Weather, video, advice

First, it looks like it will be a nice day Saturday for the ride. The forecast is sunny and temps in the 50s. So, bring light booties, light full finger gloves, leg warmers, arm warmers and maybe a vest.

I rode the course yesterday with Annie, Maria and Andrea and got some good helmet cam footage of all of the climbs. Unfortunately, I am having trouble uploading this to youtube at the present time. I'll keep working on it though.

General advice for the ride: Don't blow yourself up on the first couple climbs. It will be a long day, and if you overdo it early, it will be a really long day. I believe that the winners will be the most consistent riders, but they won't win every climb.

Climb by climb advice:
#1 (La collina): This starts out at a moderate grade and doesn't get that steep until you make the left turn on Rockland. Stay on someones wheel until then. Once you hit Rockland, it will pitch up quickly and get steeper towards the top when you pass Price St. I would put this as the 3rd hardest climb. #4

#2 (Flat Rock): You will come into this with a lot of momentum, so the more you can avoid braking in the descent the further your momentum will carry you. This is not one of the hardest climbs, but it is a steady grade and gets a bit steeper at the top. Just set a pace you can maintain for 3 minutes or so and settle in. I rate this climb as #8

#3 (Hollow Rd): Again, not one of the hardest climbs, but it starts out steep and if you go too hard at the beginning you will be struggling the rest of the way. Set a high enough pace that you can stay with the competition but don't blow up early on. Once you get past the first 200 meters it will get steadier and from there just settle into a rhythm, Once you make the right turn on Hagy's Ford, you are almost there. I rate this climb as #9

#4 (Righter's Mill): This climbs starts out with a stream crossing, so if you don't want to get wet unclip both pedals and put your feet in the air as you cross. Don't hit your brakes. The road will get steep quickly and stay steep. The other challenging element here is that the pavement is grooved and your tires will be wet, so you will at least need to keep your weight back and possibly need to stay seated. The KOM will be right after the steep part ends. I rate this climb #3

#5 (Rose Glen): The climb will start right after the bridge and though it is not that steep it is tough to get into a rhythm. Try to stay with your competition until the end. Once you make the left turn on Maple Hill up to the park, you will actually go downhill a bit before the road pitches up again. Someone strong could attack before the turn and sustain it until the top.

#6 (Rebel Hill): This is not one of the hardest climbs, but very few people have done it before, so you won't know exactly what to expect. After the left turn there are 3 switchbacks before the top. Once you reach the third, go for it. I rate this climb as #10

#7 (County Line): Not a long climb, but steep the whole way. Watch out for people detonating here on the steep pitches and don't get caught behind them. The KOM is right at the stop sign, so watch out for traffic as you come through. I rate this climb #5.

#8 (Hughes Rd): A longer steady climb. Get into a rhythm here and try to stay with other riders. If you are feeling like you went too hard in the earlier climbs, this could be a good one to sandbag. I rate this climb as #12.

#9 (Spring Mill): This climb is tricky in a few ways. First, it starts right at a busy light in Conshohocken, so watch out for traffic and be ready to clip in and go right away. The climb starts steep, levels off a bit before turning into the development and then gets steep at the top again. Once you make the right turn you are almost there. I rate this climb as #7.

#10 (Barren Hill): The longest climb of the day but the least steep. If you are feeling good you can big ring most of this and if you are feeling bad it is one to sandbag. Watch out for traffic and stay to the right here because this is a busy road. If you can, stay behind other riders in their draft. Once you pass Hart's Lane the road will pitch up and you are almost there. The KOM is just before Ridge Ave. I rate this climb as #13, but I wouldn't be surprised to see some people blow up on it.

#11 (Hart's Lane): More elevation gain than Barren Hill and 1/2 a mile shorter, so you know it's going to be tough. There are two distinct kickers at the end. Before the last one the road will go down a bit before pitching up. Save a little bit, and then as soon as you see the road descend a little go for it because you are almost there. I rate this #2.

#12 (Port Royal): This is in my opinion the hardest climb of the day. We will start on River road under the tracks. When you go over the tracks, make sure to keep your wheel perpendicular. make the left turn towards the bike path and then the right turn onto the cobbles. On the cobbles, try to stay seated and maintain your momentum. Watch out for riders that have fallen over or may decide to walk it. Keep pedaling and when you hit the pavement stand up and go for it.

#13 (Manayunk Wall): After Port Royal, the wall probably won't seem too bad, but as the last climb of the day you will most likely be pretty tired. The road doesn't get steep until the turn, so don't blow yourself up before then. Once you hit the turn, put it in your easiest gear, stand up and go for it. Last climb of the day, so leave it all out there. There will be a band and a keg at the top. Well, not really, but that would be pretty cool. Maybe next year :) I rate this climb as #6.

Hope to see y'all on Saturday.