BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

I will try to make all of these. I went back and did Rialto and Logan last weekend. This time I took my road bike. I still struggle to get up Logan without stopping because of my breathing. Rialto was probably not the easiest I have done so far, but broken glass and small branches are all over the place.

This year will be the year I show up for one of these rides, which will maybe result in showing up for a CTC training ride or two this springinstead of relying on commuting miles and stubbornness to finish.

@Eric: If nothing else, come out for the Free Radical-enhanced recumbent attempt on Canton. Should be worth a laugh.

A DD victory on a recumbent would be awesome.

A DD victory on a recumbent would be awesome.

Personally, I'll be happy just to complete the darn thing. Canton's been bugging me for three years now.

You should come out at least for the first ride next Sunday, mr marv. Seriously.

um..... No! Not ready to be embarrassed by you and stefb, maybe I should come and cheer you on. My plan is to work out and try it next year but definitely not this year.

I bet I will fall over sideways on canton. I have unclipped a few times on some of the hills for fear that I was going to tip over, when I could probably have kept going. Granny gear is your friend, mr marv. You should come out to one of them and try. High street i think is the one that was not that intimidating. Just to see the hills in person is a sight! And Dan, if you want me to somehow stand on the front of your bent so that you don't flip over, I can do that. I know you have strong legs.

@ stefb I still can't get up that hill near our Rite-Aid

I haven't attempted that one. It looks pretty steep

Also (although I'm not involved with these), there are DD rides on Saturdays starting at 9:45 AM, Schenley Park Visitors Center. I think Lance usually takes people up the South Side slopes hills...heh.

Grumbling because there's no way I can get on board this year... next year, with vengeance.

Berryhill... I attempted it once, and never shall again

Greenwood Street connecting Morningside and Stanton Heights could probably be worked into a route somehow...

I feel as though I should give some of these a try as I dont have nay idea what 95% of them look like and therefore I don't have a predisposition on them to hold me back...

Berry hill is like a wall. First time I saw it, I said "f you " to it.

I really ought to try this, but just don't have that much oomph. The one training ride I turned out for a couple years ago, I couldn't even keep up on the flats getting out to Center, let alone climb anything. (I did make it up Center. Then bailed.)

tough != strong

I'll try to get out for these rides, if only to defend my title as Worst Climber IN THE WORLD. I've ridden up Logan twice in my life and I tend to think that's enough, but maybe I could make it three if the company's good.

@stefb "Berry hill is like a wall. First time I saw it, I said "f you " to it."

I said the same thing.

I was committed to trying it this year but I haven't been able to train for the past few weeks and won't be able to at all in November. But I have a friend coming to town who wants to try it, and I haven't tried it on my touring bike yet (with 22 up front and 34 in back as opposed to my road bike which is 39x25).

i know some other people planning a ride for sunday morning. they expect to be slower, and i think are only planning the first two hills.

berry hill is one of my nemeses, but only because the only time i actually tried the dd, i broke my cassette on it. the crappy road makes it trickier, but it's very forgivingly short.

greenwood in morningside isn't so bad. i rode up it last winter after a dentist appointment, probably drooling all over my beard. but my legs felt good enough.

mr. marv, you should try high/seavey just across the river (if you live in morningside, as it seems). it gradually kicks up the steepness; it lets you really ease into it. plus you can take the wide way around to cut out some of the steepness, and you get a tiny moment of respite just where you're hurting the most. it is almost universally regarded as the easiest hill on the ride.

Any sense in attempting these practice rides on a singlespeed?

@chemicaldave: It has been done before. (I wouldn't, but I'm a bit of a multi-gear addict when it comes to steeps.)

No harm in trying, eh?

I could imagine doing it on a single speed geared like my (obviously, not that heavy), but not my SE lager. It is geared way too high.

My SS is 32lbs and geared like your lager. I couldn't even make it up a 25% grade today. I think I'll pass

Is this at 10 or 10:30?

10:00 AM.

My cell # is posted on the ride listing on the WPW calendar linked above...I'll wait a few minutes if anyone calls/texts to say they'll be late, but will otherwise plan to depart promptly at 10.

I am not gonna be able to make it. Something came up.

I'm going to try and make it tomorrow, but I've not biked much the last few weeks so I'm not sure how long I can hang...

Uggh! Who the hell builds streets like these? Thanks Dan for putting these together, now where did I leave my lungs….

This was a fun ride. About 2/3's the way up Ravine my chain poped off, I fell over, tore off part of the soul of my cycling shoe, and puked…not neccessarly in that order.

I’m glad I got a chance to meet a few people. Dan thanks again for organizing the rides.

(@Greasefoot: I'm just glad you waited for us at the bottom of Middle...I was concerned after the group split due to Brian's mechanical and we lost track of you..my apologies for that.)

I hesitate to jinx it, but the long-range forecast looks good for next Sunday too...that'll be a fun set, consisting of Logan, Rialto, Suffolk-Hazelton-Burgess, and Sycamore.

+1 " I fell over, tore off part of the soul..."

That wasn't your shoe.

Freud is dead.

Dan, after I left you guys I got a flat on Second Av by the jail. I walked back to the bike rental place and tried to pump it up but it was not taking air. I took the wheel apart and the tube was split and could not be patched. So I pushed my bike over the Smithfied St bridge and took the incline up to Mt. Washington. I was crossing Grandview when the couple that joined us on High St had just finished Sycamore. I joked with them that I had a flat and pushing my bike I beat them to the top.

@ALMKLM, I told my sister about what happened to me on Ravine and her reply was "oh so now you need to go shoe shopping, do you want to go to the mall"

so, i did center/guyasuta, ravine/sharp's hill, and high/seavey yesterday morning. i was amazed at how far along i apparently am, despite not having ridden a dd hill in probably like two months, and i may actually have a go at this thing. pretty sure i could've made it up berry hill as well. i mean, i still would've made you guys wait for who-knows-how-long, but i can at least make it up. maybe i'll join the big boys group one of these days.

i will most assuredly want to be there to see dan try canton a few more times, of course.

@hv: given my current level of fitness, I assure you, sight unseen, that you are quite ready to come along now.

Bump.

We on for tomorrow? Should be dry according to most reports, although temps will be in the mid-30s. I have a wild accoutrement of winter gear, I can probably throw together something functional. I've never been a serious winter rider, but there's always a first. My biggest issue is usually cold ears, which gives me a brutal headache. Gotta find a good headband or something...

What's the route for tomorrow? Or, really, I just mean, whats hill #1, since that's probably all I have.

@ricerocket: Yep, we're on.

Hills for tomorrow include Logan, Rialto, Suffolk-Hazelton-Burgess, and Sycamore. We'll likely go through Troy Hill to the top of Logan, then down and back up, as the 40th St Bridge is closed, and I expect the trail to Millvale will be a bit mucky after the last few days' weather.

I just took my dog out, holy hell is it cold out. I'm gonna experiment with stuffing hand warmers in random places. I forgot how clunky my gloves are too, operating STI shifters is gonna be interesting.

See ya in the morning!

I'm being lame and bailing on this. Partly because it's SO DAMN COLD, but also because I rode these during the Bikefest scouting ride. Maybe next week though, those will be all new hills for me.

Wuss.

I used this today, and my little ears were fine.

http://www.pearlizumi.com/publish/content/pi_2010/us/en/index/products/men/ride/accessories/1.-productCode-9302.html

These shoe covers absolutely kick butt too:

http://www.pearlizumi.com/publish/content/pi_2010/us/en/index/products/men/ride/accessories/2.-productCode-9294.html

These socks are great too.

http://www.pearlizumi.com/publish/content/pi_2010/us/en/index/products/men/ride/accessories/3.-productCode-14351004.html

And I'm not a super-huge fan of PI stuff. . .

Wasn't too cold today, I thought. The only time I really felt chilled was coming down McArdle at the end...the high speed descent, plus a damp wind off the river, made things feel pretty raw.

Next week, we'll take Sycamore again, then over to Canton and Boustead, and back via some random route over Mt Washington. Maybe throw in Welsh or something, too, depending on how people feel.

Sorry I missed this today, I'm waiting for a part in the mail. When my shoe was eaten by my crank last week I bent a chainring.

I went out later today @ 12:30 for ~60 miles, temps were about 10 degrees warmer than when I woke up and I was okay, but I gotta figure out something for my hands and feet.

I have Giordana Windproof gloves, and they're pretty terrible. Yeah, they're windproof, but they also breathe like a plastic bag. My hands sweated in the first 10 miles, then froze over...my toes...they just froze. I'm going to try some Gore gloves, and some thicker wool socks. Trip to REI tomorrow for me.

@ rice rocket REI sells Pearl Izumi gloves that work well for about $60. They also sell cans of "man up" for about $10

I have rav-x windproof gloves and haven't had any problems with my hands sweating. I wear them below 40-45 and at 25-30 I add liners.

Feet I haven't figured out, I wear heavy socks and boots when it gets really cold.

Lake sells cycling boot that work well I have used them well below 0 with normal socks. The make them for both road and mountain bike pedals.

@ ricerocket: "man up"? Oh Snap! BTW, you're still about 30 sec behind up Suffolk!

I used some assos summer full finger gloves under PI cyclone gloves and my fingers were fine, although I'm thinking of picking up some assos or PI lobster gloves.

That's it, I'm going back tomorrow just to knock you off the top after I go buy my case of man-up.

And check your email!

Who's that ahead of you in your avatar?

(just tryin to get you fired up!, even though I think you've beaten me in every race we've ever been in together)

@ rice rocket here are the REI, PI gloves http://www.rei.com/product/819870/pearl-izumi-pro-softshell-lobster-bike-gloves

Bumpety-bump.

Tomorrow's highlights include Canton and Boustead...muhahahaha.

What day/time/location do you guys leave from? Also, what is the route for this weekend?

Sundays for the next two weeks, meeting at the bike rental on the Jail Trail (near Grant St), departing promptly at 10 AM.

This coming week will be Sycamore, Welsh, Barry-Holt-Eleanor, and Flowers-Tesla. The following week will be "start at the first hill, and ride the course until everyone has thrown in the towel."

Thanks. I'm in bad shape this year, but it's worth a shot Sunday to see how it goes.

10 am by triangle bikes?

Ok so I'm wimping out. Gotta practice for being a spectator I guess.

Awww marko. You can do it. Don't wimp out. You are a strong rider

@hv: Yep.

I was on my usual 40mileish shorter loop last weekend around North Hills, Allison Park, the city etc and decided to do Berryhill for fun and hit 4 more of these hills on my way home. Rialto missed my map here and I did stop on Logan but, I'm no hill pusher so I manned up and did it. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/128438053

I think I can do this DD business in a non competitive way? If I don't join the training ride this weekend I'll be out a little earlier. Reddan, on the day of the ride do you ride to the start and then ride back to our parts after or what? That makes it sound like a rather fun day.

Given how cramped parking is at the Oval, I highly recommend riding to the start. In my experience, people go their separate ways after Tesla...I usually head directly back to our neck of the woods then.

I may not be able to lead the DD training ride this coming Sunday, but Jim Logan has kindly volunteered to take the reins this week. Same time, same place, same hills.

Question!

While I'm not doing the DD, I do plan on attending and watching some of the mayhem -what would people recommend??

(a) Should I bike?

(b) Should I drive? <== that in the idea to maybe offer support if needed.

Do I have to drive to the Oval to start? Or drive to the first hill?

Any advice?

They probably won't need support. And honestly there are way way too many cars following the event. And when you drive behind it you go the pace of the slowest rider on the hill.

If you want to spectate just drive to the first hill. Park and walk a bit. Also have an exit plan besides "follow the race" because you'll never see the next hill.

I would not drive to the start. Again, you'll get stuck behind everyone unless you leave before they do in which case why bother to go to the start?

If you want to ride that's fine. Best bet is probably to watch every other hill since you won't be able to get there faster via bike than the event itself.

Like bikeygirl I want to watch, I was hoping there would be shortcuts that could be taken from hill to hill. I figure the race takes a planned out route and I would find a different route to the top of each hill.

Thank you Chris, this is very helpful!

I've seen the DD videos online before and wondered how spectators and cyclists managed to get between every hill, but I guess you have to pick and choose.

No matter, riding it is then for me! See you at the 1st Hill

EXCITED!!!!!

@Mr Marvelous -- If you and anyone else wants to, we can all meet somewhere to follow/spectate the DD as a form of "cheering peloton" , haha!

Sounds like a plan

The route the cyclists take is more or less how you would ride to them. Not saying there's not another way but for the most part I think it's about the most direct route between them.

For a car there are way better ways to get from hill to hill.

The cyclist spectators you see are primarily other riders.

I think I can do this DD business in a non competitive way?

The actual DD ride is pretty slow between hills, everyone waits for the last person to finish before proceeding. From what I gather, the vast majority of the participants are just trying to complete it and not racing up the hills, so if you can do each hill, you should probably just attend.

Also, join up at Strava.com and upload your Garmin data, it's totally free. Lets you compare your times up these hills to others in the area so you can get a feel for how fast you actually are.

From what I gather, the vast majority of the participants are just trying to complete it and not racing up the hills, so if you can do each hill, you should probably just attend.

i can do each hill. it's all of them at a time i'm not yet convinced about.

I inherited a Specialized off-road bike over a year ago and almost never ride it. If I blow the dust off it and lube everything real well, maybe I'll show up for a training ride or even the DD itself and see how far I get.

Thank you Chris again!!

Gotta say, I'm excited to watch!

I'm actually ditching Thanksgiving with my family in California this year to check the DD in person -about time!!

BUT don't tell my family that's why I'm not going, ok.... shhhh

bikeygirl. I'm with you; I'd like to spectate and support my husband who's riding this year. His training has been curtailed by injury and I think we'll probably have to pull out halfway through.

If you want to try to drive together to a few choice places or drive/bike DM me or facebook me. (Sara)

If I were looking to watch via bike:

Ride across HP bridge and watch first hill.

Turn around and stay on freeport toward town.

cut in and watch second hill from the

bottom.... It would be tough to see Berry

hill in time, so instead, go into sharps

burg and ride/walk up high/seavey. Watch.

and ride up it, follow to Logan in millvale

(you have to go over the hill here or

cross back over to butler st)... After

logan, you could take millvale trail to

Pig hill and watch that.

All pretty flat and probably doable. Might

be tight between logan and pig hill.

Anyone who wants to watch Canton and Boustead, you can pretty much take the T there. Canton is a fan favorite.

I am gonna be out of town for this

@ stefb I was hoping you were participating in it. I think Marko isn't doing it as well. I guess I'm cheering for Team reddan now.

Yes cheer extra hard for me.

@mr marv: Thanks, but please cheer for everyone who tackles the ride.

Except the bike jocks up front. They suck.

still on for tomorrow? i plan to be at the first hill at 10:30. that sound about right?

@ Lucia and Sara; I plan to be a spectator as well. Currently deciding between a car and a scooter as my vehicle of choice. Will probably see you at the top of the first hill.

Um, I think that means I need to find a map of the ride - or ar least an ordered list of the hills. Does the order ever change?

@sara: On Danny Chew's DD page, there are sets of directions both for bikes and for driving: http://www.dannychew.com/dd.html

And no, to my knowledge, the order of the hills never changes.

[ETA:] Per Danny:

There were far too many vehicles (DD affiliated) on the route last year - clogging up roads and pissing off local residents.

and

If you want to take photos or cheer on your riders, go way ahead of the pack, park legally somewhere, and wait for the riders to show up. Wait until the entire pack has passed by before you leave, and then perhaps hit every 3rd or 4th hill this way.

Seems what we need is a Spectator Cue Sheet page, probably two or three, say, one for Hills 1,4,9,13; another for Hills 2,6,10; a third for Hills 3,7,11. Or some such. With suggested parking & walking directions.

In general, though, if you can bike from one spot to the next, great. If you can't bike it, then motorcycle or scooter. Carpool if possible. The last thing you want to do is drive from one spot to another.

I myself have never seen half the DD hills, and only spectated one hill one year (S-H-B, last year), so I might not be the best person to write this document, but I would be happy to help. I do have the experience of having helped put on about 20 motorcycle enduros, and attended 100 more.

I plan on biking between locations.

Sara is still figuring out where/what hills to go check out.

So far, I'm gonna play it by-ear, but for sure I'll be a Hill #1 and at Canton Avenue. The rest will depend on how much time I spent cheering/traveling between hills and letting the riders do their thing

So, to make thing easy, maybe meet at Hill one? For the spectator crowd?

I wonder how possible it is to bike to all 13 hills and not climb any. Has anyone ever tried that? I'd be up for a 60ish-mile ride, and I suspect I might not be the only one. If it was known how this could be done, it might help alleviate traffic concerns, too.

I'll see you at the top of Hill 1.....

Looking forward to seeing all the fun.

I have been on all of the hills and honestly they all sux! A lot of the hills don’t have room for car parking. Hills I would suggest as spectator friendly: Center (1), High (4), Logan (5), Rialto (6), Sycamore (, & Barry-Holt-Eleanor (12). Center has Sidewalks on the first half and side streets to park on. High has sidewalks and some side streets to park on and also has a big switchback near the top that would be a great place watch. Logan and Rialto has no real parking but they have city steps along the street you can walk up or down and would be cool to watch from. Sycamore has a set of city steps that you can walk down from the top that will put you in the middle of the hill and it also has the big switchback near the top that will be a cool spot. Barry-Holt-Eleanor has city steps and sdewalks to stand on. Just my 2 cents…

So, Im in for the DD! (with zero training). I did it in '07. The sunny high of 62F is drawing me in!

Congrats & my respect to all those brave souls who did the DD deed today! It was a lot of fun to watch!

So, I parked my car on Milvalle by Hill #4 & then took on my own bike-power to watch the first 5-Hills. After that I got back to my car to follow the rest of the race in 4-wheels. I did miss 2 1/2 hills, but the rest of them I did get to watch!!

Thank you for all the advice on how to tackel "spectatoring" the DD!

Pretty neat! Pretttyyyy neat!! Although I did feel kinda silly just being there just-'cause, BUT didn't care! Although I did run into coworkers, friends, and bikepgh msg board regulars while there!

bikeygirl, was that you who wanted to run across welsh way when i was on my way down? someone yelled "epic beard!" at me on canton, if you want a reasonable physical description.

also, did i see scott riding this? well done, all!

@Hidden Variable. -Yes, that was me crossing Welsh, and I remember seeing cyclists letting me cross the street, but I do not recall details. Lots of jerseys and bikes and people today!!

I took photos, I'll upload the best of them!

Well, that was my second dirty dozen (no walking both times). I have to say it was easier then my first because of the temp. No stinging lung pain.

I did it with my 1x8. 8 speeds was plenty. The granny gear is the only one that matters on this ride.

I decided Saturday morning that a leisurely breakfast with the kids was more my speed than heading out to the Oval. Eventually got on the bike and headed out to Tarentum, then came back via Logan's Ferry and happened upon the Major Taylor club at the base of Hulton. Came back to town with them via Freeport.

Given the number of people who showed up for the DD, I'm quite glad I opted for a pleasant ride along the river instead.

Congrats to Steevo (again!) and to all who did the ride.

Did it, with moderate training (most of my rides have a lot of gradual climbing and include Sycamore and other hills). Stopped on the last two hills to stretch out a cramp and continued. I was expecting Canton to be like Sycamore at 37% grade. With the exception of wheel spin, it was the easiest hill for me considering the duration and my expectations. My map for people that like looking at numbers and such: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/131243096

Thumbs up to the organization; I had no idea how supported it would be. Several people were giving the safety rider a hard time when in hindsight he was just yelling at people to stop riding into oncoming traffic or blocking traffic at the top of hills.

Great video by Matt Dayak: http://vimeo.com/32720991