Hammertoe

I forgot my camera, my socks, and my tights for after the race. In addition to my usual Freddy SpongeBob jersey, I had to wear rolled down over the ankle tube socks. Oh, the embarrassment...

I did meet some nice BF’ers at the race. I think the jersey gives me away...

Race for Grace is a new race up Okemo Mountain in Ludlow, Vermont. The first 2 miles of the race is downhill, then a sharp turn to the right and you begin a 3.8 mile 11% average grade climb. It was well organized and well run for a first time race. I highly recommend it if you are in the area...

The start was at Jackson Gore base lodge. This was a mass start and I wanted to latch on to the faster guys and sit in the draft for the first 2 miles. I am a hill climber and have not ridden in a pack in 20+ years. I did not want to take anyone down or get taken down. There were several sharp, steep downhill turns in the first ¼ mile. I started in the second row and made it through the turns but was losing the faster guys when the road straightened out. I put in a big surge to latch on and all was well. I was sitting about 12th and had a leisurely ride to the base of Okemo Mountain...

When we hit the base of the climb, it was like I was standing still. I always start slow and bring my power up but holy cow, everyone came by me, left and right. I got a little nervous but still tried to keep my power down...

After the first 5 minutes my power stabilized and the race was on. I was slowly reeling riders in. From one small group to another. Always giving encouragement...

The top of the mountain was in the clouds so it was hard to see the riders up the road. I was told by a bystander I was sitting 12th with about one mile left. I played tag with a guy in hi-viz yellow but finally dropped him on a ‘flat’. Remember, never allow your power to drop when the road becomes less steep...

I saw another rider through the mist and started closing. When I got close enough to see his number I realized he was in my age group. My power was way up, I wanted to catch him. It is hard to sneak up on riders because you are constantly switching gears and breathing heavily. 250 meters to go and he was standing. I dug deep and did not fall back. 100 meters and I was a little closer. He now knew I was there and was pushing hard. As the finish came into view, I knew it was not to be. I finished a few seconds down on him...

I still had a podium finish in my age class. I got a medal. First medal for this middle aged, well marbled, hill climber. I’m psyched...

My stats for the climbing portion of the race: average cadence of 94, average HR at 95% MHR, and power at 4.40 W/kg...

Next up Ascutney Mountain Bicycle Hill Climb, July 19...

KevinF

Nice writeup... I've gone skiing at Okemo a number of times, and I can hear my car complaining driving up that hill, especially when you first turn on to the Okemo Road off of Rt. 103. Is it paved all the way to the top?

Hammertoe

The ride is on Mountain Rd which I believe is the same name as the ski trail in winter...

The pavement ends .25 miles from the top then there is a dirt road the rest of the way. The race ended just short of the pavement end...


from Northeastcycling.com



from Northeastcycling.com

Cyclcist4879

We vacationed in the area a couple summers ago at a lake house. I was more into Mountain Biking at the time, and spent my time bombing down the mountain at Killington. I'd love to go back again and hit these roads with the road bike.

dark13star

Nice job. I never biked that one when I lived back east. I didn't even know there was a paved road on Okemo.

TedC

Hammertoe, do you do Mt. Washington?

Hammertoe

Yes, I hope to ride Washington...

If the Mountain will let us...

I see you do not live far from Ascutney...

How about you...

TedC

No, Im no competitive climber. Keeping up with New Hampshire's hills for recreational rides can be enough for me right now, but maybe someday. I also dont race at all, but think it could be fun to start.

BarryJo

Nice report!
I know that feeling you get when that initial surge at the beginning of a climb starts. I always panic and try to stay on the wheels of the fastest riders. I definately learned something from your report!
Thanks Hammertoe!

Hammertoe

This is why I do hillclimbs...

No need for peloton skills...No one will yell at you...

It is just you against the Mountain...(and the clock if you wish)...

Just gear yourself correctly and have FUN...

My coach has taught me it takes about 6 - 7 minutes for your brain to catch up to what your legs are doing..

If you build up a lot of lactic acid at the start of the climb you will suffer and slow toward the end...

Start slow, about 90% FTP the first minute, then 95% FTP the next 5 minutes, then go...

You will find your power will stabilize at FTP...

Riders think I go faster at the end of the race but if you look at my power profile I did not go faster, the others slowed...

dark13star

I would say your coach is correct, from my own observations. Many of my climbs are the type where you park the car at the bottom and start. It really seems to take a mile or so of climbing for my brain to catch up. After that, my heart rate actually drops, or I step it up with the extra capacity.

Enthalpic

He did well, but he didn't win. In mass start racing following surges is unpleasant, but almost always necessary.

TedC

So reading this thread has made me decide to try Mt. Kearsarge. Done that one before? I live pretty close, but Ill drive to the park and ride in Warner, bike to the state park, and see what I can do.

Road Bike Guy

Nice report and a good result. Congratulations on the podium finish! I like your strategy of not overcooking it at the beginning and staying within your FTP range for the climb. You probably do better overall in the long run by doing that.

What gearing did you use for this?

markyore

Hammertoe, how does Okemo compare to Ascutney?

I rode Ascutney last year (not during the race) and found it tough.....I said I would never ride it again but noe I'm beginning to get the itch to give it another go.....

Also, congrats!

Hammertoe

Incorrect hillclimb strategy...

I surged during the flat part of the race to stay in the draft but NEVER go with the surge at the start of the climb...

No, I did not win, but not because I did not surge. I was about 12th at the base of the Mountain when 3/4 of the field came around me. I ended up passing ALL those riders and some that started the climb before me...

This is a quote from Northeastcycling.com

"So when another rider passes you on the climb, especially if they are going only slightly faster, should you “hop on?” NO, DON’T DO IT!! Say you are climbing Whiteface at 10 mph and there is no headwind. You get passed by somebody else going 11 mph. That’s one quarter walking speed difference. What’s the harm in staying with them? A lot! You were probably already riding around your threshold pace, a pace you can barely hold for the hour or so it takes to climb Whiteface. This may be 250W for an average rider. But to match the rider’s pace that passed, you will need to up your power by about 25W to 275W. This will place you well past your lactic threshold. You won’t last more than two minutes holding her wheel. Then you will melt down, drop to maybe 220W for several minutes while many more riders pass you. Had you just ignored the faster rider, perhaps none of those other riders would have passed you. Research shows an optimum time trial strategy is to hold a steady pace, one that you can just barely hold for the duration of the event." (my bold)

I will never win these events because I am a middle aged father of 2 kids. There is no way I am going to beat 20 something year old guys. I have no delusions of granduer...

But winning is not everything. I do these because I have fun!!!


I do not know about Mt. Kearsarge but sound like a great place to start. Close to home. Ride it often and figure out proper gearing...then KILL it!!!

I ride these hill climbs with a 48/36/26 triple and stay almost entirely in the 26 chainring..

My cassette is an 11/34. Some may scoff but proper gearing is everything....

Okemo is not quite as steep but technically more difficult. Ascutney at 12% average grade is a grind...straight up!!! Okemo at 11% average grade has some 'flatter' portions so you are constantly switching gears and it is hard to get into a rhythm...

Gear correctly and do Ascutney again and again...

JohnKScott

Great job & wonderful report! congrats!

umd

I've caught and passed a lot of riders on climbs who said similar things, that I "sped up", when all I did was keep my effort constant. Sometimes that means I went faster on a shallower grade, while they used the opportunity to keep the same speed at a lower effort.

mkauffman

My buddy has a house about a mile away from the mountain. I biked up Okemo on a mt bike before. That hill is a beast on 2.25" knobbies.