In Worcester, MA, where Major Taylor lived much of his adult life, they hold a challenge every year:

TT up a street with an average 18 degree gradient. Only 500 feet in length mind you but, I repeat, 18 degree gradient!

Details here:

http://www.majortaylorassociation.org/events/georgestreet07.shtml

Now, I live in Brooklyn, NY, but have family in Worcester and am tempted to try it. Does anyone know any hills in NYC that come close to being that steep so at least I can get a feel for it?

40, I was thinking of doing the same ride. I grew up in Worc. and rode that street once on a dare. It wasn't easy, but I was riding an old Peugot that was about 2 sizes too big for me.

I think the paths in Fort Tryon Park (Wash Heights/Cloisters) are a similar grade. Or you could just do hill repeats in PP.

But it's one thing to just ride up that grade. It's another to race up it. Let me know if you're going to go.

Thanks, Lucky. Yeah, I live close to PP and thought about just going up and down the hill portion to work my quads. I don't think I should hope to get a good time on George Street this year (somehow I can't even picture where it is -- downtown?) but if I can get to Worcester on that day, I'll do it. I'll keep you posted.

40, yep it's downtown. Check it: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=george+street,+worcester,+ma.&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=40.137381,80.947266&ie=UTF8&ll=42.265289,-71.801662&spn=0.009178,0.019763&z=16&iwloc=addr&om=1

Best hills to practice on are in the Bronx and Yonkers and maybe upper Manhattan between Columbia and Washington Heights on Broadway (I think). Try Sedgwick Ave., Bailey Ave. near Fordham Rd. up in the Bronx.

Going to mapquest now to look up those streets since I'm not familiar with the Bronx. Thanks, jyossarian!

damn, i don't think i've been on anything over 12% to tell you the truth. i would imgaine at that grade and distance, it's just raw power you need to get up it.

Yes, and Major Taylor would have done it on a fixed gear! I wonder if there any resources indicating what kind of gearing riders used back then.

I know in the early days of the Tour de France, they had a flip-flop hub depending on if they were ascending or descending a mountain (but even with long dropouts, using the same chain there isn't a lot of room for a big variance in gearing -- how the hell did they do it?)

I've done the George Street challenge twice now. George Street is a very narrow road; it's more like a one-way alley then a "road". It has brick buildings on either side, so it looks really steep. Just walking up the sidewalk along the side will leave you panting for breath.

All that said -- there's a lot of people (like me) who just put it in a low gear and just slowly work their way to the top. Kids on BMX bikes have managed to reach the top, although there are one or two people who "stall" and fall over. The first 100 feet or so are a 10% grade (which actually looks flat due to what's right ahead), then the next 100 are 15% or so, and then it kicks to 23, 24% to the end. They hold you in a track-stand position at the bottom, so in one pedal stroke you're climbing. :eek:

I can't sprint 500 feet on a flat road let alone up a grade like George Street's. I have no idea how the "fast people" generate that kind of power, but no kidding -- the guy who won one year started right in front of me and he big-ringed it the whole way up. :eek:

Kevin,

Thanks for the details... oh, and putting the fear of God into me!

By the way, my dad's from Marlborough, MA.

I've done the George Street challenge twice now. George Street is a very narrow road; it's more like a one-way alley then a "road". It has brick buildings on either side, so it looks really steep. Just walking up the sidewalk along the side will leave you panting for breath.

All that said -- there's a lot of people (like me) who just put it in a low gear and just slowly work their way to the top. Kids on BMX bikes have managed to reach the top, although there are one or two people who "stall" and fall over. The first 100 feet or so are a 10% grade (which actually looks flat due to what's right ahead), then the next 100 are 15% or so, and then it kicks to 23, 24% to the end. They hold you in a track-stand position at the bottom, so in one pedal stroke you're climbing. :eek:

I can't sprint 500 feet on a flat road let alone up a grade like George Street's. I have no idea how the "fast people" generate that kind of power, but no kidding -- the guy who won one year started right in front of me and he big-ringed it the whole way up. :eek:

Thanks for the info Kevin. Don't know if I get get free on the 29th, but I'm going to try.

I'm tempted to try this thing one of these years if only to remember the times I stumbled up it coming back from Irish Times when I was in school in Worcester. Wonder if the 48x17 on my fixed would be too high. I suppose if the new frame gets here by then I'd be much more inclined to go.

Hmm, I can figure this... last year it was won in 23.13s for 500ft, so about 14.74mph which is around 65.5rpm with my setup. That would be cranking at it but doable, especially with a frame weighing ~5 pounds less than my current one, with it's 18 wheeler geometry. Not like there's prize money anyways right?

I have a flip-flop w/14 or 15 and chainring of 42 but I think I need to put on at least a 16... and still. Are cranks ever snapped off on such a hill?

Training run.

The good news: I found what I think is the steepest street in Brooklyn: 41st street between 5th and 6th Avenues. It runs the wrong way but I found it a hair steeper than 40th so I waited until there were no cars and went for it. Out of the saddle, grabbed the drops (Marco-Pantani-style), I was happy with my 4 runs up it. Hit about 18 mph (on the first 2 runs) and maintained a pretty steady 16. Reading the exploits of a few people on the forum make that look pitiful I'm sure, but knowing my limits, I'm happy. I think the gradient is 12%, but I'm completely making that up based on my belief that Park Slope's hill is about 10%.


The bad news: I don't know if I'll have time to go to the Bronx and try anything steeper before the challenge and I've a funny feeling 18% (or 24% in places, according to Kevin) is not the same as 12%. Like apples and oral surgery. I'm hoping lots of practice up 12% will help.

Hmmm...there's supposed to be a road leading up to the observatory (or something like that) in PP that's somewhat steep. There's also a short, steep section that always claims a bunch of people just off one of the roads in PP as well. Unfortunately, I've only ridden it at night during the PP Moonlight ride so I can't tell you where any of it is.

Can't make this, but good luck to 40 and anyone else trying it. I'll time myself going up one of the paths in Ft. Tryon (similar grades) and see how I do against last year's winning time (23.13)