George St. Hill Challenge

[Crankin]

Here is a link that shows someone from my club, doing the George St. challenge on a recumbent.. He is 65 years old....
For those of you who are not familiar with this, it's an 18% grade in Worcester, MA.

http://www.wormtowntaxi.com/2009/07/2009-george-street-challenge.html

[OakLeaf]

:D:D Thanks for sharing!

There are some super strong 'bent riders in my area. I know a couple of guys who've made the transition from diamond-frame bikes who say they climb just as well on the recumbents once they've adapted.

They must be gaining in popularity, because a shop specializing in recumbents opened in a nearby town, and I'm seeing lots of them on the road. Personally I'd fall over on a flat piece of road...

[kfergos]

That is amazing. As is the 11-year-old girl who did it. And here I wimped out 'cause it looked too hard!

[Crankin]

I wimped out, too. But, I think I could do it....

[Jolt]

This thread made me try to go up George St. when riding to work this morning since it is part of the simplest and most direct route. I was on 7-3 shift (rather than the usual 3-11) today so decided to ride instead of driving since I would have daylight on both ends, and figured I would try to just suck it up and take George St. rather than my usual side streets and wrong turns :p. Boy was it tough! I got about 1/3 of the way up (if that) and had to get off and walk. Then again, this "new" bike only has a double right now and I probably could have gotten a lot further if I had the low gears--I will definitely be looking into adding that third chainring! Then maybe next year I'll have the guts to try the Challenge (and not totally embarrass myself in the process)...if so, at least I can practice since I live here!