This year the goal is to compete in at least 5 of the 9 BUMPS races. I’ve waned to do many of these races for a couple of years. this started after meeting and reading about the adventures of the Hill Junky. The first was good old 4867 (Whiteface) about 3500 ft of climbing in 8 miles. The second BUMP was Okemo. This climb is brutal.
Living Rochester NY makes attending most of these races a logistical nightmare. Luckily had a respite from work on Friday. Even luckier for the trip was accompanied by my 14 yo Daughter. After a 4hr bike tour with JH in the am got a mid afternoon start towards VT.
Upon arrival to a shrouded dusk. Previewed the course in a light drizzle unfortunately by car only. It was dark and raining, both of which may have been additive to making the access road more harrowing and foreboding. The road seemed steeper then the map on the website represented. The gearing on my bike did not seem adequate. A 39-28 was what on my bike. Andy @ ParkAveBike is changing it to a 39-36 for the upcoming assault up Mt Washington.
Actually, I was scared and bummed out that I did not have easier gearing for the upcoming assault. On a Positive note my daughter had relented and agreed to do the race also even though she hadn’t even ridden a bike this year. Of note her steed was a 20 yo Specialized Stumpjumper with mismatched pedals.
The next morning it was game on even my daughter stowed her phone away prior to the race. It was a good outing for both of us.
We both made it to the finish. A young Pro schooled everybody just missing the record.
The next morning I threepeated Whiteface to prepare for the next BUMP race.
