Stats on "Tour of the Hilltowns" climb
#1
fair weather cyclist
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Stats on "Tour of the Hilltowns" climb
Hi I am looking for numbers on the big climb (at mile 20 for the non P12's) distance, grade, and what would be great is how long it took you to do it at what power:weight ratio....
The profile on the website can be deceiving so I am looking for info from those who have actually done it.
Want to make sure I can make it over that hump without dying!
The profile on the website can be deceiving so I am looking for info from those who have actually done it.
Want to make sure I can make it over that hump without dying!
#2
Nonsense
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Its hard at pace, and fairly long for a climb in this region. Seems to get steeper as you go along. Keep your effort steady or you risk blowing up. I couldn't tell you how long it took me or at what power.
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A good place to find data on races is Motionbased.com ... if you do a search for "Hilltowns" you will get a bunch of ride data. Then...based on the search results...what I do is identify a rider who seems most like me ....based on other rides or other information I can glean.
Here's the data on Tour of The Hilltowns...
https://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/3722904
That first hill is max 20% gradient....and 5 miles in length....which is nasty. The second climb is 10 miles in length. For that guy's ride...it is basically zone 4 climbing, staying out of zone 5...so for me I would pushing up to 170 bpm. But....no sense monitoring my heart rate during the race...it is just all out on that first climb and whatever happens, happens...likely I will get split off at some point but will hopefully be in a group to paceline with...then just go all out again on the second climb. So not a lot of need to pace myself...it's just all out.
I am going to do this race. Hills aren't good for me either...but there is a pure cat 5 category (no 4s) ...so that is a bonus for me. Plus....this is 2 weeks after the New England Classic (7 days, 5 states, 550 miles) ...so assuming I am not burned out I should have decent fitness.
Here's the data on Tour of The Hilltowns...
https://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/3722904
That first hill is max 20% gradient....and 5 miles in length....which is nasty. The second climb is 10 miles in length. For that guy's ride...it is basically zone 4 climbing, staying out of zone 5...so for me I would pushing up to 170 bpm. But....no sense monitoring my heart rate during the race...it is just all out on that first climb and whatever happens, happens...likely I will get split off at some point but will hopefully be in a group to paceline with...then just go all out again on the second climb. So not a lot of need to pace myself...it's just all out.
I am going to do this race. Hills aren't good for me either...but there is a pure cat 5 category (no 4s) ...so that is a bonus for me. Plus....this is 2 weeks after the New England Classic (7 days, 5 states, 550 miles) ...so assuming I am not burned out I should have decent fitness.
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I used toporoute.com to check out the course...haven't ridden it at all, will do the Cat 5 race....
First climb was right at 5 miles at about 6.5%
Depending on where you want to say the finish climb starts...I called it about 6.5 miles at about 3.5%, with steeper section right at the outset.
First climb was right at 5 miles at about 6.5%
Depending on where you want to say the finish climb starts...I called it about 6.5 miles at about 3.5%, with steeper section right at the outset.
#5
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The finishing climb isn't all that steep, but it is noticeable. There are steepish pitches where the climbers try to attack. Last year there was a ridic headwind while climbing, I dunno if that's the norm through that section. Much easier to attack and recover on that one than it is on the 1st one.
20%? I dunno about that, parts of the first climb get steep, but I'd be surprised if it went above 10%.
20%? I dunno about that, parts of the first climb get steep, but I'd be surprised if it went above 10%.
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When is this race, if you don't mind me asking (as I'm too lazy to look it up)?
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#7
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Saturday, July 26th.
I'll be there, and likely way off-form, riding for NCC. Anyone in Cat 4, say hello!
I'll be there, and likely way off-form, riding for NCC. Anyone in Cat 4, say hello!
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Yup, I'll be there too. Racing 3's.
First climb up east Hawley Rd. is quite a beast. Long and unrelenting. I expect to be riding this climb at 8-10 beats over LTHR, or more just to hang on, or get painfully dropped.
Like KP said, the final climb isnt steep, but it does wear on you. Again I hope to hang on here long enough to sprint it out... but doubt I'll make it that far.
-L(osing weight for ToHT)
First climb up east Hawley Rd. is quite a beast. Long and unrelenting. I expect to be riding this climb at 8-10 beats over LTHR, or more just to hang on, or get painfully dropped.
Like KP said, the final climb isnt steep, but it does wear on you. Again I hope to hang on here long enough to sprint it out... but doubt I'll make it that far.
-L(osing weight for ToHT)
#9
fair weather cyclist
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I guess what is more important is how long is this going to take. 5 miles at 6.5%. Profiles really do not always tell the full story. To me it looks more like 575 feet to 1825 feet over 4 miles, about 5.9% over 4 miles, big difference between that and 6.5% over 5 miles. But I'd love to know how long it took some guy weighing X pounds at 300 whatever watts.
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Even as a PM user I really don't understand how this helps you, but I think you can find what you're looking for at Jay Gump's site:
https://www.incline-training.com/raceCenter.html
https://www.incline-training.com/raceCenter.html
#13
fair weather cyclist
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Well, since everyone else is sharing info. It took last year's 3/4 winner (clearly a cat3 though, not a 4) 21:15 to climb it at 372 watts. I don't know how much he weighs, but unless he is a larger rider, thats a lot of watts. It is 4.2 miles long according to this winner.
Union vale took me 9 minutes, 1.73 miles @ 342 watts avg, but I went out too hard, so my Mean/median whatever were not 342. If I had been @342 the whole time it would have been a little faster.
What it means to me is that I need to start training longer intervals
Union vale took me 9 minutes, 1.73 miles @ 342 watts avg, but I went out too hard, so my Mean/median whatever were not 342. If I had been @342 the whole time it would have been a little faster.
What it means to me is that I need to start training longer intervals
Last edited by pjcampbell; 07-09-08 at 06:34 PM.
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#16
fair weather cyclist
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190 is a lot, but the numbers are also very high, but it puts things in perspective a little. Regardless, we have data, the winner did the 4.3 mile climb in 21 minutes @ 12.4 mph. That is helpful info.
And I apologize I did not mean to call this racer fat if it came out that way. He is a winner on what I perceive to be a very hard road race and he could crush me so... I'll just go climb some hills
And I apologize I did not mean to call this racer fat if it came out that way. He is a winner on what I perceive to be a very hard road race and he could crush me so... I'll just go climb some hills
Last edited by pjcampbell; 07-10-08 at 05:27 AM.
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I will be there but only in a support role. Cypress, (I miss him) and KP had the WMass experience. Dr. Gump is an amazing athlete that looks at the TOTHT as a training ride. No longer competitive he rides the route regularly and could tell everyone how to win it. He did for his protégé Matt and he won it last year in the fours. This Year Matt is in the Pro 1/2/3.