Chris Myhill: Cyclist, event organsier, and lover of all things cycling.
At Pillar, we are building a truly dynamic, intelligent training partner that can help you be at your best. We have been lucky enough to meet some inspiring people along the way, all of whom shape our product and help us to reach and help more athletes.
We had the pleasure of sitting down with Chris, founder of the MyHill Cycling to talk about his cycling journey and what inspired him to start running cycling events. On April 2nd 2023, we will be joining Chris in Rowsley, Derbyshire for the Spring Classic, and we hope to meet as many of you there as possible.
Check out our guide to the MyHill Spring Classic.
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When did you start cycling?
It was something that came out of knocking around on a bike when I was a kid. By the time I was into my early to mid-teens I would think nothing of riding the 20 miles from Norwich to Great Yarmouth to spend a day at the beach. This would be done in jeans and a t-shirt, and I thought that was normal until one of my mates once came with me and he needed to get his dad to give him a lift home!
What was your first event?
I did an English Schools Cycling Association 10-mile time trial in 1983 on the road between Bungay and Harleston in Suffolk. My aim was to get under 30 minutes and I did 29.44!
How did it all start with the Spring Classic?
I wanted to put an event on that would be great for someone relatively new to the sport, but at the same time would be a challenge for an experienced cyclist. I also wanted to honour the rich heritage of the sport whilst showcasing a lesser-known area of Derbyshire.
The Spring Classic profile draws inspiration from the early season one-day races in Belgium. There’s loads of climbing, but the efforts are mainly short and sharp, so even though you’re not climbing for too long on any individual hill, the elevation really builds up. There are 3 distances available, and if taken steadily, the 60km route is very achievable but you will know you’ve had some time in the saddle! At the other end of the scale, stamping around the 87km route will (from personal experience!) give the most experienced roadie a solid day’s training.
I guess that’s the crux of it – I want people who ride to know that they are taking on a challenge without being too daunting. It’s just hard enough to be fulfilling without putting you off the sport!
Having said that, the 217km version – The Borwell – is arguably the toughest sportive in the UK. There is almost 5000m of climbing and the time limit is 9 hours. It’s new for 2023 and I’ll be really interested to see if anyone attempts it.
What would your one piece of advice be for participants looking to complete the Spring Classic?
The event is in Derbyshire, in April – so come prepared for all weather conditions!
Are you taking part in any other events this year?
After a couple of quiet years, I am hoping to get back into racing this year, and this will mainly be hill climbs and hilly time trials. I just love the craic of the cycling scene – especially hill climbs where the camaraderie is, in my opinion, unmatched in any other branch of the sport.
In terms of promoting. I’m putting on a time trial and a hill climb in the summer, and the intention is for my hill climb event to be part of a 4-event series by joining together with 3 other promoters.
Finally, for a couple of years now, I’ve been in discussions with Brampton Brewery about organising a one-day cycling festival in the summer. It will bring together cycling, food, drink and live music. I’m really hoping we can make it happen in 2023 – I’ll even try to arrange perfect weather!
What’s the most exciting thing happening for you in the world of cycling right now?
Can I have two things?!
My plan is to devote more of my time to myHill Cycling and I want to expand to organising weekend training camps in the Peak District. I can’t wait to show people the amazing roads in my backyard! I’ll continue with the race and event promotion, and will always be looking for ideas to make events more fun. Afterall, I started myHill Cycling to get people on bikes – and having more time to do this will be so exciting.
Secondly, in October I’m finally going to Majorca! For years my mates have been telling me how amazing it is to ride a bike there – and finally this year I’m going to find out for myself! It will also be my first time flying (I know!) so that will be 2 boxes ticked in 1 trip!
Train for the MyHill Spring Classic with us!
If you haven’t already, download Pillar app today, set your goal to any of the three MyHill Spring Classic routes on Pillar app, and start your training!