@eightzero is throwing down the sweaty gauntlet here. He has a vision of a V-kitted, Rule compliant freight train of pain. Normally this post would be directly slotted into the Cogal section but it technically is not a Cogal: it has an entry fee, it’s too organized and people will not get lost. We have, however, included it on the Cogal Calendar as an Event. Actually I’m surprised there is a road up Mt Baker. From what I remember it looks like Mt Cook in New Zealand, crampons not tubs. Hill climbs are few and far between, it is important for us to support them by saddling up. Ride information and registration at Festival 542.
VLVV, Gianni
I first encountered the Mt. Baker Hill Climb (a/k/a Ride 542) in 2009. Friend of a friend said, “it’s really nice.” Little did I know it was code words for “holy bat-shiat, that climb is a mo-fo.” The event is put on by a local group, NorKa Recreation, and is something of a fund-raiser and local support event. In 2012, it will celebrate it’s 10th running.
I freely admit to being a little biased toward this event. A local group trying to bring business to their commercial area while at the same time supporting cycling and some local charities has a lot to be said for it. In 2009, the weather was spectacular. The photo of Mrs./Dr. Eightzero and me at the summit tells 2 stories: first, that we made it and our smiles couldn’t be bigger; second, my kitte reflects my PV (Pre-Velominatus) naiveté.
The ride itself is perhaps not overly long, nor is it murderously steep. The road is *fantastic* and I can’t image a more beautiful ride. It is just that the climb is…relentless.
In other words: just fit for Velominati.
In 2010, our ride to Artist point was in a downpour. Rule #9 was Obeyed in spades. Mrs/Dr Eightzero was Not Happy on the descent in freezing pouring rain, as she discovered she needed short reach brake levers. Ice on the fingers reduces braking strength, making one go faster, making one colder, making the braking power reduced… well… you get the idea. It is what we as engineers used to call a “negative feedback loop” or some other such foolishness that we no long care about naming when riding a bike down off a fucking volcano in freezing rain. It was one of those rides that you say “I did it” and then never wish to repeat.
2011 again had a return of great weather the day of the event, but due to a cold spring, the last 3km to the summit were closed as they were under 50 feet (yes, feet) of snow. This meant a drop of attendance (again) for the organizers.
So… being that La Vie Velominatus is all about community, I’d like to see as many V-Kittes on the event as we can arrange. Not only is it a good cause, but dammit, getting together with you assholes is really lots of fun.
To that end, I ask the Keepers to make an exception to the Cogal rule involving entry fees. The Mt. Baker Hill Climb/ Ride 542 is actually a race, and it has a modest entry fee, but would like to add this as a Cogal-Event to the calendar. I offer the following: any winner of any category (including the cyclocross event scheduled that weekend as part of festival 542) doing so in a V-Kitte and in substantial compliance with The Rules will get a custom Cogal V-Pint expense paid by me. The competitive field really is, and has a prize purse. The ride is timed, and has age categories, as well as men’s and women’s fields. There is even the “U-DUMB” event – the murderous “Up Down Up Mt. Baker” – two laps of the climb. Rule #10 aficionados will savor this.
The event is September 8,9. Details at Ride542.com. Yes, I know we’re talking about an event 2 months in advance. But Rule #4 demands strict attention to detail.
How cool would it be to have a V-Train hammer that competitive field? If a Velominatus in appropriate Sacred Garments took the win and set a course record, I wonder what honors we assholes could bestow upon them? And of course, there will need to be much hilarity and celebration afterwards in any case. I know of a great place near Glacier, and they have an uber-fantistic beer selection.
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Sounds like a great climb. I wish I still lived out on the West Coast as I would be there in an instant. I actually grew up hiking and skiing in the area. I started hiking Table Mountain, Artist Point, the Chain Lakes, etc. when I was a small kid (was carried in a backpack from the time I was only a few months old). So, the area holds great sentimental importance for me. I encourage all who are able to join Eightzero and Mrs/Dr. Eightzero for this ride. In case you aren't all that familiar with the area, it is well worth the effort to make the trip. You won't be disappointed. The scenery is breathtaking!
Wow, this article got me to register after discovering this locus of aesthetic and spiritual guidance and lurking compulsively for days.
First post boilerplate: "returning cyclist," back on the bike after burning 25 years on stuff like grad school, work, kids, and misguided obsessions with rockclimbing and flyfishing. Done with all of that now. Mostly.
Mrs. PITY and I are registered for the "Ride the Hurricane" thing up Hurricane Ridge out of Port Angeles on 8/5 (we're somewhere in the woods on the Oly Pen; I'm never sure where because you can never see any goddamn thing for the fucking trees). I told her about the 542 ride, and she lit right up. (Unlike me, she is assembled to resemble a cyclist.) So between the two rides we'll see how much progress I'll have made on my weak heavy guns and sprinter's muscle.
This is a great ride, I did it last year. I parked in Sumas after driving out from Vancouver. I believe it's a 160KM ride, round trip. Doing it this way is also free.
Highlights:
-forgetting shoes at home, having to turn around near Abbotsford
-Screwing up meal times as a result
-Timed ride perfectly with trade winds - headwind there and on the way back
-Dried up at the top. No water or food. The vending machines don't take Canadian Money, they throw an error. Something about socialist universal healthcare.
-The shops at the bottom sell Snickers
-The coffee shop behind the snowboard shop - Wake and Bakery makes good coffee
-Sumas has fuck all for food
-'Merican drivers are actually quite courteous to cyclists
-Sarah Palin propaganda en route!
Cannot wait to do it again, might do said ride after the August Long weekend. I also love skiing there. Great hill, they have kitties in the lodges too!
This is a great ride/event, I've done it twice before. The first time, I was just getting into cycling again after a long layoff (and 30 more pounds than I currently carry), and did it in just under 2 hours, which was my goal. I tried it one subsequent time, but the top of the climb was closed due to beyond rule V weather, which @eightzero refers to.
I'd like a chance to shoot for 1:45, which I think is a realistic goal. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate. Either way, I'll be there.
@TBONE pay your entry fee
I rode up there two weeks ago and the road was still closed to Artist Point due to snow pack.
This is a photo from a ride up there at the end of July last year, I don't think the Artist Point opened last year.
@Cycle70
Why would I pay an entry fee for an event in September when I'm riding a different route in August?
@TBONE you said you did the ride, not that you did it at different time. Your reference to another time of year was only in regards to doing it this August. That said, once I posted I realized you may have done the route, but not the actual ride on the event day. my bad for assuming.
@Cycle70 I may not have been overly clear about the day I did it on as well. I'd love to do the event this year but it conflicts with the Whistler Gran Fondo, in which I hope to crush Trevor Linden like a bug. I'll still do the ride in August, but this time I'll make sure to bring some American dollar bills for the vending machine at the top and not to forget my shoes again!
FWIW, I choose this event over the RBC gran fondo and the cascade HPC because it is a locally organized small community event. I'd like to do those other rides, but this one is really fun.