I conquered the HILL OF DEATH!

[Mr. Bloom]

Well, I did it! The World Famous (because this post on an INTERNATIONAL FORUM makes it WORLD famous) Boltinghouse Hill in Bloomington Indiana has been conquered by Mr. Silver on his 2nd attempt.

I stopped at the bottom, drank my gatorade, caught my breath and CLIMBED AND CLIMBED AND CLIMBED. I forgot my heart rate monitor, but I know I pushed my limits.

As I embarked, two young woman were coming down the hill - One yelled to the other - "this must be it and yes Jenny XXXXX, we're going to turn around and climb this f*****g thing!". I believe they were IU students with youthful exhuberance. ONE of them made it!

Motionbased says the peak grade was 21.6%. The Garmon said 27%, but I know that MB adjusts that. Here's a hill profile that I am proud of:

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa201/MrSilver1963/BoltinghouseHill.jpg

[Blueberry]

Wow!!! That's quite a hill!!

Congrats:)

[Veronica]

It looks like it climbs 175 feet or so in about 1/4 mile? Am I reading that right? :confused:

V.

[Mr. Bloom]

It looks like it climbs 175 feet or so in about 1/4 mile? Am I reading that right? :confused:

V.

MotionBased says 220 feet. I do believe that the distance was about 1,300 ft which would give it a 17% average grade.

[Aquila]

Holy Cow! Great! Zoomzoom indeed!

[Veronica]

Thanks, trying to equate it in my head to local hills. It's like the end of Mount Diablo out here. That's a toughie! It's always cool to conquer a demon - or a hill. Nice work!

V.

[silver]

Congrats! I know that I couldn't make it! YOU RULE!!!!!!

luv ya!

[7rider]

Good grief. That's not a hill. That's a wall.
:eek:
Good going, Mr. S.

[KSH]

HA! Great job on showing the kiddos how it's done!

Congratulations!

[Tri Girl]

HOLY SMOKES! :eek: Congrats on making up the Hill O'Death!
Wow-that's quite an impressive accomplishment!

[aicabsolut]

Way to go! I love how you keep going back to this hill. I assume you're going to conquer it many more times.

I encountered a fairly similar hill about a month back. MB says it was 22.2% :eek: I was told it was a good hill to practice on, as in to do hill repeats. Uhh, I barely made it up. My cranks were creaking all over the place. I don't remember what my HR was exactly, but it was way up there. I was still in my warmup too, but I guess it's good the quads were fresh.

I've decided I don't want to do that hill again.

Can you find it in this picture?

DC area ladies, ever ride up Brickyard? ugggh

[Mr. Bloom]

I encountered a fairly similar hill about a month back. MB says it was 22.2% :eek:

That's in DC??

As Crocodile Dundee would say "Naw thaut's a hill!"

[divingbiker]

DC area ladies, ever ride up Brickyard? ugggh

No, where is it (so I can avoid it)?

[SouthernBelle]

Very good. Gonna do it again?

[rij73]

That rocks! You're a tough man!

[indysteel]

Well done, Mr. Silver. I'll try to channel you in Tennessee. Seeing it graphed like that, I'm even more impressed by the local rider who recently did that climb 13 times in an hour. EEEEEEEKKKKKK.

[7rider]

I've decided I don't want to do that hill again.

Can you find it in this picture?

DC area ladies, ever ride up Brickyard? ugggh

The monster's on the LBS's Sunday A-Ride race up Brickyard. DH has done it. I don't know if he's ever taken it, but he's done it several times. I prefer to stay down on the Blvd and suffer up the more reasonable steps of Old Angler's Hill.

[aicabsolut]

Technically, it's in Maryland. Not far out.

Good thing I'm not fast enough to do any local A rides. ;) At one point, I was only going 3mph on that hill.
I much prefer the long steady climb up MacArthur too Regina.

indy -- 13 times in one hour?!?!?!

[Mr. Bloom]

indy -- 13 times in one hour?!?!?!

She's referring to a recent article in the Bloomington Herald-Times where the BBC had a hill climbing challenge. It featured one guy who did the hill 13 times in an hour (about 100 degrees temps). This particular guy is a 2 times RAAM veteran. I had a business meeting with one of his training buddies the other day...I felt inadequate just sitting at the same table.

Here's a link to the article, but I think it's a secure site. You'll notice that most of these people are middle aged.

http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/stories/2007/08/23/news.qp-2760412.sto

[Thorn]

who did the hill 13 times in an hour

You'll notice that most of these people are middle aged.


When we recently went out to ride the "hills" (not quite your nemesis, but we had a 21% and a couple others over 15%) we were routinely passed by cyclists (it is a popular riding area--rural, cars with respect and, of course, hills). I made a comment to DH about that "for a pair of 48-year old desk jockeys we're doing OK" and honestly felt that until he pointed out that the last guy to pass us had at least 10 years on us :eek:

I guess that's why I like cycling--not only do I feel like a kid when I ride my bike, but others show that I'll be able to do that for a long time to come.

[ibcycling]

I guess that's why I like cycling--not only do I feel like a kid when I ride my bike, but others show that I'll be able to do that for a long time to come.

I'm a newbie rider and joined a local club. The first time I road with them I was the youngest in the group by about 25 years (I'm 32) with the ride leader being 84. They completely kicked my a$$! I decided to turn around and head home after an hour because I was having trouble keeping up. At first I was upset but then realized that if I keep at it I'll be in great shape for years to come. So I still ride with them and they still kick my butt but I'm getting better. :D

Lora

[Jiffer]

Awesome job! Whether it's 17% grade, 27% grade or somewhere in between ... it's horrifying either way and, therefore, a big, "Atta boy!" to you! I think about 11 to 12% is the most I've done and it's was killer enough for me.

[Mr. Bloom]

As they say...."It's all in the wheels"

[SouthernBelle]

As they say...."It's all in the wheels"

Who says that?

[zondian]

Wow. At times like those (climbing that hill) I think I would fall into the category of "it's definitely the destination, not the journey there". Good job!

[Mr. Bloom]

Who says that?

This OLD guy that I passed on this wicked hill at the Horsey Hundred in the spring said that...right before I unclipped to walk the last 100 feet on the hill as HE rode by!!!

[mary9761]

WAY TO GO!!!! I'd say you're ready for Tabor and the Hilly Mr. Silver. From what I've heard the monster you just conquered USED to be part of day one I believe of the Hilly Hundred. Were the rest of the hills in the profile any from the Hilly?

[Mr. Bloom]

Were the rest of the hills in the profile any from the Hilly?

I don't actually know what the Hilly route is since it's not published...but I'm pretty sure that no part of my route is on the Hilly.

I do need to find Mt. Tabor and start training on it.

[SouthernBelle]

Well, then I obviously need new wheels!