RR: First Annual Poles Climb Challenge

[ocrider]

It was fun!! I didnt throw up either. Ended finishing 2nd in mens open(2nd overall) Props to Noah from Cannodale for winning it. And to Julia for being the only girl man enough to race! And to pho'd up for taking 3rd and everyone who raced and volunteered!! Maxwell and a few others did 2 runs! Thats crazy!! And so were all the SSers out there. Thanks to share and Rock N Road Cyclery for a great day and all my sponsors(see sig.)

[Permagrin]

Yep, I'm impressed. I did a lap through the park and LC and was able to catch the end of the climb. I met (more) cool folks and saw some I only get to see now and again. Props to the people who climbed, especially Julia - you're improving so quickly - great job!

[Waldo]

Congrats OC, Julia, and Pho'd - way cool!

[ryandood]

how many people competed in the mens section? winning times? sounds like fun but I didn't want to hurt today. good job guys.

[Pho'dUp]

There were 12 people who signed up.

11 men, one 1 girl.

I think the top times for the men about:

Noah - 4:46? Crazy, I watched him climb. He middle ringed the entire climb. Got wiggley near the top and still had a blistering time.

Matt (Ocrider) - 5:11? Good job Matt! I thought he was going to break sub 5min. for sure. He had enough juju left to stand and hammer the last 10ft. Heard you dabbed somewhere, bummer that was probably the difference.

Me (Pho'dup) - 5:36 Did 6:02 my first trip, and tried it a second time. Both headphones in that time and music blarring and gave it everything I had.

I know Bvader, and Maxwell, and a few other guys all did it twice and had some solid times in the right around 6min.

Good job Julia! First place. Way to stick it out and bearing down and cranking it to the finish.

Autoduel - got first place SS! Man, I was convinced he was gonna clean that hill on his new (old) singlespeed. He made it about 85% the way before he dabbed and had to regroup. I think if ran gears he could have given Noah and Matt a good run.

Thanks to SHARE (Wrecker, Tink, Chopper et al) for putting the event on, giving away some cool stuff. I walked away with a Rock n' Road Gift Card and a free entry into the Poker ride in May. Sweet.

Thanks to everyone else who showed up and give it a go, and cheered. Also the guy on the Fixie who tried it turning that huge gear and a ridiculously low pressure rear tire??!! It was uber cool to see a couple folks who never climbed poles before try it. Have to restart a few times. But never gave up and eventually rode the whole way up.

There's pictures coming from the share folks soon I think.

PS. Wrecker's new Niner is SWEET.

Carl

[bighit8]

I was to damn tired to come. Work will do that to ya!Sorry I missed you all.Did not get to bed until 4am.

[maxwell]

Great event today! It was small, but big all at the same time!

Holy crap, I don't know how the heck you guy's can climb so fast?!

I believe Noah was the only sub 5 minute. And I think Matt would have been real close, but like most others he blew up so close to the top.

And Steve (Autoduel) on his freak'n single speed!

I'm not sure how many actually cleaned it. I know Noah and Carl for sure. I know I didn't!

Thanks again to SHARE for putting it on, Rock N Road for sponsoring, and all those that showed up for supporting.

Here's my pics....

Here comes Pho'dUp



"am I there yet"



OCRider out of gas...



but not out of will power!





Pedal Autoduel, PEDAL!



Steve; "I should've gone to REI"
Carl; "you've got to get a picture of this!"



I think this guy's name was Justin. He had a lot of heart, and left some of his lungs on the trail!



Gett'er done Steve!!



Noah, just another skinny on a light bike, oh, and THE WINNER!!




Is this guy smiling or gimicing?



And now for my hero of the day......

JULIA!!

Not only was she the only GIRL to show up and ride, she was also the YOUNGEST person out there today!!
After it was all done I heard her ask Cheryl not to say her time, because she was embarased it took her so long(according to Julia, not anyone else).

I'll tell you what, that little girl showed the heart and will power of a LION!!

Julia you keep it up, and keep having FUN!!

She's stopped, but definitly not done....



on her way again....



No stopping her now!!



on to the finish line!



I know how proud her Mom is of her, and it's a wonderfull thing that they go out and share these addventures together!

Once again, BIG thanks to all of you that put this together!!

[ezzyride]

Julia had a great time out there today. Woke me up at 6:00 a.m. because she told Maxwell she would be there. I begged her to let me sleep in until 7:00 a.m. Off course Maxwell needed girls out there and so I got up. I have no idea where she met Maxwell. It's makes me feel good that he's Lacey and Jakes dad. Hope to meet Jake and Lacey soon.

Julia did not go up for seconds one time was enough for her. Yet now she tells me it was fun and must go back to improve her time. It took Julia 15.22 to complete the climb she said she stopped a couple of times. Maxwell and everyone at the top really encouraged her and I think this is what helped her make it to the top.

I tell her that getting to the top of Poles on the 1st visit is a great accomplishment. Time doesn't really matter. I've called her sandbagger all day today.

Julia is also grateful to Wrecker for letting her be the only girl!

I'll show Julia this thread tomorrow when she wakes up... she finally found a hill that kicked her butt.

-Elvia

[autoduel]

Sure I won the singlespeed class but my time wasn't all that impressive. If there were more entries, I'd be in trouble.
The only other singlespeed entry was Hoovermd on a fixed gear cross bike. He had some traction problems so he dropped the pressure on his second run so much that he sheared the valve stem off!
I started out pretty good spinning until 2/3 or the way up where it starts to steepen. I stood up to keep my momentum going but shortly after the right hander I dabbed and took a 20 second break. Then I got going pushing every pedal stroke just to keep from falling over. Carl and Maxwell cheering me on but it wasn't enough. About 30' from the top, my legs just gave out as my heartrate pegged. No puking, but I had my head on the bars for a good minute before I could continue. Got back on and finished to a time of 8:09.
Congrats to Carl who actually did it twice and posted a faster time on his second run! I was cooked after only one run.
Congrats to Julia showing all the women how to get it done. You're an inspiration.
Thanks to SHARE for putting on a fun and friendly event and all the supporters.
After the climb Bvader and I took the scenic route up I think I can, across missing link and fenceline back to the car. Good riding with you!

[genusmtbkr5]

Nice job to all who competed. I was on the fence till Thurs night and got convinced to do Coldwater instead. I thought about the Poles climb while I was climbing ITT. Would've liked to have given it a go, but it's probably best for my knees right now that I didn't. Again, Congrats to Matt, Carl, Big D, Steve(autodual) and Jules!

[back of the pack]

Sorry for not getting these posted up last night but after turning the lights out at 8:00 pm for the Lights out - SoCalTrailRiders I fell asleep on the couch.

I was at the top writting down the times so I didn't get to see all of the suffering going on the climb.

Here are a couple pictures I did get.

Steve


Matt (Ocrider)

[bvader]

I had fun. Thanks SHARE for putting it on. I was one of the dorks that rode it twice because I forgot to turn on the GPS the first time. Did 6:45 and was foaming from all facial orifices at the top

Here is a close up of the grade if anyone is interested. Click to make bigger.

[hoovermd]

Originally Posted by autoduel

The only other singlespeed entry was Hoovermd on a fixed gear cross bike. He had some traction problems so he dropped the pressure on his second run so much that he sheared the valve stem off!

It was a fun attempt for sure,
Not sure if I could have possibly made the last steep anyhow.

BTW. my portage time was 7:49 (as I remember)

[back of the pack]

Originally Posted by hoovermd