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06-14-05, 11:20 AM
Hi All,
This past Saturday (6/11) the "Balloon Festival Classic" road race was ran in Cambrdge, NY.
My hat is off and I humbly bow to anyone who completed this race in the oppressive 90+ degree heat and humidity that rivaled or surpassed anything even the deep south can dish out. The course loop was 15 miles and race lengths varied from 30 to 75 miles.
Anyway, while watcing the race, I told myself I'd try to complete one 15 mile course loop the following day (Sunday). I'm recovering from a herniated disc and have found that (for now), 15-20 miles is my max until I totally heal.
Anyway, the next day was just as hot & humid and since I was visiting my mom, I was not able to even attempt the loop until about noon. The "hill" climb in this loop absolutely DESTROYED me --- I had to unclip on 5 different occasions and recoup a good 3-5 minutes during each unclipped rest period, before finally being able to complete this climb, even w/ a triple to aid me :( .
So... can someone please tell me how difficult this climb is in relation to other climbs they have done? The 1st steep portion of the climb is probably only about 1/4 of a mile, then it is relatively level for the next 1/4 mile and the final 1/4 mile is the steepest section. I've looked for a course map for this ride that would show the elavation gain and the distance for this short, steep climb but haven't had any luck.
This is the type of climb I'd like to be able to complete by the Fall w/out having to unclip/rest, so I'd like to get an idea of how this climb rates in difficulty. Once again, hats off to anyone who ran this race and completed this climb.
*EDIT* --- OK, just found the course profile @ http://home.nycap.rr.com/drakesnorth/images/BFC%20Course%20map.PDF. It looks like the climb I mentioned elevates about 350 feet in about 3/4 of a mile.
So that's 350/3960 * 100% = 8.8 % grade over 3/4 of a mile. On a scale of 1 to 10 --- how difficult would you say this climb is? For me it was an 11.
This past Saturday (6/11) the "Balloon Festival Classic" road race was ran in Cambrdge, NY.
My hat is off and I humbly bow to anyone who completed this race in the oppressive 90+ degree heat and humidity that rivaled or surpassed anything even the deep south can dish out. The course loop was 15 miles and race lengths varied from 30 to 75 miles.
Anyway, while watcing the race, I told myself I'd try to complete one 15 mile course loop the following day (Sunday). I'm recovering from a herniated disc and have found that (for now), 15-20 miles is my max until I totally heal.
Anyway, the next day was just as hot & humid and since I was visiting my mom, I was not able to even attempt the loop until about noon. The "hill" climb in this loop absolutely DESTROYED me --- I had to unclip on 5 different occasions and recoup a good 3-5 minutes during each unclipped rest period, before finally being able to complete this climb, even w/ a triple to aid me :( .
So... can someone please tell me how difficult this climb is in relation to other climbs they have done? The 1st steep portion of the climb is probably only about 1/4 of a mile, then it is relatively level for the next 1/4 mile and the final 1/4 mile is the steepest section. I've looked for a course map for this ride that would show the elavation gain and the distance for this short, steep climb but haven't had any luck.
This is the type of climb I'd like to be able to complete by the Fall w/out having to unclip/rest, so I'd like to get an idea of how this climb rates in difficulty. Once again, hats off to anyone who ran this race and completed this climb.
*EDIT* --- OK, just found the course profile @ http://home.nycap.rr.com/drakesnorth/images/BFC%20Course%20map.PDF. It looks like the climb I mentioned elevates about 350 feet in about 3/4 of a mile.
So that's 350/3960 * 100% = 8.8 % grade over 3/4 of a mile. On a scale of 1 to 10 --- how difficult would you say this climb is? For me it was an 11.