Hill Climbing, Pittsburgh Style

[happyslug]

(Front Page Sunday, November 27, 2005):
SHOELESS JOE ROSS:
Joe Ross, of West Deer, challenged Stephen Cummings, of Bloomfield, running in his socks up Canton Avenue, perhaps the city's steepest hill with a 37 percent grade. Canton Avenue was one of 13 that both men faced in the Dirty Dozen bike race. Cummings won last year's race and won four of 13 hills this year and the right to be called best hill climber in Pittsburgh; 48 riders participated in this year's race.
http://www.post-gazette.com/



Saturday's Article on the Race:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05330/612834.stm

List of Pittsburgh Steepest Streets:
http://wpwbikeclub.org/pgh_hills.html

High St ----------------- 22%
Logan Street (Millvale) -- 25%
Rialto Street ------------ 24%
Canton Street ----------- 37%
Boustead Street --------- 29%
Barry/Holt/Elanor ------- 12.2%
Flowers Street ---------- 28%
Tesla Street ------------ 24%

No I DID NOT PARTICIPATE. I have walked my bike up Boustead and other streets for I prefer to save my knees than peddle up those hills.

Side- Note - the measurement of Slope is often given only for the Steepest block, for example Canton is a very short and steep street, thus the measurement is for its whole length, but Boustead may just be steeper at its middle, but it is almost flat toward the top of its one block raise, thus adding length to the overall raise.

[Fovea]

1. The humanity...

That is what pain looks like to a cyclist.

[Kolesar]

2. Chagrin (pronounced sha-grin')

Mental uneasiness or annoyance caused by failure, disappointment, or humiliation.



I have never ridden this one, either. I live in the Chagrin River Valley, and have one of these hills in about every one of my rides. The typical climb out of the Chagrin Valley is 300 feet. There are no 37% grades here, but there is plenty of challenge for well conditioned competitive-types. Why the touring club does this in the spring when everyone is out of shape is a mystery to me.