View The Tour of the Battenkill 2011 in a larger map
The Tour of the Battenkill 2011
The Tour of the Battenkill, also known as the "Hell of the North" or the "Queen of the Classics", is an annual bike race in Cambridge New York that attracts around 2,500 amateur and professional cyclists from around the world. It is famous for its molar-loosening dirt road sections, its rude climbs and its Paris-Roubaix spirit. It is the first major race for Frame and Wheel and the Portland Velo Club's OA/Cyclemania Masters Cycling Team. It is also a wonderful spectacle and celebration of local community and cycling.
Frame and Wheel surreptitiously tracked the 40 plus race with an Android smartphone. The point of this is to generate data about the race and provide some graphics from which racers can re-experience the event (for better or worse) and generate their own race reports. It is also intended to help viewers better understand the dramatic nature of the event. Viewers can open this map and use the markers to type in details about their race and read about other racer's experiences. Frame and Wheel recommends using the Terrain feature.
These are Frame and Wheel's stats for what they are worth: the distance is 64 miles and the duration is 178 minutes (the official time is 170 minutes). Average moving speed is 21.7 miles per hour and maximum speed is 50 miles per hour. Maximum elevation is 785 feet and total elevation gain is 4,138 feet. Maximum grade was 21 percent. Elsewhere, the temperature is in the 60s and the roads are dry and the wind light from the southwest. There are 150 riders in the 40 plus category.
These are Frame and Wheel's stats for what they are worth: the distance is 64 miles and the duration is 178 minutes (the official time is 170 minutes). Average moving speed is 21.7 miles per hour and maximum speed is 50 miles per hour. Maximum elevation is 785 feet and total elevation gain is 4,138 feet. Maximum grade was 21 percent. Elsewhere, the temperature is in the 60s and the roads are dry and the wind light from the southwest. There are 150 riders in the 40 plus category.
The peleton stays together over Perry Hill Road, but begins to fragment on Juniper Swamp Road, a short and very steep (perhaps 21%) climb at the 12 mile mark of the race. The peleton comes back together on the downhill, but it is smaller. The peleton reaches Joe Bean Road, a long and steep climb at the 30 mile mark, which is where a break forms. It includes 2010 40 Plus National Road Champion Roger Aspholm of Westwood Cycle (Harwood, New Jersey), Bruce Bird of Wheels of Bloor (Toronto, Canada) and Frame and Wheel of OA/Cyclemania (Cape Elizabeth, Maine). This trio soon has a one minute and thirty seconds on the field.
There are navigational problems: at the intersection of Route 29, Aspholm turns right, following the direction of the old course, while Bird and Frame and Wheel turn left. Bird and Frame and Wheel ease up to let Aspholm catch back on. Frame and Wheel almost misses the turn onto Cassidy Road, a new and difficult section of the race. The trio regains its rhythm and pushes on through rolling hills.
With a three minute gap at the 50 mile mark, the trio reaches Meeting House Road. Bird slows to try an tighten (unsuccessfully) the skewer on his front wheel that is ominously loose. He catches back on despite a brisk pace set by Aspholm up the last climb. Frame and Wheel attacks three of the climbs on Stage Road, but no gaps form. Bird attacks hard on Turnpike Road, but can't get away. At Spring Street, the sprint is on: Bird and Aspholm are the first through the corner on to the ravaged pavement of Broad Street followed by Frame and Wheel. Bird sprints to victory, followed by Aspholm and Frame and Wheel. The race is over. Frame and Wheel is very pleased with the result and looks forward to the Battenkill Creamery Chocolate Milk. Frame and Wheel is very thankful for the generosity, the camaraderie and the dedication of the OA / Cyclemania Masters Cycling Team and congratulates all of them on their great efforts during this race. Frame and Wheel is also grateful for the opportunity to compete in a great category that is characterized by such fine competitors.
There are navigational problems: at the intersection of Route 29, Aspholm turns right, following the direction of the old course, while Bird and Frame and Wheel turn left. Bird and Frame and Wheel ease up to let Aspholm catch back on. Frame and Wheel almost misses the turn onto Cassidy Road, a new and difficult section of the race. The trio regains its rhythm and pushes on through rolling hills.
With a three minute gap at the 50 mile mark, the trio reaches Meeting House Road. Bird slows to try an tighten (unsuccessfully) the skewer on his front wheel that is ominously loose. He catches back on despite a brisk pace set by Aspholm up the last climb. Frame and Wheel attacks three of the climbs on Stage Road, but no gaps form. Bird attacks hard on Turnpike Road, but can't get away. At Spring Street, the sprint is on: Bird and Aspholm are the first through the corner on to the ravaged pavement of Broad Street followed by Frame and Wheel. Bird sprints to victory, followed by Aspholm and Frame and Wheel. The race is over. Frame and Wheel is very pleased with the result and looks forward to the Battenkill Creamery Chocolate Milk. Frame and Wheel is very thankful for the generosity, the camaraderie and the dedication of the OA / Cyclemania Masters Cycling Team and congratulates all of them on their great efforts during this race. Frame and Wheel is also grateful for the opportunity to compete in a great category that is characterized by such fine competitors.
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