3/10)	5:21 (6:30)	http://www.strava.com/segments/6691219
80	Honister Pass (9/10)	15:02 (17:00)	http://www.strava.com/segments/667735
81	Newlands Hause (8/10)	10:52 (9:00)	http://www.strava.com/segments/6677326
82	Whinlatter Pass (5/10)	12:16 (13:00)	Ride not meeting 100 Climbs segment http://www.strava.com/segments/2646437
83	Kirkstone Pass (7/10)	18:38 (21:00)	http://www.strava.com/segments/6677526
84	Hardknott Pass (Failed - had to walk) (10/10)	16:35 (15:00)	http://www.strava.com/segments/6677392
85	Wrynose Pass (10/10)	15:56 (15:00)	http://www.strava.com/segments/6677446
98	Rhigos (6/10)	unknown (19:00)	Ride not meeting 100 Climbs segment
99	The Bwlch (5/10)	unknown (21:00)	Ride not meeting 100 Climbs segment
117	Chalkpit Lane (7/10)	08:03 (8:00)	http://www.strava.com/segments/2659930
132	Gun Hill (5/10)	10:24 (11:00)	http://app.strava.com/segments/2376214
136	Edge Hill (1/10)	04:20 (5:00)	http://app.strava.com/segments/781198