Friday, March 29, 2024

Richard Bussell – 2015 British 10 Mile and Hill Climb Champion

-

HomeInterviewsRichard Bussell - 2015 British 10 Mile and Hill Climb Champion

The CTT Hill Climb Championship is usually won by a specialist or if it’s a longer climb then the roadmen tend to come to the fore but when the CTT 10 Mile Champion wins the hill climb championship it merits further investigation; that’s why VeloVeritas just had to ‘have a word’ with Mr. Richard Bussell (RST-Aerocoach)…

Richard Bussell
Richard Bussell (second right). Photo©supplied

The basics, how old are you, where are you from, what’s your occupation, Richard?

“I’m 27, live in Stourbridge and work as a Postman in Kidderminster.”

How did you get into cycling?

“I got into cycling as a way of losing weight when I turned 20 years-old.

“I started out just doing little loops on my mountain bike but quickly got a single speed road bike and started doing longer distances.”

You rather exploded on to the scene; what were your biggest results before you won the “10” Champs?

“I’ve a had a few wins a local crit races and a few podium places on longer road races.

“Leading up to the 10 champs I had a few wins in open TT’s and recorded an 18:17 on the V718.

“I did a few open hill climbs in 2014 and didn’t do too bad!”

Tell us about your training for the “10” – do you have a coach?

“My training for the “10” consisted mainly of four or five three minute efforts with about 10 minute rest in between each.

“These were done on my local training routes usually up hills. I made sure I recovered properly after each ride.

“I don’t have a coach, I plan all of my own training schedules.”

Richard Bussell
Richard used his “hill climb only” machine. Photo©supplied

Your bike was the subject of a feature in the Cycling Weekly – what was that about?

“Cycling Weekly took an interest in the bike I used as the total cost of it was what most of the other competitors spent on their front wheel alone (under £1,000, ed.)

“It was very satisfying winning on such a budget!”

What about that ‘nose down’ saddle?

“Not sure about the saddle, my position was optimized by Xavier Disley of AeroCoach, he knows his stuff!

“Xavi has helped me out with positioning on the bike so I am more aerodynamic and with advice on equipment.

“Also, he’s generally quite knowledgeable all-round – so good to speak to about many different things, for example he had some good tips on pacing for the national 10 course.”

You ride on ‘feel’ – not power, unusual these days…

“I have never used a power meter so it wasn’t even something I was thinking about leading up to the event.

“A lot of people are really surprised but I don’t think it’s that big of a deal, I have done enough 10 mile time trials to know how to pace it.

“I have been told I could of ridden faster if I was using one, but I don’t know about that…”

Richard Bussell
Richard kept his spirits up in hospital. Photo©supplied

You had an accident early season – the ’10’ was only your fifth race of the year.

“Yes, it was a pretty serious accident.

“I ruptured my spleen at the end of February which hospitalized me for eight days and put me off work and off the bike, for eight weeks.

“Luckily before the accident I had a really good winter of training, so the forced break may have done me good.

“The “10” was my fifth open race, but I had been doing club events and I did a couple of grit races too.”

Do you ride “25’s” and “50’s” – what are your times like?

“I have never ridden a 50 and have done one open 25 event getting second place with a time of 50:36.”

From the “10” to the hill climb – very different efforts.

“They are quite different efforts yes but they are both something I am used to.

“I’ve lost count of the number club TTs and I love riding hills!”

What made you go for the hill climb?

“I have always felt strong riding uphill and I will always training on hilly routes, purposefully hitting the steeper climbs.”

What did you do training-wise prior to the hill climb?

“My training for the hill climb consisted mainly of hill repeats.

“I have a really good local climb I like to use that’s about 13% for a kilometre with a really steep section of over 25% in there.

“You can make a good loop of it, it’s about a three minute climb with a minute minute recovery until you are at the bottom again.

“I liked to do it five or six times.

“What was more important to me for the hill climb was recovery – and losing weight.

“I lost six kg. form the 10 champs to the hill climb.”

Richard Bussell
Richard rides on feel, not power. Photo©supplied

Tell us about your hill climb bike – it’s pretty special, isn’t it?

“My hill climb bike is quite niche; there is no other use for it apart from riding up a hill as fast as you can. It’s made up of an aluminium Giant track frame with carbon bullhorns, seatpost and a saddle (97g).

“I built the wheels myself with a Planet X carbon rim on a Novatech track hub.

“With tyres and quick release skewers the wheelset only weighed 1.5kg.

“I Used Shimano SPDSL pedals with leather toe straps cable tied on for extra power transfer and security.

“This meant having to be held up while strapping myself in and then wheeled to the start.”

Have you ever thought about the track – pursuiting?

“No, I have never thought about riding on the track.

“Xavi mentioned it to me a few weeks ago so I may be giving it a go next year, we’ll see.”

Richard Bussell
That moment when you’ve just been told you’re a British Champion. Photo©supplied

I read you’ve ridden the road – how did that go?

“Road racing is my main passion, and I am OK at it, though am yet to get some results I’m really happy with.”

What does the winter hold for you?

“Big miles in the winter.

“It’s the only time I can get out and ride how I want without the stress and worry about being too tired for races and having to do specific intervals.”

What are the goals for 2016?

“My main goals for 2016 are to defend my 10 mile and hill climb championships.

“I will also have a go at riding the 50 and 25 TTs.

“Early season will consist of fairly local road races, I have no major hopes for road race results as I will save my main focus for the TT’s later on in the year, but I love doing road races so will give them a decent shot.”

Ed Hood
Ed Hood
Ed's been involved in cycling for over 50 years. In that time he's been a successful time triallist, a team manager and a sponsor of several teams and clubs. He's also a respected and successful coach and during the winter months was often working in the cabins at the Six Days for some of the world's top riders. Ed remains a massive fan of the sport and couples his extensive contacts with an inexhaustible enthusiasm for the minutiae and the history of our sport. In February 2023 however, our dear friend and beloved colleague Ed suffered a devastating stroke and faces an uncertain future; Ed has lost his ability to speak, to read, and has lost movement on the right side of his body. He's working with speech and physical therapists on rehabilitation, but all strokes are different and each patient responds differently, so unfortunately recovery is one day at a time. Ed ran his own business installing windows, and will probably not be able to work again. Please consider joining us to make a contribution to Ed's GoFundMe page to help stabilise and secure his future.

Related Articles

Ron Gardiner – From East Lothian to Warsaw, via Berlin and Prague

Only once has an English speaker won the Peace Race – in 1952 Scotland’s own Ian Steel took the honours. We were fortunate at VeloVeritas to interview the great man before his death, last year and before we’re done we’d like to speak to all surviving Scots who’ve participated in this historic event. Sandy Gilchrist, Jimmy Rae, Martin Coll and Ken Clark have all been kind enough to give of their time to us; next on our agenda is former Scottish 50 mile record holder, Velo Sportiv stalwart and all-rounder, Mr. Ron Gardiner.

Marc Hester – Dreaming of Success on Road and Track

In any sport there comes a time when the order changes, the old stars fade away and the new ones begin to shine brighter. But Dane Marc Hester is no super nova, shining brightly then gone, it's taken him several years to get to where he is in the Six Day constellation.

Charles Fletcher – Scottish Grass Track Star

Gordon Macrae messaged me the other day to say that he’d seen an interview with Scottish grass track star Charles Fletcher, and whilst it was OK for a lay person to read, perhaps Mr. Fletcher need to be asked some VeloVeritas questions...

Lewis Stewart – “I want to continue my winning streak in the Tandem sprint!”

The last time we spoke to Lewis Stewart was at the Bremen Six Day at the start of 2018 where he was riding the Sprint events and next he's competing in the Tandem Sprint and Kilometre Time Trial on the boards of the Lee Valley Velodrome in London where the Commonwealth Games track cycling events will be held.  

At Random

Chris Bartley – Former World Rowing Champion Turns to Cycling

Here at VeloVeritas we pride ourselves on always getting ‘a word’ with the new British 25 Mile Time Trial Champion; the late, great Jason Macintyre, Michael Hutchinson, Joe Perret, Matt Bottril, Ryan Perry, Dan Bigham have all taken time to speak to us. In joint silver medal slot at the recent British 25 Mile Time Trial Championships was Chris Bartley (AS Test Team), former World Rowing Champion and Olympic silver medallist.

La Vuelta a España 2014 – Stage 17; Ortigueira – A Coruña, 174 km. John Degenkolb secret? Cinnamon Cookies!

There was the chance that the break would stick; but with John Degenkolb’s Giant boys working themselves into the tar for him – and having done their homework by riding the stage finale on the rest day – and the likes of Ferrari and Matthews fancying their chances now that Bouhanni is back in France, not to mention Sky piling it on to keep Froome out of trouble, it was odds on to be a sprint finish.

Ollie Robinson – a Great Start to 2020 in Belgium

It’s that time of the year again; when young men cross the North Sea to the Flatlands, full of dreams of pro contracts, flowers and kisses from pretty podium girls. It doesn’t always work out like that for all of them but one young English rider has made a very strong start to 2020 with excellent early results; young Mr. Ollie Robinson.

Belgian National Championships 2007

The Belgian championships are special: as with the Worlds, there's just such a sense of occasion and expectation. There are a lot of ladies present, all immaculately presented. This is on the principle of, 'go to the race, or sit in the hoose!' The organisers are expecting 30-40,000 fans today...the bar-owners are rubbing their hands. There's only one man going to win the right to wear that red, yellow and black jersey for the next twelve months.