Pre-rides

If anyone is interested, I will be doing a partial pre-ride on Sunday the 25th at 9 AM and a full pre-ride on Wednesday the 28th at 1 PM. All are welcome. Both rides meet at Cadence. Sunday will be to work out any kinks in the route and then Wednesday will be pretty much straight through.

History of the Event and changes for 2009

The Philadelphia Dirty Dozen began in 2007 and was modeled after Danny Chew's famous Dirty Dozen in Pittsburgh. The 2007 Philadelphia edition included the following climbs: La Collina, Flat Rock Rd., Hollow Rd., Righter's Mill, Rose Glen, Rebel Hill, County Line Rd., Hughes Rd., Spring Garden St., Barren Hill, Hart's Lane, Port Royal and the Manayunk Wall. Approximately 50 riders started the ride, which was won by Cat. 1 road racer Mike Stubna by 3 points over John Minturn.

The 2008 edition was considerably bigger and badder. Only 7 of the original 13 climbs remained. Flat Rock Rd., Hollow Rd., Rebel Hill, Rose Glen, Hughes and Barren Hill were scrapped in favor of the more challenging Righter's Ferry, Waverly Rd., Brynn Trydden, Pleasant Ave., Delhaven St. and Hagy's Mill Rd. as well as an even more challenging route up La Collina and Spring Garden Street. The 2008 edition had 80 starters and was won handily by pro mountain biker Harlan Price over David Hoyle.

For 2009, the ride becomes even more challenging. Righter's Ferry and Rose Glen were deemed unacceptably easy for such a ride. Though riders will have a nice long, easy warm up on the Schuylkill River Bike path, they will at the end be treated to two climbs new for this year: the seemingly never-ending Jug Hollow Road followed shortly by the ever-steepening Paoli Wall before heading back towards Conshohocken. This year will surely bring an even bigger crowd of participants along with better support and organization.

Bring your compact cranks, your 27t cassettes, your inhalers and your barf bags!

Facebook

Check out the 2009 PDD page on Facebook. BTW, Facebook is a great way to promote events...

Route

This years route is published on Map My Ride. You will note that the distance is significantly longer this year. This is because we will begin with a nice easy ride out the bike path. The first KOM isn't until mile 20. 11 of last year's 13 climbs are still there, but I have added 2 new challenges: Jug Hollow Rd in Valley Forge and Valley Rd. in Paoli. Here is the full list:

1. Jug Hollow Rd.
2. North Valley Rd a.k.a "The Paoli Wall"
3. County Line Rd
4. Hillside/New Delhaven
5. Pleasant Ave.
6. Spring Garden/Spruce St./Pine St./Riverview Ln.
7. Bryn Trydden Dr.*
8. Hart's Lane
9. Hagy's Mill Rd.
10. Port Royal Ave.
11. Jefferson St./Ashland Ave./Price St./Fairview Ave a.k.a. "La Collina"
12. Righter's Mill Rd.
13. Levering St./Lyceum Ave. a.k.a. "The Manayunk Wall"

* Due to the fact that Bryn Trydden Dr. is a narrow private drive with a turn around at the bottom, only riders that have scored points in the first 6 climbs will go in the first wave of riders. Riders must start at the bottom with one foot on the ground.

3rd Annual Dirty Dozen: Event Details

November 1st, 2009: 7:30 AM. Come ride up the 13 most challenging climbs in the Philadelphia area. Riders will meet at Cadence (4323 Main Street) at 7:30 AM and be on the road by 8 AM. We will ride easy from climb to climb and a whistle will be blown at the bottom of each climb.

The Rules: Riders will race to the top, with points for the top 5 up each climb (5-3-2-1). The one with the most points wins. Note: Riders must finish all climbs to be eligible for the overall standings. We will regroup at the top of each climb and we will stop at climbs 4 and 9 for refueling.Water and some food will be provided, but if you need anything special, bring it yourself.

Admission is free, though a $3 will be welcomed (donations will help to pay for food, water, vehicle escort and prizes)Volunteers are still needed. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Colin at (330) 647-3977 or csandberg@cadencecycling.com

Date for 2009

Save the Date! Mark your calendars! The Date for the 2009 Philly Dirty Dozen will be Sunday November 1st, 2009, leaving from Cadence at 8:00 AM sharp! Meet at 7:30 AM for check in. More details to follow.

Cue Sheet

As requested, here is the Cue sheet for the Philly DD...

Start 4323 Main Street
Right Kelly Drive
RightFalls Bridge
Right Neill Drive
Cross City Ave onto Presidential
Right Monument
Right Righter's Ferry
U turn Bottom of Righter's Ferry. Start KOM #1
Right Into Laurel Hill Cemetary
First Right up Switchback
First Left Up Switchback
KOM #1 Top of Hill
Left to exit Cemetary. Follow Exit signs
Right Belmont
Left Jefferson (after gas station). Start KOM #2
Bear Left Ashland
Right Price
Left Rockland
KOM #2 Rockland Ave. at fire hydrant
Left Highland
Right Ashland
Turns Into Mary Watersford
Left at T. on Conshohocken State
First Right Righter's Mill
First Right North Woodbine
First Left Fairview
CAREFUL rough pavement on Fairview Coming down hill
Left at T on Conshohocken State
Stay Straight Mill Creek Rd.
Hard Right Righter's Mill
Cross Water across road. Start of KOM #3
KOM #3 Righter's Mill at Greaves Rd.
Right Greaves
CAREFUL Rough pavement on Greaves Coming down hill
Right Conshohocken State
First Left TSO Conshohocken State
Bear Left Mill Creek Rd.
Left at T River Rd.
Dismount Loose stones over contruction on River Rd.
Left over tracks on Waverly. Start of KOM #4
KOM #4 Waverly and Briar Hill Rd.
Keep going Waverly
Right Youngsford
Left Lafayette
Right Stony Lane
Right Spring Mill
Bear Left Bryn Trydden
CAREFUL Narrow Descent on Bryn Trydden
U turn on Bryn Trydden at Bottom of Hill. Start of KOM #5
CAREFUL Speed bumps on Bryn Trydden Rd.
KOM #5 Bryn Trydden and Aloha
Rest Stop #1 Bryn Trydden Rd.
Right Spring Mill
Right Conshohocken State
CAREFUL Fast Descent into Conshohocken
Right Front Street
First Left Ford Street. Start of KOM #6
Right Pleasant Ave.
KOM #6 Pleasant Ave at crest
U turn Pleasant Ave.
Right Ford Street
Right Matson Ford
Right Hillside. Start of KOM #7
Left New Delhaven
Right Overlook Lane
KOM #7 Overlook Lane at Speed Bump
U turn Overlook Lane
Right New Delhaven
Left Balligomingo Rd.
Left 320 South (South Gulph Rd)
Right Matson Ford
Right County Line. Start of KOM #8 at bottom of hill
KOM #8 County Line and Upper Gulph
Right Upper Gulph
CAREFUL Fast Descent on Upper Gulph
Left Matson Ford
Right Morehead Ave.
Right Spring Garden. Start of KOM #9
Bear Right Merion Hill
Right Spring Garden
Cross Through trees (narrow crossing) onto Rene rd.
KOM #9 Rene Rd.
Rest Stop #2 Rene Rd.
Left Valley Rd.
Right Prospect Hill
Left Mount Pleasant
Left Meadowbank
Left Conshohocken State
CAREFUL descent into Conshohocken
Right Fayette St. bridge into East Conshohocken
First Right Elm St
First Right Harry Street
First Left Bike Path
Cross onto River rd.
Left Hart's Lane. Start of KOM #10
KOM #10 Hart's Lane at top of second crest
Right Barren Hill Rd.
Right at T on Ridge Ave.
Right Manor Rd.
Left Hagy's Mill. Start of KOM #11
KOM #11 Hagy's Mill before gate
Cross Gate TSO Hagy's Mill
Left Spring lane
Right Hagy's Mill
Right Port Royal
Left Eva
Right Shawmont
Bear Right TSO Shawmont
Right Nixon at bottom of hill
Right Port Royal. Start of KOM #12
KOM #12 Port Royal at top of steep section (200m after cobbles)
Right Eva
Right Shawmont
Bear Left Umbria
Right Leverington
Left Main St.
Left Levering
Right Cresson St.
Left Levering. Start of KOM #13
KOM #13 Lyceum and Dexter
Rest Stop & Finish