Cycling 2014 - In honor of MDS

[1995hoo]

My brother sent us this picture of him attempting Canton Avenue in Pittsburgh this afternoon. He says he made it two-thirds of the way up.

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

37% 

[1995hoo]

37% 

He claims this picture was taken by someone holding the camera level from the observer's perspective. He also noted that, while apparently the 37% grade is only for about 6 m, quote, "that 6m is horrid.  You can actually get up a steady cadence, then that little bump in incline just throws it off.  And the cobbles are at their worst there. Can't wait to try it again sometime.  I was pretty close to making it."

[tomterp]

37% 

37°?   

[mitlen]

My brother sent us this picture of him attempting Canton Avenue in Pittsburgh this afternoon. He says he made it two-thirds of the way up.

(Image removed from quote.)

There were a lot of 12 year olds that made that climb every day on their Schwinns that the ole man picked up at Monkey Ward.   

[tomterp]

There were a lot of 12 year olds that made that climb every day on their Schwinns that the ole man picked up at Monkey Ward.   

Yeah but those bikes weren't weighted down with gears, brakes or other useless weighty stuff. 

I wish I could still drop into Ward's to load up on $0.69 Mepps Aglia spinners.

[mitlen]

Yeah but those bikes weren't weighted down with gears, brakes or other useless weighty stuff. 

I wish I could still drop into Ward's to load up on $0.69 Mepps Aglia spinners.

...   and the kids didn't have those fancy outfits and helmets.           Those old baseball cards propelled 'em up the hill.     Goin' up is nothing.     Try comin' down that sucker   ....   in January.

[blue911]

...   and the kids didn't have those fancy outfits and helmets.           Those old baseball cards propelled 'em up the hill.     Goin' up is nothing.     Try comin' down that sucker   ....   in January.

Don Mossi added 10MPH to any bike

[mitlen]

Don Mossi added 10MPH to any bike

I hate to think of the money (future value) I wasted on hills like that.

[blue911]

I hate to think of the money (future value) I wasted on hills like that.

They need to be in mint condition to have any real value. Besides making your bike sound cool beats waiting 50years for $100 or so.

[tomterp]

I hate to think of the money (future value) I wasted on hills like that.

 

[mitlen]

They need to be in mint condition to have any real value. Besides making your bike sound cool beats waiting 50years for $100 or so.

I have two TOPPS 1960 Mickey Mantles that are pretty close to mint  ...    maybe the next level down.    They smell like bubble gum.   

[blue911]

I have two TOPPS 1960 Mickey Mantles that are pretty close to mint  ...    maybe the next level down.    They smell like bubble gum.   

I must have had a million Gus Bell, Dick Schofield and Vernon Law cards.

[mitlen]

I must have had a million Gus Bell, Dick Schofield and Vernon Law cards.

My prize (as an old Pirates fan) is a near mint Clemente'.

[blue911]

My prize (as an old Pirates fan) is a near mint Clemente'.

One of the Bob Clemente cards?

[mitlen]

One of the Bob Clemente cards?

Ha, exactly   ....    card #326 1960 TOPPS.

[varoadking]

I have two TOPPS 1960 Mickey Mantles that are pretty close to mint  ...    maybe the next level down.    They smell like bubble gum.   

On that note...The Mick signed this well worn ball for 12 year old me back in 1964-ish...



I remember it like yesterday...took it from me as he left a White Sox game in Chicago.  Roger Maris is on the other side...

I lost all my cards in a basement flood sometime around then.  If I'd only known...

[mitlen]

On that note...The Mick signed this well worn ball for 12 year old me back in 1964-ish...



I remember it like yesterday...took it from me as he left a White Sox game in Chicago.  Roger Maris is on the other side...

I lost all my cards in a basement flood sometime around then.  If I'd only known...

My mom may have tossed all my cards (except the 1960 series and a few '61's) when she threw my Army stuff out.    Man, I'd like to have that old OD Green overcoat.

[skippy1999]

On that note...The Mick signed this well worn ball for 12 year old me back in 1964-ish...



I remember it like yesterday...took it from me as he left a White Sox game in Chicago.  Roger Maris is on the other side...

That's awesome

[MarquisDeSade]

best 29er I can get for under $800?

You might be able to find a good wheel set for that amount.  Well, at least the hubs.  Otherwise you're looking at a hardtail from Nashbar (new) at that price point or a used Gary Fisher in need of an overhaul.

Here's what I'm just about to order once the guys at Phil Wood get back to me about my custom made rear hub:

[1995hoo]

There were a lot of 12 year olds that made that climb every day on their Schwinns that the ole man picked up at Monkey Ward.   

(shrugs) It's my brother in the picture, not me, so it's no skin off my nose either way.

[mitlen]

(shrugs) It's my brother in the picture, not me, so it's no skin off my nose either way.

I read your original post.   You mentioned it was your brother.   If it had been you, I would have given you one of these  -->       

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

No way a 60 pound single-speed schwinn makes it up that hill, even with Eddy Merckx pushing the pedals.  Nuh-uh. 

A friend and I somehow made it down Wisconsin Ave from the Cathedral to Georgetown on a steel Schwinn tandem whose drum brake failed...we must have been going 50 when we blew through traffic at a red light at Q St.  No helmets of course (not that it would have mattered much at that point).  Those old steel bikes weighed a LOT. 

We somehow made the left turn at M St and eventually lost enough speed to stop with the front caliper and feet on the ground.   

[mitlen]

No way a 60 pound single-speed schwinn makes it up that hill, even with Eddy Merckx pushing the pedals.  Nuh-uh. 

A friend and I somehow made it down Wisconsin Ave from the Cathedral to Georgetown on a steel Schwinn tandem whose drum brake failed...we must have been going 50 when we blew through traffic at a red light at Q St.  No helmets of course (not that it would have mattered much at that point).  Those old steel bikes weighed a LOT. 

We somehow made the left turn at M St and eventually lost enough speed to stop with the front caliper and feet on the ground.   

Tell ya what, I've seen folks go up longer hills on a single speed Schwinn.    We used to bet each other.    Sometime we'd tack back and forth.    On occasion, one of us would make it straight up the hill.       BTW, I never saw a 60 pound Schwinn.    Hell, a 60 pound anything would have weighed almost as much as some of the riders.

Speaking of "stories", I'd like to see two kids come down Wisconsin (with trolley tracks) going 50 and then hooking a left onto M ST.   

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

Yinz must have exceptionally strong legs...perogie power!