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Mt. Equinox...A Hillclimb Race...With A Couple Of Pic...
Another hillclimb race…Another pain cave to enjoy...
Mt. Equinox is a 5.4 mile climb with an average grade of 12%. It is placed perfectly in the calendar between the 3.6 mile 12% Ascutney climb and the granddaddy of them all; the 12% 7.6 mile Mt. Washington climb... This was my first time up Equinox, even though it is the closest race to my house. I have always had other obligations this weekend but this year I made sure I was able to climb... I had to get out of the house by 5:45 AM, so my lovely wife and beautiful kids were up early and although a little cranky made the drive to registration. It was a cool, foggy morning and I found warming up a bit difficult. I kissed the wife and kids goodbye and they went up to the top to root for SpongeBob... My coach wanted me to take it easy for this race because I felt fatigued during the week. I think I am just tired and stressed from a couple weeks of hell at work. I felt good on the bike the last 2 days, so I was going to give it a little more than he suggested... The start did not go well. I was in my middle ring and switched to the small ring about 2 minutes in, an...dropped the chain. I was able to recover without stopping but it rattled me. As usual, I started slow the first five minutes. It is very difficult watching everyone ride away from you, but I try and remind myself, most will be coming back... The Mountain did not seem as steep as Ascutney but has some wicked steep switchbacks. I was catching my wave and passing quite a few riders always giving encouragement. I always see the same BF’ers at these races. Tough as nails this hillclimbing group!! I met the grandson of my English teacher in high school. My teacher wore a bow tie and rode his bicycle to school. That was 25 years ago, 5 states away. Small World... On, one of the switchbacks a rider told me I was now in 2nd place in my wave and pointed out the rider leading our wave. I marked him and slowly gained ground. He was standing quite a bit. I tend to stay in the saddle except for short periods to stretch the muscles. I tried to be smart about my efforts, increasing power when I thought he would be easing up. On ‘flatter’ sections I would pick up the power a notch. I rode the switch backs in the middle then cut the corner, which seems to slightly increase your speed. It was a slow catch, but I got him. He noticed I was in the same wave (rider number) and we rode side by side for a bit. He then took my wheel. I kept a steady pace but he matched me. I increased the pace on a steeper section and got about 20 feet, but when I eased, he took my wheel again. As soon as he did, I stood and pushed again. He fell back again. I did not want to look behind me because of the disappointment I would have felt if he was still there. On the next switchback, I looked. I only had about 50 feet. I let out an explicative... I then buried myself in the pain cave. I tried to increase my power but the engine room was not answering the call. At mile 5 there was an ambulance on the side of the road, I asked for oxygen. They said they were out... As the finish banner approached, I put in a kick for a minute. My kids were screaming; GO, DADDY, GO!!! Which helped quite a bit, I mean, I can't disappoint the kids. Oxygen debt ensued...I barely stayed upright as I crossed the finish. I did it, finished first in my wave by 7.5 seconds. This was good enough for a podium in my age class and top 15 out of 147 riders. I am very surprised and satisfied with my results this year... This hill climbing must be like child birth. Hell going through it, but soon after you want to do it again... On the way down, a 2008 Cervelo R3 got caught in the finish banner and torn off the roof of a car. I do not know the damage but it did not look or sound too good. I feel for the owner... Overall, another great day. Another great ride... Next up, the Mt. Washington Auto Road Bicycle HillClimb... Mmmmm, I can taste the lactic acid... I thought the sign said... "WARNING. This Mountain is STEEP. Why are you riding up it???"... http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...ure001-1-1.jpg Hammertoe coming to the finish. Notice the rider 7.6 seconds behind me... http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...cture008-1.jpg Just a little further and the pain will end... http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...ure011-1-1.jpg Manchester, Vermont from Lookout Rock, Mt. Equinox... http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...cture049-1.jpg http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...cture050-1.jpg http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...cture051-1.jpg http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...cture052-1.jpg |
congrats!!!....nice pics as well!
now go have a beer!!! |
awesome - what gearing did you go up in?
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Great job! I'm the same - while in the pain box I swear to myself I'm -never- doing this again. About a minute after the finish I'm then thinking "that wasn't TOO bad" and by the next day I'm scanning the calendar for another race.
What wave were you in? Did they have any 1's or pros racing? How did your time compare? |
Excellent! I was wondering the other day if there was a hill climb race up that Mt. My wife grew up not to far away from there in Shaftsbury. We spent a lot of time in the area and our wedding reception was at the inn on top of Mt. Equinox.
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Awesome!
I am SO jealous that you have those opportunities in your backyard. There are three things in life that I love to do and require travel from where I live: climbing (in the bike riding sense), hill walking (or non-technical mountain climbing, if you will), and open boat whitewater. I haven't done the last one since before I was married and had children. I used to do some very stupid stuff on rivers in my younger days and it is a wonder that I am still alive. Once I was arranging a shuttle at a raft rental place and they offered to do it for free because they didn't think that it could be done in an open boat. I paid them anyway and had an awesome ride. It was really stupid because we were only one boat. |
And you beat this crappy afternoon rain in the area.
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Congratulations!
Is that road open to cyclists or, like Mt Washington, just ridable for the race? |
:thumb:
Congrats! 13 days till the big one! |
Grade profile for each mile here--> http://www.gearupforlyme.com/mt_equinox/course.php
OUCH! Nice going:thumb: |
Originally Posted by SpongeDad
(Post 7191218)
awesome - what gearing did you go up in?
The 48 is not touched and the 26/34 combo is used quite a bit... My average cadence for the ride was 90 so I guess you can call me a spinner...
Originally Posted by palesaint
(Post 7191243)
What wave were you in? Did they have any 1's or pros racing? How did your time compare?
The race is set up with Top Notch riders and the younger ones first, then by age group... I do not like riding the Top Notch group because they are FAST... I stick to my age group and have 'FUN'...
Originally Posted by pegleg
(Post 7191580)
Is that road open to cyclists or, like Mt Washington, just ridable for the race?
I have not heard of anyone riding it after hours...
Originally Posted by cleansheet
(Post 7191370)
And you beat this crappy afternoon rain in the area.
Originally Posted by DDYTDY
(Post 7192412)
13 days till the big one!
I will keep my eye out for you... |
Originally Posted by Hammertoe
(Post 7191059)
I was catching my wave and passing quite a few riders always giving encouragement.
Such a humbling experience, that race; it was my first hill climb in 'competition' (having ridden up Whiteface and Mt Evans outside of a race) and regardless of feeling like I'm in the best shape of my life at age 31, 5' 10", 138lbs, apprx 8% body fat, I was an absolute wreck and felt like I couldn't even crawl up the road. Ugh. Finished 44th. I thought I was a climber. No. No, not at all, compared to you all that made the hill succumb to your will. Beginning to both dread and look forward to Mt. Washington. |
That looks like a lot of fun!
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Originally Posted by Hammertoe
(Post 7191059)
... I marked him and slowly gained ground. He was standing quite a bit. I tend to stay in the saddle except for short periods to stretch the muscles. I tried to be smart about my efforts, increasing power when I thought he would be easing up. On ‘flatter’ sections I would pick up the power a notch. I rode the switch backs in the middle then cut the corner, which seems to slightly increase your speed. It was a slow catch, but I got him. He noticed I was in the same wave (rider number) and we rode side by side for a bit. He then took my wheel. I kept a steady pace but he matched me. I increased the pace on a steeper section and got about 20 feet, but when I eased, he took my wheel again. As soon as he did, I stood and pushed again. He fell back again. I did not want to look behind me because of the disappointment I would have felt if he was still there. On the next switchback, I looked. I only had about 50 feet. I let out an explicative...
I then buried myself in the pain cave. I tried to increase my power but the engine room was not answering the call. At mile 5 there was an ambulance on the side of the road, I asked for oxygen. They said they were out... As the finish banner approached, I put in a kick for a minute. My kids were screaming; GO, DADDY, GO!!! Which helped quite a bit, I mean, I can't disappoint the kids. Oxygen debt ensued...I barely stayed upright as I crossed the finish. I did it, finished first in my wave by 7.5 seconds... |
fantastic work. great report and pictures.
i love this; I then buried myself in the pain cave. I tried to increase my power but the engine room was not answering the call. At mile 5 there was an ambulance on the side of the road, I asked for oxygen. They said they were out... later. |
Originally Posted by FixdGearHead
(Post 7201766)
Great report. I do believe I was one of the poor souls you were floating past and gave some encouragement to...much needed at the time.
Such a humbling experience, that race; it was my first hill climb in 'competition' (having ridden up Whiteface and Mt Evans outside of a race) and regardless of feeling like I'm in the best shape of my life at age 31, 5' 10", 138lbs, apprx 8% body fat, I was an absolute wreck and felt like I couldn't even crawl up the road. Ugh. Finished 44th. I thought I was a climber. No. No, not at all, compared to you all that made the hill succumb to your will. Beginning to both dread and look forward to Mt. Washington. First hillclimb race and finished 44th. That is a great result... There is a learning curve with these hillclimbs races. You will get better. After riding a few of these races you will find out what you are capable of and then ride within yourself... That is what I like about these hillclimb races; they are really time trials. Although there are others in the race and there might be a rider you want to beat; it is about you, the clock, the Mountain, and how much pain you can endure... I will see you on Washington... I will be wearing my SpongeBob jersey, with hairy legs, riding a Scott CR1... |
Originally Posted by Hammertoe
(Post 7207729)
First hillclimb race and finished 44th. That is a great result...
There is a learning curve with these hillclimbs races. You will get better. After riding a few of these races you will find out what you are capable of and then ride within yourself... That is what I like about these hillclimb races; they are really time trials. Although there are others in the race and there might be a rider you want to beat; it is about you, the clock, the Mountain, and how much pain you can endure... I will see you on Washington... I will be wearing my SpongeBob jersey, with hairy legs, riding a Scott CR1... Couldn't get into my 1:1 gear without forcibly holding in my shifter. For Mt Wash, I've ordered a triple 44/32/22 and plan on using the same 11x34 cassette again...this time setting it up several days in advance. Thanks HT. I'll be on the lookout for you! I'll be in a Competitive Cyclist jersey, on a Grey BMC, with the look of a nervous kid on his way to his first day of school... |
^^^No fixed gear for fixedgearhead?
Looks like fun, I wish we had hills like that here. We have 12% and bigger grades, but not for 5 miles. There might be a place for a carbon framed 24-34 geared fixed on a race like this right? |
Originally Posted by FixdGearHead
(Post 7208060)
Definitely needed to rethink my gearing - was running in my 34T chainring of my compact and had a 11x34 cassette, but put a new RD on the night before (horrible rookie mistake)...didn't have time to tune it properly.
Couldn't get into my 1:1 gear without forcibly holding in my shifter. For Mt Wash, I've ordered a triple 44/32/22 and plan on using the same 11x34 cassette again...this time setting it up several days in advance. Thanks HT. I'll be on the lookout for you! I'll be in a Competitive Cyclist jersey, on a Grey BMC, with the look of a nervous kid on his way to his first day of school... You might want to stay in the little ring for the whole (Mt Washington) ride. The only place you'd need the 32 is the first 50 yards or so. If your going to use it make sure you can drop into the granny without dumping the chain. Put the gears though all kinds of goofy shifts to goof proof it! |
^^^ Advice from a very experienced hill climber!!!
I always say "Go Low"... Unless you are super strong, your legs are going to get tired pushing big gears. Better to get the same amount of power with an easier gear. Just remember you are supposed to suffer. Don't use the gears to make the ride easy.... |
Ha! Yeah, the fixies stay home for the hillclimbs. Though, Hammer, I thought I noticed a woman riding a Colnago fixed with what looked like a 22T chainring up front?
I'll be putting a triple on, but probably not even bother with starting in the middle ring, opting for just keeping it in the 22T. If I've done my calculations right, I'll have gear inches of 17, 19.3, 22.2 and 25.1 (beyond that I'm assuming Id be cross chaining too much). I think I started Equinox in about 34.4 gear inches (34T front, 26T back) but went into my second to last gear by the first mile and pretty much stayed there except for the 16% to 18% grades, where I was manually attempting to hold my derailleur into my easiest gear. Thinking this through now, I might be forcing too high of a cadence to begin with? Guess I could start in the middle ring...but I'm absolutely paranoid of dropping my chain. |
DDYTDY will tell you about climbing on a fixie...
I climb with 48/38/26 and an 11/34 cassette... I will start out in the 38 for the first minute or so if it is flat, like the start of Washington but quickly shift to the 26 and stay there... I will ride the entire climb in 26/26-30-34 with most of the time in the 34. Gear inches 20.42/23.14/26.70... My cadence falls right around 90 for each of the climbs, although I am not trying for any specific cadence... |
Mt Washington Fixed I ride a 20t chainring and a 21t cog. I spin ridiculously fast on the approach but once on the hill its just right. (1:43.57 this year)day after Ascutney)
Geared I ride a 20t chainring with a 9sp 14/25 ultagra cassette with the second cog removed so I could add a 26T. My four lowest are 21-23-25-26. No front derailer. (1:37:30 This year) Fixed gear riders know how to spin so don't worry about spinning out.:thumb: |
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