Mt. Washington Hill Climb cancelled . . .

BumbleBeeDave · #1 08-20-2007, 12:01 PM

From VeloNews.com . . .

<<Horizontal sleet, rime ice, 87-mph gusts of wind and freezing temperatures forced the cancellation of this year's Mt. Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb on Saturday.>>

Yeee-OW!

BBD

Bruce K · #2 08-20-2007, 12:36 PM

Love ya Dave, but you're a little late to the party on this one.

It was really a bummer for folks who travelled, some a long way, to do this ride.

Fortunately, some were able to cancel plans before making the trip.

BK

BumbleBeeDave · #3 08-20-2007, 12:48 PM

Did somebody already post this? I was out all weekend . . . sorry if this is a repeat!

BBD

jeffg · #4 08-20-2007, 12:52 PM

for Mt. Washington.

Part of me says I should train for it and do it once, but the other part of me says skip it since:

1. The Mt. Washington toll road is only open to bikes as part of an expensive charity event.

2. You can't ride back down and need to organize a support car.

3. Notwithstanding the weather, there are equivalent climbs you can ride for free, descend, or ride as part of a supported ride that doesn't cost very much.

Maybe I can get my wife to buy into this one:

http://www.glocknerkoenig.com/#

The Grossglockner is free for bikes!

Bruce K · #5 08-20-2007, 12:59 PM

Jeff;

I understand your point, and I am not trying to slam you in ANY way, but:

1. What's wrong with a charity event?

2. I will arrange for you to get a ride with one of our group if you come next year.

3. Best reason not to, but then again, it IS Mt. Washington.

Good luck with the wife, maybe you can arrange a local shopping trip while you are driving yourself to the verge of an asthma attack.

BK
(Who would never dream of trying to drag this butt up that rock!)

Fixed · #6 08-20-2007, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffg

for Mt. Washington.

Part of me says I should train for it and do it once, but the other part of me says skip it since:

1. The Mt. Washington toll road is only open to bikes as part of an expensive charity event.

2. You can't ride back down and need to organize a support car.

3. Notwithstanding the weather, there are equivalent climbs you can ride for free, descend, or ride as part of a supported ride that doesn't cost very much.

Maybe I can get my wife to buy into this one:

http://www.glocknerkoenig.com/#

The Grossglockner is free for bikes!

bro 2000 starters that is a lot imho

jeffg · #7 08-20-2007, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce K

Jeff;

I understand your point, and I am not trying to slam you in ANY way, but:

1. What's wrong with a charity event?

2. I will arrange for you to get a ride with one of our group if you come next year.

3. Best reason not to, but then again, it IS Mt. Washington.

Good luck with the wife, maybe you can arrange a local shopping trip while you are driving yourself to the verge of an asthma attack.

BK
(Who would never dream of trying to drag this butt up that rock!)

Bruce,

1. Nothing is wrong at all with charity events. The fee for Mt. Washington goes to the Tin Mountain Conservation Center, but that is nothing like the fundraising that goes on for the Pan-Mass Challenge, no?

2. Thanks for the offer!

3. Agreed.

My main point is that it is just a hillclimb and one of the more expensive and logistically complicated I know of. Not saying I won't do it, but I think the hype is a bit overblown.

Bruce K · #8 08-20-2007, 02:07 PM

Jeff;

You are right on #1, but TMC does good work up there and yes, the PMC effort saves lives vs land, etc., but still a good cause.

#2 Any time my freind, any time.

#3 Being in NEw england and knowing folks who bust their guts training for it, I guess it's special to us around here.

Now, how about that bottle of Obstler I'm craving?

BK

jeffg · #9 08-20-2007, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce K

Jeff;

Now, how about that bottle of Obstler I'm craving?

BK

Obstler is good if it is the right type. For years it was a sort of second class schnaps but there are some true quality obstlers to be had.

Truth be told, the best I have found in Norcal is an Alsatian Mirabelle eau-de-vie. I promise to bring you back an Obstler from South Tirol next time I am there, deal?

Bruce K · #10 08-20-2007, 03:12 PM

Deal.

I don't think I have EVER experienced anything like the first time I had some. Several of us from my college were skiing in Innsbruk back in the 70's and ran into a bunch of local students on vacation, sunning on the top of the mountain, eating wursts and drinking Obstler.

That first shot went down fairly easily but it exploded in the pit of your stomach like a nuclear device!!

A truly memorable experience!

BK

rickygarni · #11 08-20-2007, 03:13 PM

I support the idea of charity (of course) and TMC charity specifically, but the problem I had with the Newton Ride this year was that the expense was so great (ticket for my son & myself, as you all know, would have run $600) that it became a question of either paying for a cheap motel for a few days (driving from NC) or both of us riding. So...paid for the motel and let my son ride it. Of course, as you all (also) know, both rides were called due to inclement weather, so it has taken some of my spunk about the idea of 'riding' it again.

Would love to, though ... but it becomes a four figure plus proposition.

Ricky

on the more or less flats of NC

stevep · #12 08-20-2007, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffg

for Mt. Washington.

Part of me says I should train for it and do it once, but the other part of me says skip it since:

1. The Mt. Washington toll road is only open to bikes as part of an expensive charity event.

2. You can't ride back down and need to organize a support car.

3. Notwithstanding the weather, there are equivalent climbs you can ride for free, descend, or ride as part of a supported ride that doesn't cost very much.

Maybe I can get my wife to buy into this one:

http://www.glocknerkoenig.com/#

The Grossglockner is free for bikes!

theres only 1 mt washington.
trying at best.
gotta do it once to call yrself a man.

jeffg · #13 08-20-2007, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevep

theres only 1 mt washington.
trying at best.
gotta do it once to call yrself a man.

Was that meant to exemplify what I meant by overwrought hype?

I'll call Gibo and see if he wants to trade his title as King of the Zoncolan to beat Tommy D's burrito-powered Mt. Washington record or if he feels he's man enough as it is.

I honestly believe riding the Gavia and the Mortirolo back-to-back is tougher than Mt. Washington but maybe I'll vacation next year with Sarkozy and find out for myself. Are you saying you are going to race me?

stevep · #14 08-20-2007, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffg

Was that meant to exemplify what I meant by overwrought hype?

I'll call Gibo and see if he wants to trade his title as King of the Zoncolan to beat Tommy D's burrito-powered Mt. Washington record or if he feels he's man enough as it is.

I honestly believe riding the Gavia and the Mortirolo back-to-back is tougher than Mt. Washington but maybe I'll vacation next year with Sarkozy and find out for myself. Are you saying you are going to race me?

whatever you think jeff.
stick to it man.
you know a lot about something you have never done.

i can say for a fact that its way harder then:
stelvio, ventoux, tourmalet, galibier, izoard, aspin, alpe d'huez.

more than that i defer to you who have never done it.

93legendti · #15 08-20-2007, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevep

whatever you think jeff.
stick to it man.
you know a lot about something you have never done.

i can say for a fact that its way harder then:
stelvio, ventoux, tourmalet, galibier, izoard, aspin, alpe d'huez.

more than that i defer to you who have never done it.

I've done the stelvio, galibier, alpe d'huez, marmolada, joux-plane, madeleine and others in Europe and I would do each one twice in a row (well maybe not the Stelvio) before I would do Mt. Washignton.