| Ride Stats |
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Distance:
18.99 miles
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Altitude Gain:
1,245 ft
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Avg Speed:
18.93 mph
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Route:
Amberations Race
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Avg Grade: 147 %
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Max Grade: 165 %
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Max HR: 0 bpm
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Avg HR: 0 bpm
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Terrain: Road: Steep
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Bike: Look 585 Carbon Road
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Club: Schuyler County Cycling Club |
| Weather Conditions: Cloudy 51 F SE wind @ 6 mph |
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Another running of the Amberations Road Race in Marietta, NY. Weather this year was far better than normal as it wasn't cold, wet nor windy as is usually the case. It was a bit cool at race time with a south wind and temperatures hovering around fifty. There were only around twenty five riders this year and there wasn't any mystery as to who would win and what the placings would be, as there were only four or five known riders that would actually ride the hill rather than walk at least part of it. Winner was evident from the start being twenty years old, one forty five pounds, six foot tall, sponsored collegiate rider home from winning regionals in North Carolina. Race started with only four of us clearing the first roller and the fourth rider didn't hang much after that.. I was the next to drop off at three and a half miles climbing another roller. I couldn't justify pushing hard to stay on when there was a twenty percent grade mile long hill coming up that I would have a difficult time just getting over. Definitely the formula for losing but what else is an old fat rider going to do. My teammate Mighty Young Joe survived until the next roller where he too was dropped. The eventual winner had well over a minute at the first turn at a little over five miles and that was the last time I saw him until after the finish. I maintained the same pace as Joe, and when we got to the bottom of the big climb I was twenty seconds down. I stood up and was actually gaining a little when my rear tire lost traction and slipped on a wet spot. I quickly sat down and pushed from the saddle. I had to lean forward though to keep the front wheel on the road. Joe had also sat during that section but came out of the saddle once again. I knew I had to stand to maintain the gap much less close it. My mind decided that standing wasn't really a good idea, and I would actually be better off just getting off the bike. I had to convince myself to stay on and eventually got over the steep section and made the turn to the old school house. Joe had gained another twenty seconds on me as I languished in the saddle. The climb continued at a reduced grade, and I really just tried surviving it and probably lost more time. The rest of the was actually fun with a few more normal short climbs and a couple of fast down hills. The race was pretty much over at the top of the climb though as unless you are in contact with another rider there isn't much chance of gaining more than seconds when minutes are needed. Ended up finishing the ride at nineteen miles and hour that is one of my better finishes in recent years. Had a good time this year and felt better on the hill than I normally do.
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