Conference noted::bicycle

    The Mt Washington race is usually at the beginning of September..
    
    Are you into maximum pain and suffering?
    
    

    
    	The Mt Washington "race" is 2nd or 3rd sunday in september,
    I don't remember which, but its in the back of Velo News, I can
    look it up and post it here.  I think the Mt Mansfield thing (one
    of them anyway) was a couple of weeks ago, maybe there are others,
    again check Velo News for details.  I just happen to have the number
    of the folks that run the Washington race (been chasing them for
    the shirt they owe me from last year)  603-569-3086, ...something or
    other Sports Gnome.  I've only done Washinton once but it was enough
    to make me want it again. (and again, and ag....)
    
    I would recommend the gearing that I used, which went down to 26 front
    - 28 back.  I would NOT recommend the 175 mm cranks that I borrowed
    from my ATB, neither would I recommend the ATB itself or fat tires,
    regular training tubs work quite nicely.  I wore long socks, long
    sleeved jersey, helmet (cos I thought I had to) with cloth cap
    underneath to soak sweat, regular lycra shorts, avocet touring shoes
    (cos I thought I might have to walk) and double toe straps (i.e. front
    of pedal as well as usual position, this lets you pull up real hard
    without pulling out and you don't have to strap in so tight that you
    lose circulation to the toes), I carried a light windbreaker and thin
    overpants to put on at the top, I didn't use them until the finish but
    was glad to have them, this combination was about right.  We started at
    10:00 at 70 degrees F, I finished at 11:30 at 25 degrees F, VERY HOT
    AND VERY SWEATTY, its important to take the blanket they throw over you
    and get in the hut to cool off out of the wind.  Try to do some
    stretching out in the hut, because you can't warm down on the bike at
    the finish.  I didn't pay enough attention to this and got hard cramps
    at the very top of my legs (err, yeah... right in the BUNS) about 20
    mins after finishing, though this may have been partly due to the 175
    mm cranks that I wasn't used to. 

    	In case you havn't figured it out yet I'll be explicit:
    
    	I LOVED THE WASHINGTON RACE !   and I would like to see a lot
    more people do it.  It is NOT a threatening situation, in the citizens'
    class anyway, and is ridden very much like a club ride.  I encourage
    anyone/everyone to do it - the sense of achievement is amazing,
    DO IT !
    
    	Reg
    

    Sounds good to me.  
    
    re: 83.1:  No, I'm not into suffering, just CONQUERING!
    
    Reg... why wouldn't you reccomend an atb?
    
    
    Ben.

    
    	.1 got in as I was writing .2.  
    
    	I (agreably) disagree, there is no need for any pain and suffering
    
    if you are willing to do just a little preparation.  First you have to
    realise that Washington is a continuous climb, i.e. you don't get to
    freewheel at all (unlike Wachussett, that has three or four down grades
    on the "way up").  Next you have to do a few training rides that
    simulate the continuous push needed; this is quite easy, just ride hard
    on flats and downhills until you can do a continuous ride of about the
    time duration you would expect to do that little ol' hill in. Basically
    you just have to give up freewheeling and resting on downhills for
    however long it takes to build your endurance to 1+1/2 to 2 hours of
    continuous push, at that point you are getting a LOT MORE benefit from
    cycling anyway and its worth it whether you want to do Washington or
    not.
    
    	Reg
     

    re .3 ( I think ?, we're getting so damned interleaved this morning )

    	Non ATB 'cos its too damned heavy (+7 lbs ?) and in this case
    you are just about carrying the damned thing up the Mtn.  Also, I
    believe its less efficient for climbing and you only get one position,
    I like to move around on the bars.  Now, for coming *DOWN* its a
    different story, but some on the bonzai crowd raced down last year and
    were the basic cause of the road being closed to us for the rest of the
    year. 

    	Reg
    

I have two suggestions for how to train for Mt Washington, once you think
you are ready for the "does not let up" continuous climb.

Do a couple of laps on the Conway side of the Kancamagus (Rt 112)  You get
a few miles to warm up and when you start climbing, it does not let up till
you get to the pass.  The rest area on the right just before the summit
has a water pump.  It's great.  This will give you about 4 miles of not
tough climbing  followed by a good solid 4 mile climb at 7%.  If you want
to do repeats just come back down toward Conway till you have to pedal
and do a u-turn.  The Woodstock side of the Kanc claims a steeper slope
but is easier because you have several spots where the slope eases off.

After you've done that a few times try this,  Hurricane Mt between Conway,
NH, and Fryeburg, Me, or vice versa.  It's tough.  You have to carry your
own water.  The descents are scary.  The climbs are only a couple of miles
but I think the slope is steeper than Mt W.  The worst part of my memories
of this hill were the Diesel trucks passing at 5 mph (cough, hack).

    RE:  .1 (are you into suffering?) and reponses...
    
    I think it's great doing such a race.  I've done a few triathlons,
    so I don't mind a little suffering myself.
    

    
    	Well, who's up for it this year ?    I am for sure, barring
    any unforseen whatevers I WILL BE THERE !
    
    	Note #84 refers to the closing of the Mt Washington auto road,
    so you can't go train/practice on the actual course anymore (always an
    unfair advantage for the home team :-))   I rode up Burke Mtn Vt a
    couple of times while on vacation, it is steeper than Washington, better
    paved, not as long for the steep section (I would guess 1/3 based on my
    times), has more trees so you get shade and wind protection, there
    is close to zero traffic, on each of two rides I didn't see a single car
    going up or coming down.  I recommend it for practice to anyone
    contemplating Washington who isn't used to such steep grades, keeping
    the front wheel down and finding the right line through the turns
    takes some practice and you don't want to fall in a large pack on
    that gradient.  OK, Burke is a long way for some of us, but if you're
    in the area its great.
    
    	I have also heard that Mt Ascutney (sp ?) in NH has a similar
    auto road to Washington, i.e. half paved, half hard packed dirt.
    I don't know much about this one, but would like to try it, any
    comments from fellow "fringers" ?
    
    	Reg
    
    would recommend it as 

Well, having climbed it 3 times (by bike, please, after all, I am NOT
CRAZY**).  I am tempted to race it.  I am planning to be in Colorado
for the worlds but should be back by then (what's the date?).

Reg, elsewhere in this notes file you indicated that you did not use a
straight block for Mt W.  What did you use?  How many of those gears did
you actually use and where did you feel like upshifting?  What's Burke Mt
near?

A good little Mt in Southern NH is Pack Monadnock, only 1.6 miles but
a good warm up.  It's in Miller State Park on 101 in temple.  Best way to 
do it is to park either in Peterborough at the shopping center or
at Gary's restaurant in Temple (maybe Wilton) and ride up the easier grades
before tackling Pack.  The road was freshly paved recently so it's not as
bumpy as it was the first 9 times I rode it.  Remember, when you can see 
the top, the worst is in front of you.  You do not have to pay the "user's
fee" unless you are going to stay in the park.

I was talking to some friends last week who were planning to climb Mt W. under
the moonlight (2 am)-- weather permitting -- to avoid the bikes prohibition. I
think THAT's crazy -- the snack shop is not open at that hour and the view 
is not exactly awe inspiring.

Planning on doubling the Kancamagus again this weekend,

ed

    
    Reg,
    
    I raced up Mount Ascutney several years ago as part of the NH Milk
    Race. It's not an easy mountain. The grade starts right as you ride
    into the entrance. I used a 24 most of the time but needed the 26
    in several spots. There are no level areas to rest although the
    grade does vary along the way. Be VERY careful coming down, it's
    not as dangerous as Washington but the road is not as wide either.
    
    Have fun grunting!
    
    CdH
    
    

    RE:  .9
    
    	As long as you're going to be in Colo. for the worlds, why
    not ride the Pikes Peak hill climb (USCF)?  THAT ought to be
    a good warmup!
    					Brian
    

re: .9

Ed,
   If you're coming to Colorado Springs for the Worlds, look me up. I'll
take you on some good rides including Hospital Hill and the world championship
course at the academy.
   If you like big hills, you're coming to the right place.


re: -1

>    	As long as you're going to be in Colo. for the worlds, why
>    not ride the Pikes Peak hill climb (USCF)?  THAT ought to be
>    a good warmup!

Are you joking ? Bikes have never been allowed on that road. It is paved
only half way and the only Pikes Peak Hill climb that I have heard of is 
the auto race.

                                      Keith    

    RE: .12
    
    	The Brian's Folly edition of FAT MOUNTAIN newsletter lists:
    
    5-SEPT, Pikes Peak Fat Tire Hillclimb, USCF riders only
    
    	The Event Management Company, who runs this race, the Folly,
    and many other such events, probably got special permission to
    use the Toll road due to all the hoopla surrounding the Worlds.
    Of course the race may be at 2 in the morning...
    
    
    Call EMC at (303) 481-3550 for more information
                                                   
    

    
    	Sorry, I forgot who asked...  ...anyway it seems I'm much more
    of a wimp than I had thought, because I used REAL LOW gearing on
    Big W.  
    
    	I didn't know any better, other than a straight block was
    wrong, so I took the cranks, rings and block off of my Stump Jumper
    and put them on the Vitus frame, 46,36,26 x 28,24,20,16,14 175mm
    cranks.  I think I started in the 36x20 but did most of it on the
    26x28, I saw several people with single gear bikes who were just
    running the innermost ring of a triple and a single freewheel on
    the back, they seemed to be confident that they needed only one
    gear and that was the one.  I've been thinking it over for a while
    and would like a couple of gears a little higher, say 26 x 28,27
    and 26, but I bet there are no 24,25,26,27,28 blocks around, so
    I'll probably make up a 28,26,24,xx,xx.   Anyway, a guy at work
    told me that someone who won his class there last year advised him
    that he would need a 28 on the back.  No mention of the front, so
    I asked, "Oh, 42,  what else ?".   Although I didn't have the Cateye
    working that weekend I later figured that on a 26 x 28 my average
    cadence would have been a little over 70, so I didn't need anything
    much higher.  That got me there in 93 minutes.

    	Where is Burke ?   About 20 miles north of St Johnsbury, North
    East Kingdom.  I would recommend starting from 10 - 15 miles away,
    Lyndonville from the south, or West Burke from the North, or Island
    Pond from ???  If you don't start until East Burke the approach
    is all uphill and I don't warm up well on that stuff.
    
    	Reg
    

    
    	...and in the final week of preparation...	
    
    anyone got a 24 - 28 straight block I can borrow this weekend ?
    I promise to put less than ten miles on it. 

    	Who else is entered ?   I called them last thursday and they
    only had about 160 entries in hand with a close off of 300.  Remember
    that the rule this year is no more than 300 entries, so if you show
    up on race day looking for #301 its gonna be a big disappointment
    if you drove a long way, I got #308 last year, dunno if they were
    rule bending for me or not.   I got the impression that, just like
    the Boston marathon, there were "unentered followers" just there
    for a ride without numbers.
    
    	Reg