Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Video & pics of my new "Temple of Pain" sufferfest steep climb

Well, I finally climbed something harder than Snows Road (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/744786-Video-and-pics-of-my-toughest-climb-yet?highlight=). This climb was similar to last week's Mosquito Road (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/752270-Video-amp-pics-of-steep-climb-from-one-of-my-most-difficult-rides-ever?highlight=) climb in that it climbs out of the American River canyon, but this one is steeper on one side.

This is Iowa Hill Road near Colfax in Placer County. I measured constant grades in the teens and twenties, with 23% being the highest accurate max.

I changed the colors on the DashWare GPS telemetry gauges so they are more visible. I also added a distance gauge.

I guess I'd better start warning people that there is heavy breathing in my climbing videos so their spouses don't wonder WTF they're watching. So be forewarned, there are suffer sounds in this video. That means heavy breathing.

Garmin Connect data: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/101476852

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfFz6LUgDNE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfFz6LUgDNE

Nice steep switchback on the first descent to the river:
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6143/5972556984_46c6ac1ca8.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/29998767@N07/5972556984/)
Iowa Hill Road steep switchback (http://www.flickr.com/photos/29998767@N07/5972556984/) by kittyz202 (http://www.flickr.com/people/29998767@N07/), on Flickr

I rode through this town. There is no electricity, so people have to use generators for power.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6150/5971997897_c98b42e475.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/29998767@N07/5971997897/)
road bike at Iowa Hill town limit sign (http://www.flickr.com/photos/29998767@N07/5971997897/) by kittyz202 (http://www.flickr.com/people/29998767@N07/), on Flickr

View from just outside the town limit sign:
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6149/5971998021_70ba561ab5.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/29998767@N07/5971998021/)
view from Iowa Hill (http://www.flickr.com/photos/29998767@N07/5971998021/) by kittyz202 (http://www.flickr.com/people/29998767@N07/), on Flickr

There is a century ride with an optional time trial that starts at the river and finishes at the top of the steep part of the climb towards the town of Iowa Hill. Here's the finish line.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6013/5971998277_730c0ffaec.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/29998767@N07/5971998277/)
Iowa Hill Road TT finish line (http://www.flickr.com/photos/29998767@N07/5971998277/) by kittyz202 (http://www.flickr.com/people/29998767@N07/), on Flickr

Steep!
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6009/5972557416_12f778ea8a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/29998767@N07/5972557416/)
Iowa Hill Road 15% grade sign (http://www.flickr.com/photos/29998767@N07/5972557416/) by kittyz202 (http://www.flickr.com/people/29998767@N07/), on Flickr

View from the top of that steep climb:
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6138/5972557634_6de1bf4b4c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/29998767@N07/5972557634/)
view from top of steep part of Iowa Hill Road climb (http://www.flickr.com/photos/29998767@N07/5972557634/) by kittyz202 (http://www.flickr.com/people/29998767@N07/), on Flickr

View from the bridge at the bottom of the two climbs:
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6007/5971998735_2efe7de703.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/29998767@N07/5971998735/)
view from bridge at bottom of Iowa Hill Road climb (http://www.flickr.com/photos/29998767@N07/5971998735/) by kittyz202 (http://www.flickr.com/people/29998767@N07/), on Flickr

Other side:
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6150/5972556904_57c9fc5da2.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/29998767@N07/5972556904/)
view from bridge at bottom of Iowa Hill Road climb 2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/29998767@N07/5972556904/) by kittyz202 (http://www.flickr.com/people/29998767@N07/), on Flickr
After finishing the climb. I took my time up the last short steep climb to my truck, picking and eating blackberries along the way.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6122/5971998845_4fd2006a38.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/29998767@N07/5971998845/)
road bike and Iowa Hill Road street sign (http://www.flickr.com/photos/29998767@N07/5971998845/) by kittyz202 (http://www.flickr.com/people/29998767@N07/), on Flickr

Nice job - the new colors are much clearer...Beautiful ride!

Nice job - the new colors are much clearer...Beautiful ride!
Thank you :) Guess what? I broke the tripod hole on the Playsport. It still holds, but it comes loose on descents. There is a crack alongside the hole. Damn! Now I've either got to buy another Playsport or get a helmet cam, since my body would absorb road shock and prevent the broken camera issue.

Oh no - I guess that would be a weak point with all the vibration. You could try sending it back for warranty repair. Mine is supposedly now fixed and on its way back to me. I would also like to come up with some kind of chest strap so the video would capture the handlebars and shifting etc. Still contemplating that one.

Again - good job - I have no idea how your climbing those grades - I max out at 9% ;)

Oh no - I guess that would be a weak point with all the vibration. You could try sending it back for warranty repair. Mine is supposedly now fixed and on its way back to me. I would also like to come up with some kind of chest strap so the video would capture the handlebars and shifting etc. Still contemplating that one.

Again - good job - I have no idea how your climbing those grades - I max out at 9% ;)
Problem is, I think I may have hamfisted it over time by overtightening, which wouldn't be a warranty issue. I'm trying to figure out an alternative mounting scheme. If I can't I'll just have to get another one or get a Contour. Aside from the expense, the other problem with the Contour is that I would have to keep my head up on tough climbs. I put my head down a lot on those.

That's just crazy. Fanatastic work, Train.

That's just crazy. Fanatastic work, Train.
Thanks! :D I really sounded like I was living up to my username on this video! :roflmao:

This road is not for those that like a challenge! :p

This road is for the masochist that loves PAIN !! :twitchy:

This road is not for those that like a challenge! :p

This road is for the masochist that loves PAIN !! :twitchy:
:lol: That would be me! :p

Now, a real challenge would be for me to attempt to take my Worksman Port-O-Trike up this climb. The challenge would be to see what gives out first, my legs or the drivetrain on the trike. :lol:

Looks like a good ride, I dig the new colors too.

Looks like a good ride, I dig the new colors too.
Thanks! I'll stick with those colors. :)

That is awesome! I had to turn down the volume on the video -- you were right about the heavy breathing!

How did you get all of the data on the video? That really completes the story of the ride.

That is awesome! I had to turn down the volume on the video -- you were right about the heavy breathing!

How did you get all of the data on the video? That really completes the story of the ride.
I used a program called DashWare. First I import the raw video file into the software, then I export the TCX file from the Garmin Connect activity page of that ride. After downloading the TCX file to my hard drive I import that into DashWare. Then it's a matter of syncing the data to the video, rendering in the highest quality setting, and editing the final video in Windows Movie Maker.

I used a program called DashWare. First I import the raw video file into the software, then I export the TCX file from the Garmin Connect activity page of that ride. After downloading the TCX file to my hard drive I import that into DashWare. Then it's a matter of syncing the data to the video, rendering in the highest quality setting, and editing the final video in Windows Movie Maker.

Very cool. Thanks! Probably too involved for me . . . and I don't have a Garmin. The lack of a Garmin will be the excuse I use for not having that in my videos. :)

I have my first organized ride this weekend, and I hope to take my GoPro camera mounted on my handlebars. We'll just have to enjoy my panting without any evidence of elevation changes.

Very cool. Thanks! Probably too involved for me . . . and I don't have a Garmin. The lack of a Garmin will be the excuse I use for not having that in my videos. :)

I have my first organized ride this weekend, and I hope to take my GoPro camera mounted on my handlebars. We'll just have to enjoy my panting without any evidence of elevation changes.
Cool! :thumb: Hey, at least it will be raw footage, which is the best way to tell the story of a ride, IMHO. The data overlay is nice, but it's not a requirement. The view from the handlebars and the sounds the bike and rider make can give the viewer a pretty good idea of the severity of a climb.

Wow....you said you were going to conquer Iowa Hill and you did! You're amazing and motivating!!! GO...GO....GO ! What's next on your list to slay?

Wow....you said you were going to conquer Iowa Hill and you did! You're amazing and motivating!!! GO...GO....GO ! What's next on your list to slay?
4score!! I missed you on here. Long time no hear! :) Tomorrow is the Corkscrew Wall in Foresthill. Should be interesting! :D