Toughest Road Hill Climb Event - Pittsburgh?
03-03-11, 07:51 PM
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Toughest Road Hill Climb Event - Pittsburgh?
Well. I am a road biker but as one that lives in Pittsburgh, I have to love hills. So I got this idea. Is anyone interested in an informal hill climb challenge this summer? Rialto Street is about a quarter of a mile long and about a 24 - 25% grade and basically goes straight up into Troy Hill (North Side) from the 31st Street Bridge. I was thinking of holding an informal climb challenge there maybe in mid June. Is anyone interested? If we get a dozen or more that want to give it as a shot, I'll organise things and post the information. This summer is a great time to do this because route 28 at the bottom is closed for construction so there will be no traffic on the hill.
Rialto is not as steep as Canton Ave (in Beechview and is the steepest public street in the US), but this longer and should still be a lot of fun.
As food for thought, here is a video of a (much wimpier) hill climb on Fargo Hill in LA which claims to be the current toughest hill climb challenge around...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyycWzmlyuY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgIL6eHHgZU&feature=fvw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFl8x...eature=related
Rialto will make this hill look pretty wimpy...
Rialto is not as steep as Canton Ave (in Beechview and is the steepest public street in the US), but this longer and should still be a lot of fun.
As food for thought, here is a video of a (much wimpier) hill climb on Fargo Hill in LA which claims to be the current toughest hill climb challenge around...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyycWzmlyuY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgIL6eHHgZU&feature=fvw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFl8x...eature=related
Rialto will make this hill look pretty wimpy...
Last edited by dwmckee; 03-04-11 at 01:23 PM. Reason: Adding iorrecting information
03-04-11, 01:19 PM
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Here is a picture of Rialto Street. It pretty much follows the steps up. It goes up beyond the underpass at the top but as a lesser grade.
Last edited by dwmckee; 03-04-11 at 01:20 PM. Reason: Fix typos
03-04-11, 01:37 PM
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Are you lost? I only see pavement; this is a MTB forum.
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Originally Posted by Mark Twain
"Don't argue with stupid people; they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience."
03-04-11, 05:43 PM
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G-to-da-Hey!
03-04-11, 06:31 PM
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Originally Posted by dminor
Are you lost? I only see pavement; this is a MTB forum.
I will post more info soon.
Thanks,
Don
Last edited by dwmckee; 03-04-11 at 06:34 PM. Reason: Typo
03-04-11, 06:56 PM
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I see a fine stair-gap for going down.
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Originally Posted by Mark Twain
"Don't argue with stupid people; they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience."
03-06-11, 06:14 AM
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Originally Posted by dminor
I see a fine stair-gap for going down.
I would love to show up and hand it to all those roadies and their silly carbon (sub 15 lb) bikes.
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03-06-11, 11:15 PM
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Originally Posted by sscyco
Stair gap? I see roof drop to stair transition.
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Originally Posted by Mark Twain
"Don't argue with stupid people; they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience."
03-08-11, 09:14 AM
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I live 20 miles north of Pittsburgh, I'll rock my 30 pound dual suspension Kona Dawg, with meaty 2.35's and beat yall to the top, hahha
03-08-11, 11:21 AM
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Hmmm, I might just have to make an excuse to come from the DC area...
03-09-11, 09:43 PM
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Well, I have an update to post. Apparently we have an organized ride in Pittsburgh called the Dirty Dozen that combines the 13 toughest hills in the city into a 50 mile ride.
https://www.bikeforums.net/archive/in.../t-709973.html
Rialto Ave is part of the ride as well as Canton Ave (37% grade and steepest public street in the world!) and Sycamore street which humbled even Lance Armstring in the 1992 Thrift Drug Classic. The event is held every November with 150 - 200 riders.
Is anyone interested in riding the Dirty Dozen this fall instead of just riding Rialto?
If you are going to ride one, may as well ride them all!
BTW, a couple of guys ride it on fixies every year as well as some tandems (like my son and I ride).
https://www.bikeforums.net/archive/in.../t-709973.html
Rialto Ave is part of the ride as well as Canton Ave (37% grade and steepest public street in the world!) and Sycamore street which humbled even Lance Armstring in the 1992 Thrift Drug Classic. The event is held every November with 150 - 200 riders.
Is anyone interested in riding the Dirty Dozen this fall instead of just riding Rialto?
If you are going to ride one, may as well ride them all!
BTW, a couple of guys ride it on fixies every year as well as some tandems (like my son and I ride).
Last edited by dwmckee; 03-09-11 at 09:46 PM. Reason: Update
03-10-11, 11:43 PM
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You should check out our web site: https://wpwbikeclub.org/
Plenty of chances to train for the Dirty Dozen and watch for Hills are My Friends ride in Sept. 76 miles with 9600+ feet of climbing crossing the Laurel Ridge 4 times.
Plenty of chances to train for the Dirty Dozen and watch for Hills are My Friends ride in Sept. 76 miles with 9600+ feet of climbing crossing the Laurel Ridge 4 times.
03-11-11, 12:18 AM
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Originally Posted by dminor
Are you lost? I only see pavement; this is a MTB forum.
03-11-11, 10:14 AM
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Originally Posted by Chris516
Look again, it is titled 'Road Cycling'.
I didn't have a lot of time in Pittsburgh last weekend, but I rode the final climb of the dirty dozen; hazelwood rd. It wasn't too bad at about 10% for almost a mile. It has 'peaked' my interest (haha, I couldn't help it) to ride the other hills and do the dirty dozen ride. Coming from the dc area, and living near a lot of flat, it would be nice to roll out of your house to some nice climbing.
03-11-11, 10:42 AM
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Hazelwood ave. is not the last hill of the dirty dozen, but is a decent little hill. The last hill of the event is Flowers Ave./Kilbourne St./Tesla St which is in the neighborhood of Hazelwood, with Tesla St. providing you with 25-27% (though for a short period). Glad you had fun in our neighborhood.
