"Is anyone planning to do the Mt. Washington Hill Climb this August? Because if you are, and haven't registered yet, you're pretty much out of luck.
http://www.mtwashingtonbicyclehillclimb.org/hillclimb/reg02/index.cfm
Registration opened this morning at 6:00 a.m. It's limited to 600 riders. By 9:00, after only three hours, it was sold out! And the waiting list already has over 100 people! (So says someone on the Serotta forum who spoke to the organizer.)
This race has become wildly popular all of a sudden, it seems. Of course, it sells out every year, but usually after several days."
Mt. Washington Hill Climb
Wed, 02/01/2006 - 8:42am
Wed, 02/01/2006 - 10:30am
#1
Ct file
Does anyone have this CT file?
Wed, 02/01/2006 - 10:43am
#2
what does scitex have to do with mount washington? :)
"seriously though...sounds like ""ct file"" is some sort of profile map...am i far off base?
don"
Wed, 02/01/2006 - 10:44am
#3
Computrainer.
- Christian
Wed, 02/01/2006 - 11:24am
#4
I have the CT file
Auto road is 7.45 miles long with an average grade of 12 percent. I can send you the file but I wouldn't recommend using it. You will very likely overload/ overheat your load generator.
Regards,
Bob
P.S. You may be better off manually making a few sequential 1 mile long hills with that type of slope. This will give your load generator some time to cool down between hills.
Wed, 02/01/2006 - 11:59am
#5
Mt Wash CT file
Oh great.. been looking to burn out load generator for some time now so I can get new one under warranty..lol.
Do you have a .crs file with actual grades and distances?
Yeah I would appreciate it thanks. I can always alter it with few level sections.
SB
Wed, 02/01/2006 - 12:39pm
#6
check your email
Here are the stats:
Miles - 7.45
Peak elevation - 6,236 ft.
Climbing elevation - 4,728 ft.
Min. elevation - 1,565 ft.
Avg. grade - 12 percent
From delorme software, it looks like a pretty consistent grade climb. From the contest website they state there is an extended 18 percent grade and a brief 22 percent grade. The 22 percent grade may be at the very top peak.
Wed, 02/01/2006 - 12:54pm
#7
Thanks
Yes I 've been there many times ( hiking) never on bike.
The last section is over 20% for sure. I opened up file in notepad .. this is a gruesome climb. Just think , with a few pokes on my laptop I can add a 50 Mph head wind to finish the job...
SB
Wed, 02/01/2006 - 2:39pm
#8
?
Why does the grade matter on a computrainer? Watts is watts, and is dependent upon duration, not grade. One can actually generate slightly more power on Whiteface, while a bit longer climb is less steeping, taking less time to ascend.
Wed, 02/01/2006 - 2:57pm
#9
it matters
Thats what makes Ct so unique and realistic. Computrainer functions in two modes. Erg mode and 3d mode.In erg mode it operates on CONSTANT WATTAGE. It adjusts TORQUE proportionally with cadence to satisfy power equation. In 3d mode it operates on CONSTANT TORQUE
to simulate a given grade. So in 3d mode you manually shift gears just like you would on the road whereas in ergometer mode gear shifting is redundant.
SB
Wed, 02/01/2006 - 3:08pm
#10
More...
This still does quite answer my question. Generally speaking, one uses (or should use) gearing on a bike to provide a reasonable isopower situation, especially on a long climb. So, if you got 300 watts, unless the grade changes frequently (and it does not on Mount Washington), you are going to be around 300 watts all the time in either mode. In addition, few can sustain above 500 watts for any apprecialable period of time, cetainly not long enough to burn out a CT, at least IMHO.
PS Nothing is as real as a High Inertia trainer. What is CT's flywheel weight? I am curious becuase I think I am going to get s Cyclops 300 PT, but want to understand all options.
Wed, 02/01/2006 - 4:05pm
#11
Wait listed
I had forgotten about registration. By the time I was able to sign up it was over.
Wed, 02/01/2006 - 5:08pm
#12
True
If someone has been on a ride climb etc and collected power based data they can use that data to create an ergometer program (wattage,duration) similar to that event. If the haven't they can dial in a CT program ( grade , distance based) which has the individual distances and respective grades . Here the CT will adjust TORQUE to simulate the grade and a host of other variable.And if they have a power meter on board they can observe they changes in real time as a result of ( cadence, grade wind etc.etc..). Of course if you want to jump out of the saddle and accelerate (on an ergometer)it will just reduce the torque to keep the wattage constant so you have to manually dial up the wattage.My point is that if enough power based information is collected from a ride a similar erg file can be created.
I'm unaware of inertial values of the flywheel. It is just a regular magnetic generator. It's not a Velotron if thats what your thinking. How is this inertia based trainer similar to realtime?
Thu, 02/02/2006 - 3:55pm
#13
High Inertia Trainers
"It is intertia that provides ""real feel"". I never quite understood why, but observed that my fluid trainer (high quality Cyclops) never felt quite right, like riding in sand. I thought the CycleOps Electronic Plus with an 8 pound flywheel would ""feel"" better, but to my disappointment it was not much better; thankfully it was slightly used and I did not have to pay $1000 to determine I didn't like it.
One thing I have noticed is I like the ""feel"" of a spin bike. This is due to the inertia of its heavy flywheel. A Velodyne is the best you can get -- high inertia with magnetic braking. A Velotron is a different take on the concept and according to several whose opinion I respect, have a very much road like feel.
Then there is the obvious option, CycleOps 300PT indoor trainer, a spin bike with a PowerTap hub built in. I also bought one Monday, but have second thoughts regading its weight, size and reliability. But it feels great..."
Wed, 02/01/2006 - 5:19pm
#14
Computrainer and Grade..
A computrainer is designed to simulate the real conditions of a race course and it incorporates the riders weight as a variable. From everything I've read, it appears that triathletes are the largest customer group because they can simulate actual race conditions to a large extend which allows them to save time training for the bike segment.
On many hills, grade does change a bit. For example, the perkins climb has a grade variation about 3/4 a mile up the road that lasts about 200 yards. And, there are some minor grade variations ranging from 4% to 6% to 9%. It all is represented. The computrainer simulates these changes in grade so you can experience a fairly realistic climb.
While a Computrainer can simulate the Mount Washington course, the significant resistance created by the load generating unit for the 50+ minute ride will build up significant heat that may damage the system. I'm not sure about that though. The only way to find out for sure is to give it a try.
If anyone tries it, I would be interested in knowing the outcome.
Bob
Wed, 02/01/2006 - 5:49pm
#15
Bob:
Do you have some rough #'s from Perkins? I'm always there
and have created an .erg file based on PT data but have no grade info.. I'm guessing around 5%?
SB
Wed, 02/01/2006 - 6:16pm
#16
Perkins grades
Wed, 02/01/2006 - 7:24pm
#17
CT
Bob;
I know somebody with a 350 watts plus functional threshold power who trains with a CT (for Mount Washington). He has not burned one out yet...
Thu, 02/02/2006 - 3:54am
#20
BTW has anyone here actually biked this?
I would be interested to know how it was and what type of gearing was used.
Thanx in advance.
S
Thu, 02/02/2006 - 3:58pm
#21
Have something very small...
26X28 or 30...
