AHOY! NEXT UPHILL BICYCLE RACE in the Global Series!

[LockH]

Ooops... Found another uphill bicycle race. This time the "Pollapaluza Urban Hill Climb" held now for maybe four years, on Swains Lane, Highgate, London, UK. Last year seen here, (cancelled officially due to "road safety concerns"), one comment:
http://road.cc/content/news/87946-evenings-urban-hill-climb-north-london-cancelled-eleventh-hour

I know someone involved with it, and they said that the council forgot to close the road.

But one YT vid of the EVent (course):

it was a lovely bank holiday monday so my cycling club mates decided to ride our fixies around North London and visit the popular 18% gradient Swains lane hill. I did only 3 climbs, punishing but rewarding.

[youtube]7s40JL5ZPrs[/youtube]

Some ebikers may just snear at this sorts of stuff.

 

[LockH]

Found another uphill race...

Search found 55 matches: +Strava

Seems a rare word in Alt. ES Realty (zero matches in ES thread titles). Just stumbled over the word (no harm done to myself or any other creatures). Seems a co. that promos its tech pretty good. Strava? Short def "GPS Riding". Perhaps the most amusing def "The Angry Singlespeeder: Why Strava Sucks", here:
http://reviews.mtbr.com/the-angry-singlespeeder-why-strava-sucks

Anyway... Turned out "the Strava" isn't any sort of uphill bicycle race at all. Sorry `bout that. Another def: "A new social-media app for cycling has more than a million riders racing, cheating, and even dying for virtual supremacy over the world’s roads and trails. A recent convert to the cult explains how Strava is changing the way we ride."

PS.. "KoM"? "King of the Mountain". (ie ebikers maybe. Hehe...)

 

[LockH]

Toronto MTB (Mountain Bike) Festival ("See you at 11am June 16th!")

Here:
http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Toronto-MTB-Fest-on-June-16-2012.html

In part:

DONNIE DRAG’ HILL RACE: That’s right, we are running a hill climb event straight up Redway Road from the far end base of the water plant to the top of the hill! The event will be run ‘eliminator’ style with a bracket system... you’ll be lined up elbow to elbow with a group of your rivals, with only the top half of your heat moving on.

Any bike is allowed, but we will vary your starting line to equalize the playing field. Want to be top seed? Get out there with your GPS device and the top times recorded on this STRAVA(tm) segment (http://www.strava.com/segments/redway-loblaws-hill-671342) will be given a seed value. Entry WILL BE FREE (with optional donation), and you are encouraged to wear your best gender-bending drag outfit, but keep it PG-13! Etch your name on the inaugural Donnie Drag trophy for eternal glory… or at least until next year.

"Any bike is allowed" ... Hehe... (Sound of Sneaky Old Guy/Ebiker rubbing his hands.)

One [C]omment:

bkman77 (Jun 9, 2012 at 8:26)
only in ontario would you see a mountain bike festival hosting a uphill race...

And one comment seen re last years "MTB Fest":

the very cool toronto mtb fest june 16th - Mtbr Forums

Also re last year:

"*inaugural* Donnie Drag trophy"

Finally:

... encouraged to wear your best gender-bending drag outfit"...

Oh, not THAT sort of "drag race"... So, some might suggest that nasty ebike-riding crowd is "generation-bending". Might that count? (I'm still not sure watt "outfit" an ebiker wears. (Sigh)

Interesting list of "key supporters" (plus "Torba" = "Toronto Off-Road Bicycling Association", 137 "Likes" on FacePlant, also "Social Rides") I assume "top of the "hill" refers to the climb from sorta the bottom of the Don Valley up to the lands above the river valley.

 

[LockH]

OT re uphill bicycle racing, but maybe fun for ebikers to show up some year. (YT vid
[youtube]m2ThTb6iffA[/youtube]

Hmmm... Kinda wondering now watt a crazy old half-dead ebikers solar-powered electric Land Yacht might look like...

EDIT:

DMV CRITERIA AND LICENSING PROCESS
"Mutant Vehicle" Licensing and Criteria

here:
http://www.burningman.com/on_the_playa/playa_vehicles/criteria.html

 

[LockH]

This years date not yet announced, but last year, race started 5pm on Sunday, August 11th, in Vermont, USA.

Seen here:
http://www.onionriver.com/cliffhanger-uphill-bikerun-series/

From 2012:

Course: Straight up Cliff St. and Corse streets in Montpelier. This short stretch of uphill is one of the steepest climbs in Montpelier and is sure to instill pain in the best hill climber, especially when done repeatedly! The starting line is at the bottom of Cliff Street with the finish at the top near the Hubbard Park gate. Riders will cool-down through Hubbard Park and loop around to the start via Winter, Elm, and Corse Streets; runners will head back down the course.

 

[LockH]

Seen on Wicked-Pee (sp?) the "Climbing specialist", here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climbing_specialist

A climbing specialist is a road bicycle racer who can ride especially well on highly inclined roads, such as those found among hills or mountains.

Some might be surprised, that apparently there are only maybe TWO here on the Alt. Planet that are "climbing specialists".

 

[LockH]

OK... Anybuddy here from Philadelphia maybe? Seen here:
http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/15650/Parx-Casino-Philly-Cycling-Classic-to-become-highest-ranked-one-day-race-in-USA-in-2014.aspx

In part:

Parx Casino Philly Cycling Classic to become highest-ranked one day race in USA in 2014

 

[LockH]

OK, how `bout from Taiwan. Another "King of the Mountain" uphill race, last year on November 5th. Seen here:
http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20140118000058&cid=1104

With a grueling 105-kilometer route that takes cyclists through mountains, including an 87 km continual ascent, the Taiwan KOM (King of the Mountain) Challenge has earned its place on a list of the world's 10 toughest cycling competitions by French magazine Le Cycle.

The annual uphill bike race through the mountain ranges of central Taiwan was the only non-European race to make the list put out by the major French publication.

Le Cycle called the KOM Challenge the only race in Asia comparable to classic routes through the Alps and the Pyrenees mountain range in its January issue.

The race starts at the Qixingtan scenic area in the eastern county of Hualien followed by a 87-km climb via the breathtaking Toroko Gorge to Wuling, a peak of Hehuanshan, which rises to an elevation of 3,275 meters.

The 2013 Taiwan KOM Challenge Official Launch Video:
[youtube]65_ncpaYnvg[/youtube]

 

[LockH]

Hehe... a story about drugs and uphill bicycle racing:
http://will-self.com/2013/07/18/recreating-albert-hofmanns-basel-bike-ride-on-lsd/

 

[LockH]

PTCI Uphill Bike Ride Championship

This is a video and photo recorded during PT Cabot Indonesia Uphill Bike Ride at Gunung Pinang, 6-Oct-2012. Congratulations for Fery Faizal (1st), Arief Irwanto (2nd), Suwarno (3rd), Sofian (4th), Syarif Hidayat (5th). Many thanks for the Event Organizer (Rommy Pratama, Setyawan Budi, Rachmad Pascal, Adik Mulyono, Masrudin, and Herman Bike)

Here:
http://www.pinkbike.com/video/280936/

 

[LockH]

In the news "Bosch named Sea Otter e-bike systems sponsor", seen here:
http://www.bicycleretailer.com/north-america/2014/03/06/bosch-named-sea-otter-e-bike-systems-sponsor#.UxnWpWd3ugA

It seems the "Sea Otter" race has other sponsors too:
http://www.bicycleretailer.com/search/node/Sea%20Otter

By one account in 2010:

The Sea Otter Classic (Ed: yah, this EVent is now a "classic"), a Celebration of Sport, will be held on April 15-18, 2010 at the Laguna Seca Recreation Area, Monterey, California, USA. There's never been a better year to go to the Sea Otter Classic. This four-day, action-packed cycling and outdoor sports extravaganza features a full schedule of amateur and pro cycling events, as well as family activities for all ages. The Sea Otter Classic also plays host to one of the largest consumer bike expos in the world.

Anyway... Odd to see an ebike manufacturer getting into *downhill* racing. Hehe... The whole reason why I started the UPHILL race in Toronto (one of them, but I hope a real goody, and perhaps one of the best in the world) was to promo the electramaterrific thingee as a vehicle for regular urban transport... For the Spandex (TM) Gang, maybe not so much.

 

[LockH]

So, anybuddy here from Pennsylvania (where EVidently sometimes cycling uphill is "the pitts")?
http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2014/02/10-truly-hellish-hills-american-cyclists/8511/

 

[LockH]

Progress report from the Chief Cook (and bottle washer) re progress on the Toronto event this year, since I first mentioned the 2014 race here on the Alt. Planet ES back on January 27 (about ten weeks ago).

Sent one email invite to that Rochester guy that hopefully doesn't grind his teeth under sail.

(In most cases invites are for one plus friend/wife/etc. Also invites may or may not have been to the race and/or after-party.)

Also invited the President (of the Toronto Electric Riders Assoc.)

And Marcelo Da Luz and his solar electric car (that met up with TERA folks at Toronto City Hall one or two summers ago).

An area disk skinner/ebiker to pipe some tunes.

An old Trinny friend (who if he comes may offer yuppies to eat, plus small painted ebiker tattoos).

The two velomobile builders/sellers in Ontario.

"Team" Smart electric bicycle (car might come too, for the party at least).

At least two area/city ebike store owners.

One ebike store owner from Ottawa.

A couple of area city councillors (plus one lady that may or may not be our next Major).

Reps from the two local "Ward" divisions on the grrrls in blue (boys too).

The Prez of a local RC Legion. (Well, have met and spoke with him, and exchanged emails, but not yet actually set the trap yet (Oooops, sorry. Did I say that???)

Etc. (the list goes on.)

And now, EVerybuddy on ES.

Phew.

 

[LockH]

It's possible Toronto will be crowded with "Trekkies", etc.

Seen here:
http://www.tfcon.ca/

TFcon – The world's largest fan-run Transformers convention – Toronto, Canada
July 11th to 13th, 2014 – Delta Meadowvale Hotel and Conference Centre – 6750 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, Ontario.

 

[LockH]

Toronto Race plans racing along (in true ebiker fashion perhaps at a somewatt more relaxed pace).

Latest stab at Invites:

To WhomEVer (and wannabes) it may concern:

Your presence is requested.

This next summer (here soon), on Saturday July 12th, 2014 following the 2nd Annual International Up Mountain Bicycle Race, (Toronto one-stop only, and just FYI the moon is expected to rise up HUGE that night) am hosting a back lawn almost all afternoon/night EVent nearby.

Mush in the planning:
One/two small dance spaces. Local ebiker magic-maker young dude spinning toonage.
Reno'd separate wooden (unused back lane) detached garage 24/7 hangout for ebikers. (Adequate plugin of course.)
Young but healthy Phyllostachys nigra Henon (future maybe 40ft bamboo "tree", plus maybe handy-dandy as uprights for new tourist rickshaw biz.)
Hydrogen and helium present.
Solar and wind stuff.
Smoking and drinking some places on or near the property (please note I did not say what).
Grrrls (and guys too) in Blue have been invited.
Master of Toronto Electric Riders has been invited (and I sorta know Doug well).
Odd tall (really tall w/ ropes/pegs to support) stuff (think "tree castle").
Velomobile-arama.
(Electric Steam Whistle Brewery truck cancelled)
The Mercedes folks w/large/heavy carlike thingee, but also a SMARTer ebike.
One/two or more local ebike store owners and maybe employees too, both past, present and future.
... well, it's a long list.

Spillover from the race (plus hangers on plus wannabes), shortly after noon. Then all day, etc.

(Only caveat? It's a costume thingee, so some (others) may appear to be "dressed funny". Or as ebikers dress.)

Cheerio Mate

(PS. Race launch at 12 noon that day. From near Lake surface and up the Cliffs. Finish near the road to Kings Town... ermm... lasted a few minutes last year, via Brimley Road South. Also thinking about getting road closed this year for "big stuff" (only electric of course). You know, just in case anybuddy might show up and "smoke" last years sneaky guy (yes, still annoyed at not winning that one).

 

[LockH]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/10763490/Paris-Roubaix-2014-live.html

Paris-Roubaix 2014: live

Follow all the action and colour from the 112th edition of Paris-Roubaix, the 257-kilometre cobbled classic from Compiègne to the Roubaix Velodrome.

11.30 Morning everybody, and welcome to Telegraph Sport's liveblog from L'enfer du nord, or the hell of the north, as they call it in France. Others call it Paris-Roubaix, possibly the most prestigious one-day classic of the five monuments of cycling a rider can have on his palmarès - the list of his, or her, race wins.

The Italians, no doubt, will argue that their own Milan-Sanremo or Giro di Lombardia monuments eclipse Paris-Roubaix. Likewise, the Belgians may feel that the Tour of Flanders and Liège-Bastogne-Liège monuments hold stronger places in the pantheon of cycling. Indeed, Liège-Bastogne-Liège is the oldest one-day bike race in the world, hence its nickname La Doyenne, having started in 1892.

However, despite protestations from Italy and Belgium, Paris-Roubaix remains the queen of the classics.

Perhaps not the "Queen" (in high speed uphill bicycle racing).

 

[LockH]

Guys in Grand Pavilion (tent. Prep for after-party next July 12, 2014. Just ignore hooka).

 

[LockH]

NOTICE: 2014 after-race party location changed!

... to a plot of land, south of where Harding Boulevard meets Kingsbury Crescent, on a small grassy "sliver" of land owned currently by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority ("TRCA"):
http://www.trca.on.ca/


(View from top of "CARBeerian Bluffs". The land topography EVen has it's own entry on that Wicked Pee thingee
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarborough_Bluffs

Yah might find the street via Giggle (sp?- Streetview, etc.), butt a couple of snaps earlier today:















...somewhere






















... or other










These. View from western end looking south:


And same spot, but eastward (think, rising sun):


So still just south off of the road from Kings Town (and west of nearby site of Int. Uphill Bike Race Challenge start at 12 noon.)

Anyway. Currently I am in email exchanges with my new neighbourhood.

So, for this year, just a small empty "parkette" thingee (close to danger, just the way some ebikers might like), where some might like to... chill... wattEVer, before the trip back to their cave (or wattEVer).


It'd be super extra fun (?) if folks wanted to wear any costumes. (My idea for site security. Plus have invited Toronto Police. More than once.)




Personally.


















... and I have picked a date for the 2015 race.











Sunday, September 27, 2015.














Yah. I know, later in the year, but maybe bear with.

















Toronto gets to watch maybe a "Maximum Eclipse".
















On that day, at 10:47 PM (direction 134°Southeast, 36.9° altitude).

















(Penumbral eclipse begins at 8:13 PM, 102°East-southeast and 12.7°altitude.)








Now gotta scrounge up an old sail or two. To hang from trees if Ma Nature gets mean that day.







Anyway. 2014 after race thingee may be now practise run for 2015.











Just sayin

 

[LockH]

Email rec'd this am:
Dear Lock,

I am writing from All Sports Marketing / MyNextRace.com. We often support races by helping them to build a race-kit.

We would like to provide some materials for the Uphill Bicycle Race.

To set up delivery I would need the number of kits, the address to deliver to, the date you would need them by as well as your phone number.

Please note that we have an online race calendar where your race is listed: http://www.mynextrace.com/events/uphill-bicycle-race/

We have a review feature that allows your participants to give feed back about your race and get people talking about the event. When you obtain an 80% or higher ranking (minimum 10 reviews), you can use the Top Banana Award graphic on all your marketing materials. 50 reviews gets you a free upgrade ($50) to the Premium listing where you can add a logo, social media links, photos, etc.

Best,
Maxi

 

[LockH]

Toronto stop of International Uphill Bicycle Race series (afterwards neighbourhood costume party) gets another mention on Alt. Planet of ES:
http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=57408&p=903127#p903127

 

[LockH]

Cross-posting (posted earlier same day on T.Dot forum).

PLEASE NOTE: Change (again) proposal for 2014 Race (itself, not the after-race thingee).

So here is a view most in Toronto have never seen?: About 1/2 way down this road (This "road" dropping out of sight...), back at the top can be seen one highrise on Kingston Road next to Scarborough Heights Park (highest point on the Scarborough Bluffs). Towards the bottom/lake level, the "road" (rough tarmac, where it remains at all, otherwise rougher pebbly remains) has split into running east or west, down to lake (surface level):

Parts of this "road" (especially nearing top) get EXTREMELY STEEP (steeper than the steepest part last years race up Brimley Road South).

So, might this trail serve instead (for an uphill race)?
Really, perhaps qualifies as "OFF road" re tires and shock absorbation, rather than typical urban pavements.

Maybe we could have not one but TWO Uphill Races this summer?

(One mad half-dead adult animal I know of braked slooowly DOWN, then WALKED staggered all way back up trailing trike behind, to take his pics above.)

(Orange monster trike lurks on far right in original pic. Rabid master slacking AGAIN.)

 

[LockH]

Currently, "my" little plot of dangerous land is one tiny piece of clifftop administered by the "Toronto and Region Conversation Authority", one of currently 38 such bodies in Ontariario.
http://trca.on.ca/about/conservation-ontario-other-conservation-authorities.dot

Top of "Objectives":
to ensure that Ontario's rivers, lakes and streams are properly safeguarded, managed and restored (while spending as little as possible to support a crumbling rock "cliff"... with residential homes on top. (Wonder who their Insurers are?)

Next:
to protect, manage and restore Ontario's woodlands, wetlands and natural habitat. (No mention re not having fun, at a glance.)

Then:
to develop and maintain programs that will protect life and property from natural hazards such as flooding and erosion. (Oh goody. Sounds like a clear case for building a hillside climbing stairway/elevator, with supports to ... support/reinforce said crumbling "cliff".)

Finally:
to provide opportunities for the public to enjoy, learn from and respect Ontario's natural environment. ("Daddy, why does this thing have Barf Bags, like on the airplane???")

...and fine print, two links:
Conservation Ontario
Conservation Authorities Act

(Among my current efforts, cleaning up said parcel of land for EVent this summer race after thingee - w/thoughts how land might be "improved", at taxpayers expense.)

 

[LockH]

Add to list of land/party/visitor conveniences on land for Toronto after-race thingee (in addition to vert. Savonius Wind Generator - electricity stored chemically, for ebikers to recharge from while visiting), one Funicilar ride up/down cliffs, and watt the French might refer to as an outdoor "pissoire".







...and a composter.





"Clear sailing" for this sort of... "exhaust refuse". Handy having no neighbours to the south, only a humongous lake (that 6++ million other animals... use every day) right "next door" .

Re: Funicular. Some citizens gotta get to the beach somehow, right??? (Been referring to my "project" as Ebikers Beach, after all.)

 

[LockH]

Ho hum. Another day working at the beech. (Oh, woe is me. Zero visitors yet.) Another bag of dandilions, stucks, etc. removed from property.


Seeing as I now have a new "biz" (sole proprietorship named "Phoenix Ebike Promotions - seen elsewhere on Alt. Planet ES), so I guess my efforts (costs, etc.) to convert recumbent trike is now a legit "deductible business expense", including purchase cost of new "donor" trike.

Not TOO sneaky for my accountant, one might hope.

 

[LockH]

I know lot like to live dangerously, so new sport to be demonstrated after next Toronto stop of International Uphill Bicycle Race next Saturday, July 12 (coming up soon folks!)

Think "soap box" racing for all ages. Folks can observe and try out the vehicle themselves. Competition limited to racing DOWN one sorta tiny/short local hill (and then straight away that follows) to judge who can roll the furthest down the straight away then around left/right turn at bottom.

Int. standard vehicle design? One Hammacher Schlemmer Three Wheel Recumbent Cruiser (modified versions (EG with electric thingees) can race in nearby uphill race the same day. Or whereEVer). Said vehicle has been raced down hill by some crazy old half-dead guy with only one "spill". So far. (Vehicle with two scrapes plus one scrape to riders elbow.)