Video: Up Up Up—a paean to hillclimbs - plus Pittsburgh's 13-climb epic

If you like the niches within niches of British cyclesport, you'll love Up Up Up - a hymn to the mild lunacy that grips racers every Autumn when hill climb season rolls round.

Director Thom Heald describes the hill climb as "one of the original tests of a cyclist's skill, the proving ground before time-trials and road races."

But no branch of cyclesport ever truly dies, and just as cycle speedway's still around, and bike polo has had a resurgence, so hillclimbs are still popular with a certain breed of skinny masochist.

Heald describes hillclimb specialists as "a hardcore band of thin-limbed riders [who] spend their Autumn sacrificing beer and cake for a shot at amateur bike racing glory."

Up Up Up was shot at the Mendips' feared Burrington Combe on Bristol South CC's last race of the season in October, and on Belmont hill just West of Bristol.

It's a lyrical, affectionate look at a branch of cycling where the only things that matter are power to weight ratio and your ability to keep your breakfast down.

Asked about the background to the film, Heald said: "I found out that Rob Borek had qualified for the national hill climb championships, and that piqued my interest in making a film about hill climbing. I didn't really know anything about it, so it was as much a learning experience for me as it was an exercise in trying to make a beautiful little cycling film.

"I also wanted to know why these riders put themselves through so much physical and mental torment! After speaking to Rob about making the film it was clear that he was very passionate about the discipline, about the cycling club and riding in general.

"On the day of filming at Belmont he turned up pretty hungover after an end of season party and proceeded to smash up there quicker than I ever could when fresh!"

Across the pond

You can trust the Americans to take it too far though. Every Autumn, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania sees hundreds of riders take part in the Dirty Dozen, a ride that takes in 13 of the city's unfeasibly steep hills.

The Dirty Dozen was founded by ultramarathon racer Danny Chew, whose ambition is to clock up a million miles of cycling through his life.

Grab a cup of tean and a biscuit and enjoy this show about the Dirty Dozen from WQED Pittsburgh.