Conference noted::bicycle

     "Top Notch"
    
    Lessee now, I've never done that one, just Pinkham, Evans, Grantham,
    Franconia, Kinsman, Crawford, Dixville, ... :-)
    
    Congrats!  If your ribs aren't 100% by then, they'll tell you about it.
    
    ed

Sent my bucks in again, did it last year...great ride!

Hope to best last years time (1:17:30), 

see ya all at the top.

Keith

    Haven't done Mt. Washington for over ten years, so I'm not on any 
    mailing list.  Do we just send in a standard USCF entry, or should
    we call someone for a form?
    
    Justin

    Better call... I did drop off 10 copies at Gamache's last Tuesday.
    
     Chip

    	Yeah, I did Mt. Washington last year
    
    	in my Saab!
    
    	Some kinda view (until the clouds roll in).
    
    	Scott

My husband sent his appl. in for Mt. Washington.  They sent him 2 appl's 
so I have the extra one if anyone wants it.

Also, I would like to arrange to take another rider down from the summit.
I can take one more person (and their bike).

If anyone would like the application and/or a ride down from the summit
send me email at asdg::Erickson.

      Doreen

I'm in.  Just got my confirmation back.  I'll be in
the low notch group for sure.  My goal: 
to make it to the top without needing back or knee
surgery when I'm done.  
I'll probably ride my touring bike up because it
has a triple.   

See you all there!
-Larry 

    Being from over the water, and not knowing anything about this event,
    what does it involve you guys doing?
    
    
    Russell

    Cheers, I knew I could could count on you, Rod!

    Larry, what wwill you be riding and in which group? 
    
    (they catagorize riders in numbered blocks)
    
    Chip

group number?
hmmm. didnt notice this information.  I'll go back and check.

I would really like to ride my good bike but it does not have
low enough gears (for me).  I believe I will at least need
a 36x28 to make it... probably even lower.  I only have a 39x26.
Its an Ultegra crank ... anyone know how low I can go?
If I can not get low gears I'll use my old trek touring bike.
Its really not bad ... all 531 tubing.  Its probably pretty 
light without all the touring stuff on it.

Also I need a ride down.  Might alternate plan fell though.
Does anyone have room for one more passenger for the drive down?

Thanks,
-Larry

                    <<< Note 2813.11 by WMOIS::GIROUARD_C >>>

    Larry, what wwill you be riding and in which group? 
    
    (they catagorize riders in numbered blocks)
    
    Chip

Smallest I know that it's possible to get on Shimano double cranks
is 38. Not worth making an effort to get that if you've already
got 39.

If you want to ride your good bike, why not find and temporarily
fit a smaller chainset? Could be the way to go.


Rod

    Don't worry about the ride down. There will be drivers looking
    for people to bring down. If a car or truck can hook onto 2 
    riders, they get to go up the Mt for free...
    
    I'm not familiar with your strength, ability or pain threshold, but...
    The first two years I ran a 39x28 set-up. It's okay, but it is isn't
    easy. The third year I went to a 39x30. This is the type of ride that
    will always wishing you had something smaller anyway. I did feel okay,
    but still toyed with the idea of getting a cheap long cage derailleur
    and going up to a 39x32... Not going to though. I'll stick with the
    last set-up... 
    
    On the numbers... They block the different categories with numbers,
    e.g. veteran men will all be within a certain numbered range. They
    don't explain this in the correspondence.
    
    I think your logic is on with the touring bike unless you wish to
    make radical changes with your "good" steed. If this is your first
    time up you're probably "pioneering" the ride. My first time up I
    settled into an attitude that I would "experience" it first. The
    next year (and subsequent years) would be for personal bests...
    
    Good Luck!
    
     Chip

    If you have an old Trek touring bike, does it have a triple?  Just use
    the two inner chainrings if they are on the same bolt pattern.  
    
    Steve

    	Last night, I talked to a couple of friends who have done
    	Mt Washington.
    
    	Most of them put a mountain bike crank on their road bikes.
    	Usually running a 24 or 26 tooth chainring with the regular
    	stuff in the rear.
    
    	This seemed to be pretty common last year at Mt Washington.
    
    	So, take off the road stuff and put a 24 or 26 on the front,
    	with maybe a low of 24 or 26 on the rear.
    
    	Scott

>    I did feel okay,
>    but still toyed with the idea of getting a cheap long cage derailleur
>    and going up to a 39x32... Not going to though. I'll stick with the
>    last set-up...

FWIW, I used a 39x32 low gear with my regular chain and sachs new success rear
D; this derailleur is not a long cage. This setup worked fine.

Once again I can't recommend enough a trip or two to Mt. Ascutney. This mountain
is exactly half as long as Mt. Washington and has the same average percent
gradient. It's an excellent place to test your equipment. When riding on such
steep grades in such low gears your bike does funny things.

Closer to Metro Boston is Pack Monadnock which also has some *extremely* steep
grades.

     Yup the Pack is steep, but short. Of course you're hitting it after
     climbing Temple Mt...
    
     My old Campy 8spd handles a 30 with no problem. My new Campy
     derailleur is rated for a 28 max (I think) so I'm just going
     to put my old one back on. I have the cassette set-up already
     and don't really feel like shelling $15.00 for another cog...
    
     I'm starting to get psyched!!!
    
     Chip

Do you have to put a longer bottom bracket in to handle the 
mountain bike triple crank?   I was told by a bike shop that
I would need to do this.  
-Larry


       <<< Note 2813.16 by DELNI::CRITZ "Scott Critz, LKG2/1, Pole V3" >>>

    	Last night, I talked to a couple of friends who have done
    	Mt Washington.
    
    	Most of them put a mountain bike crank on their road bikes.
    	Usually running a 24 or 26 tooth chainring with the regular
    	stuff in the rear.
    
    	This seemed to be pretty common last year at Mt Washington.
    
    	So, take off the road stuff and put a 24 or 26 on the front,
    	with maybe a low of 24 or 26 on the rear.
    
    	Scott

Hi Chip,
I looked at the packet of info that was sent to me.
The only grouping for start times was the age grouping
and the top notch group.   At my advanced age (too close
to 40) I am in the veteran group.  Is there something I'm
missing?

-Larry

                    <<< Note 2813.11 by WMOIS::GIROUARD_C >>>

    Larry, what wwill you be riding and in which group? 
    
    (they catagorize riders in numbered blocks)
    
    Chip

    All groups will be "mass" started. What I am (ineptly) trying to
    describe is that all vets will be together in the mass, all jr's
    will be together in the mass, all women will be together in the
    mass, etc... I hope this does it. All vets #'s will be within a
    contiguous range, all women's #'s will be within a contiguous
    range, etc, etc...
    
    I'm in the veteran group too - 42! Hey, you're not ready for burial
    yet!
    
     Chip

TA are doing a range of converter rings for current Shimano and Campag chainsets so that 
you can put on a third ring.  You use your standard bolts and they have a small cut-out 
so you don't have to saw off the inside shoulder, you then bolt an extra ring on the arms 
of this middle ring.  If you go for something like a 32, then you can most likely get 
away with a standard axle or at worst a washer under the fixed cup (those used for fixed 
cog spacing are ideal).  The difficulty may be in getting the front changer to drop 
inwards enough, but I have made it work on Campag Chorus, Sachs Jubilee and Mavic 
examples.  I think this is a far superior solution in terms of chain tension and 
mis-alignment than expecting to put on (say) a 32 bottom cog while maintaining 52 x 13 
top.  With this method I can run -

       14 15 16 17 18 20 22 24
   50   Y  Y  Y  Y  Y ID  N  N     (Y=Yes, N=No, ID=If desperate)
   40   N  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y ID
   30   N  N  N  N  Y  Y  Y  Y     Campag Athena rear / Mavic front

and my colleague Rob runs with 13-26 on the back and 32/42/52 on the front with an 
8-speed 105 set-up.

    	I figured I'd go to the hill climb again this year. Oh, it's
    	on the 11th. Hmmmm. I think I'll be in Tiverton on the 11th.
    
    	Oh, well.
    
    	Scott

Well,  This weekend is the big ride.   I'm getting the gitters just
thinking about it.   I guess I'm as ready as I'm going to be.  I've
been doing lots of loops up Miller State Park on the weekends and
riding hard during lunch .. The guys I ride with I'm sure would
do better than I but their brains are still functioning and are
not interested.   I will be heading up Saturday night and staying
in Gorham.  I'll come prepared with lots of clothing choices.
If last weekend was any indication (cloudy, cool, misty) I will
probably where tights with a long sleeve shirt and possibly glove
liners underneath my cycling gloves.   Most of the people I talk
to who have raced before say I should ride 5-10 miles before the
ride to loosen up and then rest for no more than 30 minutes.
I will try to resist the temptation to push hard in the beginning
and try to maintain a 4-5mph pace.  My optimistic goal is to finish
in less than 2 hours.   See you all there.

Good Luck,
-Larry

    FWIW, I dayhiked it Sunday: at the top it was 40 degrees with a
    "light" (30mph'ish) wind.  kb  

This reminds me that I got this number from a friend:


Just dial 603-466-2073 and you get a voice synthesized updated weather
conditions on the top of Mt. Washington.

-Larry

    <- "weather" for that minute! :-)
    
    Larry, I'll be staying in Gorham too - The Royalty Inn (kinda in the
    We're also going up on Saturday (ETA: 4:30-ish)         center of town)
    
    No matter what, make that you what you wear you can take off and carry
    in the event you heat up too much. The most common complaint/mistake
    is over dressing for that thing.
    
    Even if report (and you get it several time while waiting for the
    start) says zero at the top, go with shorts and a regular top. If
    you're planning on "working" the ride, you won't get cold...
    
     Chip

    
>    No matter what, make that you what you wear you can take off and carry
>    in the event you heat up too much. The most common complaint/mistake
>    is over dressing for that thing.
    

The last (and only time) I rode mount washington, not in the race,
I had to stop very near the top to rest.  At the time I had the 
old style cleats and found that I could not get back on the bike
without falling over!
It was too steep, too windy and rainy, I was too tired ... I just
couldnt do it.   This time I actually practiced getting off the bike and
back on while on my last loop (#5) up the pack ... its not easy!
I only fell once.  I definately had to go to the side to do it then
get myself snapped in and turn real fast.  My goal is not to have
to stop this time.   I'll take a look around and see what the
experienced riders are doing (you) for clothing and try to match.

See you there and thanks for the advice,
Larry

    Mt. Washington looks to be in the 20's this weekend; that's hi
    temp.

    CANCELED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    
    BUMMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    
    Somewhere between 9:30am and 10:00am the climb was canceled...
    
    Everything was set, we all had our numners and were warming up. The
    base was around 50 degrees and the summit was floating around 29-30
    degrees. the kicker... 70mph winds! Conditions seemed to be worsening.
    
    We were talking to one of the Auto-Road employees and he said that they
    don't let motorcycles up with 50mph winds. The winds needed to drop
    under 50mph (which they obviously didn't). The conditions weren't too
    bad otherwise. Cool (good for that ride) and on-and-off drizzle.
    
    We were all depressed... Carbo-loaded to the max... Sugar high...
    Etc..............................................................
    
    Oh well, next year!!!
    
    Chip

That's a real drag - I'd been looking forward to reading accounts of
awful effort. No chance they reschedule, then, other than to next year?


Rod

     No chance... They even closed the road down to automobiles.
    
     I think timing is critical. The Auto-Road is privately owned.
    
     So, right after Labor Day (holiday) and right before the foliage
     season kicks-off there is a lull in the tourist activity. In fact,
     there were vacancies at almost every motel, hotel, inn... 
    
     We were discussing the very the same thing. It would increase the odds
     of ride-able weather even if they moved it up two weeks. 
    
     Chip

*!!@  $$** !!!!  etc etc  :-(

My friend and I took off and rode down to Conway.
Got passed by a former RAAM rider (women from Hollis NH, forgot
her name).  Took a detour up to black mountain ski area.  Sun
was shining all the way up and I was sweating (and swearing)
profusely.   Interesting to see familiar faces from the area
... lots of titanium rolling around so I could not distinguish
Chip from the crowd ;-).   Oh well.  Next year.

-Larry

    	former RAAM rider (woman from Hollis, NH)
    
    	Amy Regan.
    
    	Scott

Thanks.  Yes Amy Regan.  She was on a mountain bike with her hubby
trailing behind.  I wonder if she is planning another RAAM ride?
BTW there were quite a few women participating.   And I thought
doing these brainless, macho, mid-life crisis kind of things was
limited to males .... ;-)  (only kidding!)

-Larry

    Ed Cross was there too... Although he was just walking around in
    jeans talking to folks so I don't think he was there for the ride.
    
    We talked (3 of us) about taking a ride, but our driver would've been
    stuck in the parking lot twiddlin' his thumbs so we just split...
    
     Chip

    	Chip,
    
    	Last I talked to Ed (Kross), he was going to ride Mt. Washington.
    
    	He may have heard something about the weather and possible
    	cancellation of the event. And, he usually changes clothes in
    	the back of his truck, so...
    
    	Too bad, anyway. Musta been a lot of bummed out people.
    
    	Scott

    I warmed up a bit with Ed....he was ready to suffer with the rest of us!  
    He even had his 24" front wheel on his bike while warming up.  I was just
    heading back to the parking lot to shed some clothes, put my small
    wheel on when I heard the news is was shut down...I thought they were
    joking at first!  It's going to be a long wait for next year....

    <- Sure is! I went up and did a double-dose of Mt. Wachusett last
       night after work. I figured, hey... I didn't get to chop the
       body on the real hill so I'd take a beating on a wannabe...
    
       TT'd to the base (just because I like pain) 9 miles at 24.8mph/avg
       then went up.
    
       Lots of traffic and tourists at the top. Daren Smith was flying 
       down Mile Hill Rd. on my first ascent. I could only hit 46mph
       on the descent because of the wind. Then had to head west all the
       home into a 25mph headwind... I got home and felt like a zombie...
    
       Maybe I'll do it again tonight... :-) 
    
       chip_who's_still_running_pie_plate_gears_on_the_back

>     I think timing is critical. The Auto-Road is privately owned.
>    
>     So, right after Labor Day (holiday) and right before the foliage
>     season kicks-off there is a lull in the tourist activity. In fact,
>     there were vacancies at almost every motel, hotel, inn...

I always thought that was their plan too - run the race when there was the least
possible loss of $$$.

    Dear Competitor,
    
         For the first time in the 22 year history of the Mt. Washington
    Auto Road Bicycle Hill Climb, bad weather forced cancellation of the
    race Sunday. The decision was not made hastily or lightly. We recognize
    that many of you traveled a great distance and trained many miles to be
    ready for this unique race; we commiserate with your frustration at
    being unable to complete this experience.
         The decision to cancel was made jointly by the U.S.C.F. and the
    Mt. Washington Auto Road general manager with weather information
    from the Mt. Washington Observatory weather station on the summit. The
    morning's weather and the day's forecast were dismal. The base of the
    road might have been 52 degrees, but the summit had temperatures
    hovering at 33 degrees with freezing rainwhipped by sustained 55mph
    winds, gusting to 69mph. The wind chill was below 0. High gust for the
    day was 90mph. Sending 400 racers, 250 support vehicles and 150
    volunteers into potentially life-threatening weather would not have
    been in anyone's best interest.
         Tin Mountain Conservation Center thanks you once again for your
    support, paitience and understanding. Let's hope Mother nature is a
    little friendlier next year. 
         The 1995 race date is Sunday, Sept. 10. Race registrations are
    scheduled for mailing the first week of July, 1995.
         Thanks again and we look forward to seeing you next year.
    
                                          Sincerely,
    
                                                      Cathy Wemyss
                                                      Race Director

   Given the wonderful weather up there, it's surprising that they
   made it through over 20 consecutive races already.

   On the other hand, is it more of a problem now that there are many
   more entrants?  Maybe if it was a lower key affair with only a few
   riders and support crews it wold have been less of a risk to put
   the ride on anyway.

   Does anyone know how many entrants there have been over the years?

   - Jim

    I know the race has only gone 4 miles at least twice -- one of those
    races is chronicled in this notes file.
    
    ed

    The maximum filed is 400. However, most of the actual riders have been
    numbering in the 380's... Maybe a little more if you count the usual
    DQ's which there are generally 5-12 per race. The infraction is usually
    for not wearing a helmet (on the head).
    
     Chip

>   On the other hand, is it more of a problem now that there are many
>   more entrants?  Maybe if it was a lower key affair with only a few
>   riders and support crews it wold have been less of a risk to put
>   the ride on anyway.

I don't see how they could make it more of a low key affair. IMO the reason they
get so many people is because they will not permit bike riding up Mt. Washington
except on the day of the race. Consequently there are many people who would just
want to make it up the mountain or who only want to ride it every once in a
while who are forced to enter the race in order to do so.  I am among them. I
would much prefer going sometime in July when the weather is forecast to be good
than go up in September when there's a greater risk of weather difficulties.
But, since I can only ride Mt. Washington if I enter the race I enter the race.

If there were options then the field wouldn't fill up two weeks after the entry
blanks are mailed.

    Well, I've been told that one option is to use a moonlit night in July.
    
    :-)
    
    ed

    <- Ed, have you exercised this option?????? :-)
    
       Come clean with us now...
    
       Chip

    No, 3 times in daylight was enough to scare the bejeebers outta me.
    
    :-)
    
    ed