On Saturday, August 17, 2019, I will bike up Mount Washington, a 7.6 mile all-uphill race to the summit of the highest peak in the northeastern United States. What I am about to undertake, many consider the steepest cycling race in the world. VeloNews dubbed the event a Ride of a Lifetime. The Mount Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb is the largest annual fundraiser for Tin Mountain Conservation Center.
Climbing the Mount Washington Auto Road on my bike is something I've wanted to do since first visiting the summit in 2013 w/ my wife, Kim. As I white-knuckled my way up the steep, narrow incline behind the wheel with her riding in the passenger seat, I only half-jokingly told her that I'd love to try pedalling up it some day.
"I think I could probably do it, and it has to be safer than driving!" I told her.
She looked over at me and - in no uncertain terms - declared me "insane!" on the spot for even considering it.
I love a good challenge, and each year I look for at least one event that qualifies as 'stupid things people do on bicycles' to cross off my cycling 'Bucket List'. So... here we are, a half-dozen years later - and we're finally going back to the top of Mount Washington!
I can't wait!
Please help me support a great environmental organization, Tin Mountain Conservation Center (TMCC), which has provided environmental education to over 75,000 students, campers, and individuals throughout schools and communities in Northern New Hampshire and western Maine for over 33 years. For sample of some of the work TMCC does with students, click here.
Donations to TMCC are fully tax-deductible, and are eligible for many Employer 'Matching Gifts' programs (including JNJ!). For more information. please click 'The Cause' tab.
Thanks for reading and for your support!
Joe