Bendico

This is a cool ride and one of these years I will give it a shot. Right now I am not up to the Pepsi challenge..

https://bike-pgh.org/blog/2011/11/28/...-in-the-world/

BigUgly

That was funny to watch. Thanks for sharing. Is it that the people that wipe out just don't have any bike handling skills? or they just don't know what to expect? Some of the guys I ride with tend to make comments about some other guys bike handling skill. On our road rides there is also a group of guys that MTB and the other part of the group never MTB ride. You can kind of tell the difference in some situation riding in a pace line with them.

Sayre Kulp 

That looks intense!

Sayre Kulp 

I don't think it's really a matter of bike handling skills. When forward motion stops, bikes go down. Simple as that. That grade slows them down to the point where they don't have balance on their side. Gravity shows why it's the LAW! - LOL

XR2

I want to do that once. It looks like once you do it completed or not yer hooked.

Sayre Kulp 

I agree. I think I'd want to try it once.

BigUgly

I would like to have a go at it as well. I am thinking the cobbles make it even more difficult then just a steep paved road grade. It looks like those that stayed in the middle hit the rough spot and went down but most of those that went to either side made it. Kind of like MTB ride where you need to pick your line through the techinical stuff(rock gardens).

XR2

I do believe some larger tires and deleting the ego would help a great deal. The gearing some of them use with those skinny tires hurts them on Canton's cobbles.

EDIT:Oh I reread this. It seems to give advice for others. Not true I am only referring to what would help me.

Bendico

All I know is that they run this ride every November and it is the twelve steepest hills in the city of Pittsburgh. This is to be the steepest grade in the world for as short of a distance this street is. I have been up it in a car and you spin on it even then if the cobbles are wet any amount. There is always green growing on the sides in spots and that makes it even worst. All I know is that if I loss some more of my weight I want to ride it to get the shirt that say I did the Dirty Dozen..

jwgd

You're right. I checked my ego at the starting line and put some 28c's and a 12-32 cassette on my bike. Not having any illusions of a good "result" made it one of the most fun events I've ever participated in. Here's a link to my pics from the ride.

Altair 4

Nice pictures!

paisan

Bendico, What song is that in the video?

Bendico

Hey Jwdg
Those pics are awesome for sure. It is also awesome to know someone here on the forum was in the event too. I live here in PA near Pittsburgh and wouldn't even on a good day be able to make most of the hills in the dirty dozen. Hills are one of my biggest down falls as I am not a good climber but I am getting better. The LBS I go to says I should give this a try but I figure I would die on the first hill..

Paisan the name of the group and song is: Menomena - The Pelican you can find them on youtube.

jwgd

I doubt you'd die on the first hill. And if you had to get off and walk, so what? There were lots of people doing it and they were all having a good time. This was the first time I'd ever ridden in western PA. Is Pittsburgh really that different from the surrounding areas?

paisan

Thanks.

I don't know what's more awesome, that song or the bands name.. Sesame Street for the win.

Bendico

OMG jwdg, the hills here in all of Western PA are killer for sure. Just seems that no matter where you go around this part of the state your climbing even when you don't want to climb. I don't think it's so much as being different it's just lots of hills all the time on a good note every time you climb one you get to go back down the other side.