cfforum

I'm curious if anyone keeps track of their time up Beatty hill periodically. The distance I use is from the right turn onto Beatty (crosswalk) to the first stop sign. My best time is 5:05. I'm curious to what other's times are and where I fit in fitness wise to the rest of you since I never get to ride with the CF folks.

HI Mark,

Excuse my ignorance, but where is Beatty Hill? How long and what elevation gain or percent grade?

It is the hill that goes from Empire Ranch up to El Dorado Hills from Sofia PKWY. You actually have to turn on Alexandria before getting to Beatty. I call it Beatty, others might call it something else. It's a similar climb to Costco Hill, but maybe a little longer.

Oh, thanks! I haven't yet done that one. i just go Costco Hill, left on Empire Ranch/Sophia Parkway and then right on Green Valley. One of these days I will do the Alexandria Hill Climb route, but I'm not there yet. I haven't yet timed myself on hill climbs. Right now I am focusing on cadence and heart rate. I'm still a C Rider newbie.

Beatty, although not that far in distance is a beast with what I believe are two 18% grade pitches on that hill. My best is 5:15. Nothing in the immediate area gets my heart rate up as high as Beatty. It's an awesome climb.

Who out there has broken the 5 minute mark, or 4:30?

I never pay attention to my time, next time out I will have to see and report back.

I've been starting the clock at the turn off Sophia and stopping it at the crest/mailbox on Powers (A couple hundred yards after the left onto Katie and Right turn onto Powers.) That is a 10'ish minute climb. (I think it was 11:28 today, but I've seen 10:30's.)

=- Curt

I'll admit to a sub 5 minute climb on Beatty - but you're going to have to sit on my wheel to learn the actual number. I feel an Individual Time Trial maybe lurking in Cycle Folsom's future.

Better eat your wheaties!!

Today, 5min 17 secs

Come on Steve. Don't be bashful. Brag a little bit about your time. You've done lots of miles, work, hard rides, and made sacrafices to get that sub 5 time. Let's here it? Besides, how many of us could actually follow your wheel to the top?

5min 40sec
97 degrees
Almost no wind. (Perhaps a slight tailwind, definitely not the signature Beatty headwind.)
In the saddle 100%.

=- Hairy Curt (with hair
P.S. No bunny rabbits.

I've never, ever seen you climb any hill while staying in the saddle 100% of the time. You feelin' okay today?

I'm guessing that time was just your normal pace out on your daily training ride, with maybe a bit extra "oomph" because you knew you were timing yourself. This was not an "Au Bloc" attempt for you, right?

I confess, I did not go above 140 bpm until the second steep section and only hit 173bpm by the top. However, I don't recall many times when my pace was higher on Beatty.

Truth be told, you haven't seen my climb lately. I realized the people that went by me on the Terrible Two and the Death Ride, had higher cadences. So I've been working on a higher cadence while climbing, which necessitates in-the-saddle training.

Interestingly enough someone posted a link to cptips, which has this nugget http://www.cptips.com/climb.htm. Basically I've been discovering exactly what that article puts into writing. I've been targetting no less than 75rpm for in the saddle climbing. (Anytime I come down below 80 I'm downshifting if possible or I'm applying more power if my HR is below 80%.)

Ya, my effort on Beatty was not all out. But I don't believe I could do sub-5 without planning to end my ride abruptly.

=- Hairy Curt

You may try that climb again when it's not 97 degrees out...and PR's are meant to be "Au Bloc". Your ride should end immediately after falling across the finish line.

It was only 100 degrees when I went to do my hill climb ride today at 4pm. Because it was so nice out I decided to do a timed run on the Beatty Hill climb.

Note: The timed run was from the first stripe you cross at the cross walk at Beatty and Alexandra, to the first stripe you cross at the cross walk at the top of Beatty.

Here are my numbers according to Mr. Garmin:

Distance: 0.78 miles
Time: 4:34
Avg Speed: 10.3 mph
Max Speed: 22.4 mph
Total Calories: 154
Avg Heart Rate: 180 bpm
Max Heart Rate: 185 bpm
Avg Cadence: 72rpm
Total Ascent: 367ft
Total Descent: 17ft

As you can see, this was an "Au Bloc" attempt for me as 185 bpm is my max heart rate. I pretty much sold out. I expect Derek, Mark F, Scott M, Mark D, Greg, Chris and Curtis to make serious runs at these numbers.

Mark Fellows threw down the challenge, I thought we should respond.