Video & pics of steep climb from one of my most difficult rides ever

**MojoGrrl** · 07-17-2011, 09:30 PM

Awesome! I just did a killer ride in the same area today (around Colfax). I'm new to climbing and the hills out there - and some of those descents - are, well, killer. 6500 feet of climbing!

**luv2climb** · 07-17-2011, 10:09 PM

Originally Posted by MojoGrrl

Awesome! I just did a killer ride in the same area today (around Colfax). I'm new to climbing and the hills out there - and some of those descents - are, well, killer. 6500 feet of climbing!

Colfax? Cool! Next weekend I'm going to climb Iowa Hill Road for the first time since 1997. I was going to wait until I lost another 10 pounds, but after this 5,472' of climbing ride I just did, I think I'm probably ready to climb it again.

I'll bet Iowa Hill was part of your ride, with that 6,500' of climbing.

**Biciclista** · 07-18-2011, 05:41 AM

that truck was WAY too close.

**lawnchick22** · 07-18-2011, 06:11 AM

Luvs2Climb..........you are pure inspiration! Thanks for sharing your adventures.

**grey** · 07-18-2011, 07:33 AM

Originally Posted by Biciclista

that truck was WAY too close.

Yes it was. Made my heart leap just watching the video.

I would take both vids in to the police. You never know - maybe they can give the guy a ticket and a course in road safety...

**luv2climb** · 07-18-2011, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by lawnchick22

Luvs2Climb..........you are pure inspiration! Thanks for sharing your adventures.

Thank you.

Now I've just got to pray that I don't get taken out by one of these road-hogging maniacs. Luckily I haven't heard of anything like that happening in the areas I climb in. This is the first problem I've had in all the months I've been climbing. Most motorists are very considerate up in the hills.

Originally Posted by Biciclista

that truck was WAY too close.

Originally Posted by grey

Yes it was. Made my heart leap just watching the video.

I would take both vids in to the police. You never know - maybe they can give the guy a ticket and a course in road safety...

I thought I read somewhere that video evidence wasn't admissible in court. I've never had a situation like this before, so I don't know what to expect. I'm guessing I would have to drive back up to El Dorado County? Or could I take the videos to my local police station? I don't want to waste my time if they're not going to do anything. I've heard too many stories of cops not acting on cyclist complaints.

**MojoGrrl** · 07-18-2011, 06:22 PM

Originally Posted by luv2climb

I'll bet Iowa Hill was part of your ride, with that 6,500' of climbing.

We did not do Iowa Hill, but that's next...

**amb** · 07-18-2011, 06:36 PM

You are crazy.....and bad a$$!

I'm not much of a climber myself. And that Tacoma is a lovely example of a human, no?! Great job on your accomplishment!!

**luv2climb** · 07-18-2011, 07:24 PM

Originally Posted by amb

You are crazy.....and bad a$$!

I'm not much of a climber myself. And that Tacoma is a lovely example of a human, no?! Great job on your accomplishment!!

Originally Posted by Bike Writer

luv2climb I am in awe of your climbing abilities. You must be, hands down the best climber who posts here. Makes the hills around here look like bumps in the road. Beautiful sceanery too.

Aww, thanks!

I don't consider myself much of a climber yet due to that last 20 pounds I'm working on getting rid of, but then again I always ride solo so I have no idea how my climbing compares to other women.

Any TE members in my area want to go for a ride? I'm sure some of you know of some nice hard climbs I haven't discovered yet, and vice versa.

**smilingcat** · 07-19-2011, 07:00 PM

I agree with Mimi and others. Do send the link to police so they can follow up with the idiot. If nothing else, it will be on record as "previous incidents".

Have you thought of entering some "fun" rides where they are into climbing?? Some are timed just like TT's.

**luv2climb** · 07-19-2011, 09:11 PM

Originally Posted by smilingcat

I agree with Mimi and others. Do send the link to police so they can follow up with the idiot. If nothing else, it will be on record as "previous incidents".

Have you thought of entering some "fun" rides where they are into climbing?? Some are timed just like TT's.

The bolded part is what I would like to do. It would be much easier to send them the link than to have to drive back up there.

I'm not into the whole paying to ride a bike thing, so I don't do organized rides. I also don't like being told I can't listen to music at low volume in my right ear while riding. I was bored one night and I read the list of rules for the Death Ride, which is one of those killer climbing rides in the Sierras. They said no headphones of any type. I'm sorry, but I love listening to music while I'm climbing. If it's at low volume in the right ear only, I don't see what the problem is. I don't want to disturb others with my music, so I wouldn't want to use speakers if I rode with others.

California law states no headphones in both ears, One ear is legal.

**JuneHawk** · 07-20-2011, 03:20 AM

I live in Florida and it's flat, that climb would have killed me!

On the other hand, what a beautiful road! Roads down here (South Florida) are ugly and boring. We seriously lack in the landscape department.

**luv2climb** · 07-20-2011, 07:22 AM

Originally Posted by JuneHawk

I live in Florida and it's flat, that climb would have killed me!

On the other hand, what a beautiful road! Roads down here (South Florida) are ugly and boring. We seriously lack in the landscape department.

I feel for cyclists living in Florida. The lack of hills, high humidity, hurricanes, and reports from cyclists on other forums that Florida is not that cycling-friendly would drive me nuts. Florida also makes it illegal to listen to music even in one ear.

I hope for your sake that it's not as bad as what I've read on other cycling forums.

**luv2climb** · 07-20-2011, 12:05 PM

Well, I just got off the phone with a CHP sergeant from the Placerville office. He said no laws were broken, but if I had called 911 right after it happened they may have been able to patrol the area and catch him driving recklessly. Of course, when it happened I didn't have the license plate number. I didn't get that until I got home and played the video on my computer multiple times before uploading it to YouTube.

This incident has caused me to start recording all my rides, not just the climbing rides. I've only been recording two days, but since I live in a major metropolitan area I've captured interesting footage both days.

Here's a homeless man singing to me as I ride past. I see him around the neighborhood all the time. He's always very friendly, and if I happen to have any empty drink bottles or cans with me I give them to him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0QsD8lgz4s

Here's a very paranoid pedestrian at a red light accusing me of doing something to him behind his back simply because I pushed the button to get a walk signal to cross the street (I was riding with a disabled friend who uses a wheelchair). He was armed with a stick, so I was watching his hands very closely, ready to take evasive action if necessary.

In hindsight, I think I probably shouldn't have told him he was being recorded, as it seemed to escalate the situation. Luckily me and my friend were able to escape unharmed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6zJ8hwsa4o

**Susan** · 07-20-2011, 12:22 PM

Hey luv2climb, I love steep ascents too, only I do them on my MTB most of the time. Looking at your data, I seem to have done some similar rides last week on my vacation, but don't own a camera to share. I'd love to go for a ride and find some climbs with you, but sadly I live nowhere near you

Maybe if you come for a vacation someday - we sure have enough hills over here

Thread: Video & pics of steep climb from one of my most difficult rides ever

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