Out and About: Readers Share Their Bike Stories
Adventures In Hillclimbing with Kerry Farrell
After several pro 1/2 Hillclimb wins, 2nd place overall at the Washington and California State Hillclimbs and a 3rd place battle to the finish at Mt. Baker with Pro Triathlete Adam Jenson and former World Mountain Bike Champion Ned Overend, BicycleNorthwest.com invited me to share my stories and pictures from my final Hillclimb of the season: the Arizona State Hillclimb at Mt. Graham.
Located in Southeastern Arizona Mt Graham is one of the longer and more difficult Hillclimbs in North America. It's got nearly 6000 feet of vertical in 20 miles, and a finish line at slightly over 9000 feet!
With partly cloudy skies and 70 degree temperatures at the bottom, the 166 registered riders lined up for the always exciting mass start. With a race director named Nippy, a group prayer for health and safety and the Star Spangled Banner on cassette I knew it was going to be good race.
To no one's surprise it was single file right from the gun and we were soon down to nine riders. Our group included Kitt Peak and Mt. Lemmon Champion, Stephen Slabodnick who was sitting on, letting teammates drive the bus.
I made the final selection with no physical difficulties, but at mile five my back tire went flat! So there I was, on the shoulder of the road, and preparing for the sag wagon when a Land Rover from heaven arrived. The driver asked if I would like a wheel and I said, "Heck yes, I'd like a wheel!"
Perhaps the urgency in my voice was lost on this gentleman, as the wheel change was a slow and painful process. But with a new wheel and over three minutes lost, it was rally time.
I big-ringed my way through all but the top five by mile 15, and then it was curtains! Not just for me, but for the entire race as Nippy gave the "one mile to go", knocking four miles off the course due to 40-mph wind gusts, London-style fog and rain high up on the mountain.
At the cold, windy and foggy finish Michael Grabinger outsprinted Stephen Slabodnick for the win with both riders arriving at the line in 1:12:16.
I rolled across the line in 6th place overall with a time of 1:16:57 and won the Master Men 45-49 by 4:01. I wish I could have run with the big boys today but I was so happy to get that wheel and finish.
Also taking on Mt. Graham was Washington cycling legend Franz Hammer, the 2007 National Time Trial and Road Race Champion for the 70+ division! It was so great to see Franz at warm up. We've been friends for over 15 years now and anyone who knows him can't help but admire everything he's done and continues to do in Cycling. Franz finished in 1:42:03 and averaged nearly 10 mph over the 16 miles. Amazing!
Editor's Note: Kerry Farrell lives in Federal Way, WA and is a former Master's National Road Race Champion. He spends his falls traveling the U.S. competing in hill climb races.
