live311

Not me. I'm a wuss

So who's doing it this year? I'd be interested to hear any experiences from people who have done it before. It looks sick, and it looks like something I'd like to do in the future.

Here's a link

Does anyone know if Lance has ever done it? Just curious.

djbowen1

I never knew it existed, i think i will take a drive up there and be a spectator though. Has anyone gone to watch?

pinky

I've met a few who've done it, most of the mere mortals toss on MTB cassettes and finish in somewhere between 1-1.5 hours+ The pros tend to go under an hour. I think an exact quote was "All I know is I got to the top...I don't remember the last half hour, but I made it" Finally I don't think Lance has done it, but I'm pretty sure Hamilton holds the record. Its my goal for next year even though it costs $300...

ChipRGW

Hamilton HELD the record @ 50:21
Now it belongs to Tom Danielson @ 49:24

pointyhead

Wow, it looks awesome. Is cycling permitted on it the rest of the year?

djbowen1

I would like to do it next year but where do you practice in the north east i will drive anywhere.

live311

From what I can see, bicycles are not allowed on the auto road except for the race itself and a practive run in May that you must pre-register for. As for training, you might want to ask around to see what kind of mountain roads are in your state. I'm sure just about everybody on the east coast (except for south Florida) is within 100 miles of an impressive mountain road. If you make it to the White Mountains, I would suggest the Kancamagus highway. It starts in Conway, NH and is about 30something miles one way and climbs 3000 feet in some places. Nice views, sick hills. I'd like to ride it and survive before I even think about trying Mt. Washington.

late

Hi,
I rode part of the Kancamangus 30 years ago. I remember running out of gas and falling sideways onto the grass. I fell about 2 feet. Enjoy.

ChipRGW

The biggest hill-climbing "mountain" we have down here just opened up recently. It's a landfill that has been sitting for quite a long time, waiting for the EPA to deem it safe. Now it is a quite nice park, with a road that winds it's way up to the top. It's not very high, but it ok for doing hill repeats for training. Other than that, we do all of our climbing on highway overpasses.

Ajay213

Where is the land fill park? I've been dying to ride something steeper than speed bump....

Andrew

ChipRGW

Southwest Broward. Town of Davie.
It's called, appropriately, Vista View Park. It is the second highest elevation in the county. The only thing higher is Mount Trashmore in Pompano, the bigger landfill.

frostix

This page has a good description of a few of the larger climbs in the Northeast. Northeast Hill Climbs

Laggard

$300 **********????

You should rename this thread "Who's got the money."

What do you get for your $300, besides the chance to suffer for over an hour?

djbowen1

Thanks, frosttix, thats a really good source for the info i wanted, now i need to figure out which one is closest to me

pjstock42

I'd like to hike up and watch. Does anyone know how this climb would stack up against some of the climbs in the TDF?

frostix

It looks comparable to some of hors categorie climbs in the TdF. It is shorter, although not by much, but it is definitely much steeper. The riders, however, are not reaching this climb after already riding 200 km like the Alpe d'Huez.

"The Mt Washington Auto Road is 7.6 miles in length, has an average grade of 12% with extended sections of 18% and the last 50 yards is an amazing 22%!" https://www.tinmtn.org/hillclimb/faq.cfm

Mt. Washington 12.2km at 12%

TdF 2003
Col du Galibier : 18.3 km climb at 6.8 % - H.C.
ALPE D'HUEZ : 13.8 km climb at 7.9 % - H.C.
Col d'Izoard : 19.4 km climb at 5.9 % - H.C.
Col du Tourmalet (stèle Jacques Goddet) : 17.1 km climb at 7.4 % - H.C.
LUZ-ARDIDEN : 13.4 km climb at 7.6 % - H.C.

vadimivich

It's much, much steeper than any H.C climb in the tour, but is also shorter - not that that really helps on the 1k+ long segments at 15% or more grade.

brent_dube

I would rate it to be about as tough as mont Vontoux.

12.2km at %12 .... ouch.

Barnaby

I would be interested to know what gear is most often used to get up this thing. I may attempt it on a fixed-since coasting would only be possible in reverse anyway.

velo

One of my Mom's friends owns a hotel in Conway, NH. I can put a plug in for them; stay at the Maple Leaf Inn (I think that's what it's called). They get so many cyclists each year for this hill climb. They say it really is something spectacular.

djbowen1

i have seen the term "Special Gearing Needed" used for the climb. I have also hear mtb gears on a road bike. You would be nuts to attempt it on a fixie.

Gojohnnygo.

I have to agree.

pinky

I've heard anything from 39X28 to 39X34 (a cat 2 and a cat 5 respectively) and both guys said they wish they had more. I'm gonna have to a agree with djbowen and say you'd have to have a death wish to try to climb Washington on a fixie.

Torn Victor

That sounds pretty hardcore. I'd love to do that, and it's only about two and a half hours away from my house.

Resident

I used a 39x30 for the majority of the climb, and when the 'extended' 18% grade snuck up on me, I chose to drop to my 30x28 (triple 105 crank). I managed the 39x28 for the finale - thanks to the roar of the crowds!!