On 08/25/2014, Mark Manner wrote Power-Tap
Mt Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb.
Warm at the bottom (60 and sunny at the start then hotter as we climbed), windy and cool and clear near the top, but then around the last mile clouds blew in quickly. Headwind the last 3 or 4 miles. Unrelenting steepness but a fun ride. I warmed up just a bit before. I ate a gel before and in middle of ride, and one water bottle and one PB Endurance. I was in the last wave to leave, and after the first 1/4 mile, not a single person passed me, and I passed a lot, catching up to some of the riders in the groups ahead. I paced myself well, but held back more than I needed to given my unfamiliarity with the course. At the end, lots of people literally fell over on the 22 % finishing S curve, but I made it fine and passed another 5 or 6 people. I used the 24 front 29 rear most of the time, going down 2 or 3 gears when it was less steep to keep my power up. Standing was tricky in that when you sat down you had to be very careful not to lift the front wheel off the ground. I would have used the 32 rear if I had it, but what I had was ok. The HR had some interference with the other riders I guess, so the 212 max reading wasn't right. I kept it pretty much in the 170s with a little time over 180.
Note on the PT hub: It continues to read when downloaded about 4% longer time than actual ride time and about that much extra distance. The actual ride time was 1:44:17 and elevation gain 4,695 feet, and distance 7.6 miles. No stopping for me, happily since seeing those who did stop struggle to get going was painful.
[Uploaded 9/1/2009 2:50:14 PM] ***