"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Hillier than thou, anyone else do it?

I did my major road race of the year yesterday. It's a hell of a race-love it, but it comes late in the season. It Is 105 miles with over 10,000 feet of vertical.
I was hoping for a top 15 place. When I got there I could tell I was up against some tough riders, it's open to all categories. I just started racing this year and just upgraded to a 4 last month.
The race was wone by a pro in 5hrs 25. I was taken just before the finish to finish third in 5hrs 30. I am really psyched. VEry happy with my performance. For the last 4 miles I was on my own, trying to break away, I got a good gap but 1/2 a mile from the finish I started to black out, couldn't see or breathe, the guy that got second caught up to me and all I could see was his wheel so I followed that to the finish, still unable to see aything except his rear wheel.

I once did a century in Eastern PA and Western NJ called the Hillier than Thou. It was not a race. It was tough. That was about 17 years ago.

That's the one p-cad, now they have a tour-100, 60 or 30 mile and also a race over the 100 mile distance, it is not a USCF event, which keeps the costs down but also gives one the opportunity to ride against others that one would not otherwise have the chance to ride with. It's been a race for about 9 years, there were about 300 entries altogether yesterday, circa 150 for the race., yeah, it's tough.

I weighed myself after that ride. It is the only time I have been <160lbs since college. I do have a photo of me and my pal after that century. I'll try to dig it up.

I will put it on my calendar for next year, didn't know it was still going on.

It is really well organised and the prize money goes 15 deep. You get a water bottle, a really cool T-shirt with the Hills and elevation gain on the rear, and the grim reaper on the front with some winding hills on the background, also some good food after.
I consider it the best and toughest race of the year, basically everything else is a warm-up to this. Even though it's not a USCF race, It is a better ego booster or humility maker, depending on how well you finish

My friend "won" but signed up for the ride, not the race so it was not official. Too bad for him but next year, watch out!

My friend "won" but signed up for the ride, not the race so it was not official. Too bad for him but next year, watch out!

To win, he'd have had to pass me, and he didn't, they left shortly after us and we waited for about 15 minutes at the finish line, he didn't pass there either, no offence, but I think he's having you on.

:beer: I forgot all about that race! Congrats on your 3rd place

Thanks KP, I'm sure you'd have been a contender.

It is really well organised and the prize money goes 15 deep. You get a water bottle, a really cool T-shirt with the Hills and elevation gain on the rear, and the grim reaper on the front with some winding hills on the background, also some good food after.
I consider it the best and toughest race of the year, basically everything else is a warm-up to this. Even though it's not a USCF race, It is a better ego booster or humility maker, depending on how well you finish

I would be fascinating to see how I place on that ride. Ooofaaa, some of those climbs suck. I did Fiddler's Elbow Road in a 42 x 21. Don't ask me how the F I ever got over that hill with such stupid gearing. Next time I do it I'll have a 39 x 30. Or at least a 25. How long ago did I do that ride? Pcad was riding a Trek, the first Bush was president, I was single, and the Yankees hadn't been in the post-season in over a decade. KP would have been 5 years old. Or less. I'll bet he was faster than me then too.

39x21!! that's insane. I normally ride a 39x23 but put on a 39x25 and had my Zipp 303's-BTW thay were/are super climbing wheels.
The guy that came second-34 years old was riding 34x23. As you know that ride is about endurance and stamina, the next ten guys were over 45. Older guys tend to have the experience and not blow up in the climbs, "slow and steady" definitely wins this race.
Fiddlers is as hard as ever, as is Iron Bridge.
I just saw that it was a 42-21, can't even imagine that.

Fiddler's elbow is aobut 3 miles from my house. The HTT is a great ride, and I ride most of those climbs in training throughout the season. Way to go on your result Pat.

As for Fiddler's elbow, I have ridden in the 39x23, but my cadence was about 38-42 for the really steep part.

>>I just saw that it was a 42-21, can't even imagine that.<<

I recall barely being able to keep the bike upright, and then making it over the top where the road leveled out rather quickly, surrounded by beautiful meadows on either side. I thought I had died on the climb and was @ the entrance to heaven. Then I realized that car salesmen (my profession at the time) don't actually go to heaven, and figured I still must be on the bike ride.

I raced HTT. I was the second guy in the Rutgers team kit. I came in 27th my ending time was 3:07pm. My roommate came in 10th, 40 minutes ahead of me also in Rutgers Kit. I love this ride. Last year was my first time trying it, but I didn't take it seriously.

I don;t know the Rutgers team kit, I probably rode a bit with your mate in 10th.
I was wearing a green and white kit-Bicycle Depot, New Paltz. Riding a red Kestrel Talon, I've got an Irish accent.
Yeah, I love the ride too.
Noce job on your tome, not far behind the winner.
I wonder will they post the results.

I remember you. You had a small tear in the back of your jersey I think. I was riding around you for the first 50. I lost contact with the group at fiddlers. :(

I remember you. You had a small tear in the back of your jersey I think. I was riding around you for the first 50. I lost contact with the group at fiddlers. :(

That was me alright. Fiddlers always splits up the group, it's a tough climb. I stayed with the lead group on that, then two guys broke away, one guy with the american jersey-pro/cat 1, and another tall skinny guy riding a grey Kestrel Talon. I didn't want to blow up by staying with them.
How did you finish? Did we talk at all?