Defying the Dirty Dozen: Cyclists take on steepest of steep hills

[krebs303]

Defying the Dirty Dozen: Cyclists take on steepest of steep hills

Bob Stumph had just finished 4th in the race to the top of Canton Avenue, the steepest of 13 hills cyclists tried to race up Saturday during the 29th running of the Dirty Dozen bike race.

But that's not what Mr. Stumph, 24, a barber from Beaver, wanted to talk about with his band of supporters, who cheered him as he took on the hills, each of them at least a 20 percent grade.

 

[Major Taylor]

There haven't been any bicycle races on it as far as I know, but I bet they would be a challenge.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baldwin_Street,_Dunedin

 

[Parrulo]

There haven't been any bicycle races on it as far as I know, but I bet they would be a challenge.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baldwin_Street,_Dunedin

what i got from that wiki page is: only north americans seem to apply for the guinness record thing

it is indeed a beast of a hill tho, i would love to go up it

 

[Eric8-A]

Here in Los Angeles, they hold a competition of the steepest hill here called the Fargo Street Climb. Not sure exactly how long it is, but they say it's about as long as a city block, and it's a 32% grade.

 

[Cycle Chic]

Brilliant !

 

[yellowjersey]

Now thats a hill

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Here in Los Angeles, they hold a competition of the steepest hill here called the Fargo Street Climb. Not sure exactly how long it is, but they say it's about as long as a city block, and it's a 32% grade.

if only the TOC could use this.

 

[ElChingon]

Using a MTB should disqualify riders or move them to a lesser category

Road bike or its a fail. Triple or Compact is still suspect.

 

[Eric8-A]

In one of the editions, one guy tried it on a penny farther. I guess it was something to get the crowd pumped up for the event.

But around the area where this hill's at, there's an abundance of these short little steep climbs.

It will surely make for a great TOC stage. For it to finish atop it. But what can prove tricky is that you don't meet it head on. You have to turn in order to his the climb, and when you reach the top, it's pretty much a dead end street. Either way, can prove to be some good fun.

 

[Eric8-A]

I found some more interesting pics of it

I think this one really gives you a perspective of what you're going up against. Truly intimidating, but inviting.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Here in Los Angeles, they hold a competition of the steepest hill here called the Fargo Street Climb. Not sure exactly how long it is, but they say it's about as long as a city block, and it's a 32% grade.

I'm used to the f-ing Koppenberg, but this one WTH is that Steepest sh*t I've ever seen!

 

[DirtyWorks]

That whole area around Fargo St. is loaded with climbs like that. Judging by the photo, it looks like the area has been gentrified since I rode there 1980's.

AEG wouldn't touch it. It's not suburban. I think there would be a riot the morning after the night of towing all the cars that would ignore no parking signs on a circuit in that part of town. Full employment for towing service the night before too!

Make no mistake though, if someone could pull off clearing a large circuit around Fargo St. the course would provide excitement similar to a Belgian one-day spring classic. The elements are there, rough, narrow roads and short *steep* climbs. Plenty of streets to chain together a very spectator friendly course too.

In my experience, a mountain bike is not an advantage on Fargo. The weight is a huge penalty. The best one-shot rig is a low-geared track bike. Now that triple front chainrings on road bikes is common, it's not the challenge it once was.

 

[Eric8-A]

Yeah, mainly the Silverlake and Glendale areas are packed with these suckers.

 

[La Pandera]

Using a MTB should disqualify riders or move them to a lesser category

Road bike or its a fail. Triple or Compact is still suspect.

Some of the pro's use compact's so why shouldn't us amateurs? It's only fair.
I can't imagine climbing a 20+% grade without my compact for any extended length.

 

[ElChingon]

Some of the pro's use compact's so why shouldn't us amateurs? It's only fair.
I can't imagine climbing a 20+% grade without my compact for any extended length.

I never omited pro's from my fail comment

 

[knewcleardaze]

And I thought the Manayunk Wall in Philadelphia was steep at 17%.
It's tough walking up that thing.

 

[Fatclimber]

I found some more interesting pics of it

I think this one really gives you a perspective of what you're going up against. Truly intimidating, but inviting.

That second picture is a great one, does it great justice! I stopped by this road after the Mt baldy stage at the TOC (it's in the cyclist guide to climbing). I've never been intimidated by just looking at something until I saw this beast. Nearly dropped a load. Once I finally got to it, it took 64 seconds, 578 watts ave, and 58 rpm's. That was with a compact and 32 on back. More satisfying than doing baldy twice.

 

[Eric8-A]

That second picture is a great one, does it great justice! I stopped by this road after the Mt baldy stage at the TOC (it's in the cyclist guide to climbing). I've never been intimidated by just looking at something until I saw this beast. Nearly dropped a load. Once I finally got to it, it took 64 seconds, 578 watts ave, and 58 rpm's. That was with a compact and 32 on back. More satisfying than doing baldy twice.

Crazy thing is that I don't live too far from this puppy, and I've never seen it first hand. I've seen other steep little monsters, but I'm yet to see this one. But I just have to and give it a crack.

 

[lightclimber]

Someday when I'm back home I'd like to try the "Dirty Dozen" hill climb race in Pittsburgh (I'm from north of the city) that's refrenced in the first post. Pittsburgh's Canton Ave. is shorter (but a decent amount) but it's steeper than the hill in New Zealand, and it's cobblestone too!

 

[Le breton]

.........
Once I finally got to it, it took 64 seconds, 578 watts ave, and 58 rpm's. That was with a compact and 32 on back. More satisfying than doing baldy twice.

So, you really aren't that fat : 71 kg, unless of course you are very short .

I assumed you had a 36 in the front and that your bike + shoes, etc weighed 8kg (71+8 =79 kg total weight).

578/71 = 8.14 watts/kg for 1 min 4 s. is quite good.

From your data I see that the hill is 146m long and the total elevation is ~46.5 meters.

The peak force applied on the pedals must have been above 130 kg, so that you had to pull on your handlebar with a force of at least 130 - 71 = 59 kg!

The tangential force transmitted at street level by your rear wheel was on average 25.3 kg ( a bit more than 0.32 times 79 = 25.2 kg).

Considering that you can't keep the force constant and that you don't want to fall over backwards (need to bring your weight forward on the bike), I would be interested to know how you managed the whole balancing exercise while pulling hard on the handlebar and trying to smooth out your movements so that the back wheel would not slip.

 

[Granville57]

Someday when I'm back home I'd like to try the "Dirty Dozen" hill climb race in Pittsburgh (I'm from north of the city) that's refrenced in the first post. Pittsburgh's Canton Ave. is shorter (but a decent amount) but it's steeper than the hill in New Zealand, and it's cobblestone too!

What-in-the-flying-f&@# is THAT?!

I hope they don't allow cars to drive down that thing in the winter.

 

[Granville57]

The Major Taylor Association puts on the annual George Street Challenge every year in Worcester, MA.
http://www.majortaylorassociation.org/events/georgestreet11.shtml#photos
Supposedly this was a hill that Major Taylor used for training when he lived there in the late 1800's.

Promo Video

It's a very mixed event and meant for fun. You'll see everything from MTB, BMX and tandem bikes. I always seem to have travel/schedule conflicts but I'm hoping to participate in 2012.

 

[ultimobici]

Check this out Russian Hill Roulette

http://v13.lscache4.googlevideo.com...41D046463748B4E107047E92C8283F1E5AECB&key=ck1

 

[Granville57]

Check this out Russian Hill Roulette

What is that link? It initiated an automatic download so I stopped the process.

 

[Fatclimber]

So, you really aren't that fat : 71 kg, unless of course you are very short .

I assumed you had a 36 in the front and that your bike + shoes, etc weighed 8kg (71+8 =79 kg total weight).

578/71 = 8.14 watts/kg for 1 min 4 s. is quite good.

From your data I see that the hill is 146m long and the total elevation is ~46.5 meters.

The peak force applied on the pedals must have been above 130 kg, so that you had to pull on your handlebar with a force of at least 130 - 71 = 59 kg!

The tangential force transmitted at street level by your rear wheel was on average 25.3 kg ( a bit more than 0.32 times 79 = 25.2 kg).

Considering that you can't keep the force constant and that you don't want to fall over backwards (need to bring your weight forward on the bike), I would be interested to know how you managed the whole balancing exercise while pulling hard on the handlebar and trying to smooth out your movements so that the back wheel would not slip.

Interesting calculations, I wish I had the exact elevation, distance, and speed for you to double check with your data. I also should have stepped on a scale all geared up beforehand as well. I think I was hovering around 77 kilos at that time (I've only been 71 kilos once a couple years ago for a short time, a BF% below 6 is unsustainable for me) @182 cm. My bike was a 56 aluminum HB (Heavy *******), so you may want to add a little for that. Thus, bringing down your power/weight ratio calculations significantly.

For the record, I wasn't trying to set any records or do any sort of maximal power test. A 32.5% grade would be inappropriate for such a thing anyway IMO. All I wanted to do was not blow before the top and go fast enough to not tip over. I marginally achieved both. The surface was surprisingly clear of debris so traction was good.

If anybody is passing by that area and has a bike with them, I would highly recommend giving it a try. I was amazed at how exhilarating it felt. Apparently Canton Avenue in Pittsburg Pennsylvania is he steepest in the country @35%, minimum distance 1/10 mile.


BTW, compared to Andy Schleck, who isn't fat?