Gacracker, I was riding a 20" wheel with 150 cranks and clipless pedals.
Given the high winds and the high bar that was previously set, I’m fairly certain that this was seemingly the most physically challenging and mentally challenging race that I have ever experienced (and the prior experience includes running races from 5K’s to marathons, mountain bike races, cyclocross races, and road bike races). One of the most difficult parts of the course was trying to negotiate the upper portion of the dirt road in the presence of what I suspect were gusts at or in excess of 50 mph (I later took printscreens of the “24 hour wind speed history” from the Mount Washington Observatory website).
After the race, I was informed by a family member that they weren’t even letting motorcyclists ride up the auto road for a while after the road had opened back up to traffic.
My muscles were so exhausted from the battle with the wind that I almost didn’t make it up the steepest gradient at the end without falling.
For me, one of last year’s lessons had to do with hypothermia, and one of this year’s lesson had to do with hyponatremia.
Suffice it to say that this was an experience that I will not soon forget.
What I love about Whiteface is that it offered several things that Mount Washington did not offer: low wind, high visibility, 100% pavement, and safety barriers along the route.
When I was interviewed at the top, I made certain to mention my admiration/respect for the tremendous riders that have unicycled up this mountain in the past - particularly Roland Kays, Eric Scheer, and Steve Relles.
I just want to say that is AMAZING! I raced Whiteface this year and came in at 1:39:38.13. I can’t imagine shaving a half hour off that time. I rode a 29/127. Maybe next year I’ll try longer cranks.
Ummmm… you rode Whiteface in 1:39:something and you’re a Whiteface champ according to the line below your avatar, and someone else rode it in 1:06:something? I don’t get it.
Congratulations on earning the 2014 champ status!! I hope you and your competitor, Stephen Petrie, enjoyed Whiteface, and I hope that the race took place on a clear, sunny day for a great view at the summit!
You mentioned “… can’t imagine shaving a half hour off that time. I rode a 29/127.” In response, since you were able to climb Whiteface on a 29/127, I’d venture to guess that the size of your quads can be likened to the size of sequoias and that you are in really great shape! … mega kudos to you for being able to climb Whiteface using that setup! …same goes for Steve Relles since he mentioned climbing previously with a 29/150!!! Wow! Had I pedaled a 29/127 on Whiteface, Chuck, (or even a 29/150, Steve), my legs probably would have cramped up, and that could have easily added a half hour or more onto my time. The reason that I know this is because of my experience having tried Mt. Washington twice and having been able to shave 20+ minutes off of my first time by using a lower wheel-to-crank ratio for my second climb. That being said, I might have to start worrying should you (and/or Stephen Petrie and/or Steve Relles… etc.) plan on possibly attempting Whiteface next year with longer cranks!
High regards (pun intended), Chuck (and Stephen Petrie, too)!
This just needed a few updates, and a little bump -
NOTE - there a possible bunch of unicycles signed up for this year’s Whiteface Mtn Uphill: 4-JUN-2017
Come one, come all! Beautiful ride with views of the ADKs to take your mind off the pedaling. http://www.whitefaceregion.com/do/events/whiteface-mountain-uphill-bike-race Come shoot for the record of 1:06:49.
UNICYCLE HILLCLIMB RECORDS
Mauna Kea (not a race)
Mike Teirney 11 hours Sep-2011 29/145 & 175 (switched cranks halfway up)
First unicyclist ascent: Mike Teirney
Mount Ascutney Hillclimb (2011):
NAME?? 49:58 2011 20" wheel, (First uni ascent?)
Mount Equinox Uphill Bike Climb
Name Time Year
Jonathan Sauerbrey 1:01:30 2011 20/?? (clipless)
Roland Kays 1:02:29 2007 24/150
Eric Scheer 1:05:01 2011 25/165
First unicyclist ascent (unconfirmed): Steve Relles
Mount Evans Bicycle Hillclimb
First unicyclist ever to enter: ???
Name Time Year Place/600 Wheel/cranks
Mike Teirney ?:??:?? 20?? 29/175 ??
Osmundo (real name?)
Pikes Peak Bicycle Hillclimb 2010
Mike Teirney 4:40
First unicyclist ever to enter: Mike Teirney
Mount Washington Bicycle Hillclimb
Name Time Year Place/600 Wheel/cranks
Jonathon Sauerbray 1:39:33 2012(?)
Eric Scheer 1:40:42 2010 346 26/170
Mike Tierney 1:45:27 2005 399 29/???
First unicyclist ascent (I read someone did it in the 90s sometime)
Whiteface Mountain Uphill Bike Race
First unicyclist ever to enter: Steve Relles
Name Time Year
Jonathon Sauerbray: 1:06:49 2013
Roland Kays 1:10:25 2009 36/165
Eric Scheer 1:10:39 2010 29/175
First unicyclist ascent (unconfirmed): Steve Relles
And don’t forget registration opens for Mt. Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb Feb. 1 and yes there is a unicycle category. I’ve heard this event sells out very quickly so plan ahead if interested.
Adding Mt. Diablo Challenge times. These should be the top 6 times, some which I got from other forum posts.
UNICYCLE HILLCLIMB RECORDS
Mauna Kea (not a race)
Mike Teirney 11 hours Sep-2011 29/145 & 175 (switched cranks halfway up)
First unicyclist ascent: Mike Teirney
Mount Ascutney Hillclimb (2011):
NAME?? 49:58 2011 20" wheel, (First uni ascent?)
Mount Equinox Uphill Bike Climb
Name Time Year
Jonathan Sauerbrey 1:01:30 2011 20/?? (clipless)
Roland Kays 1:02:29 2007 24/150
Eric Scheer 1:05:01 2011 25/165
First unicyclist ascent (unconfirmed): Steve Relles
Mount Evans Bicycle Hillclimb
First unicyclist ever to enter: ???
Name Time Year Place/600 Wheel/cranks
Mike Teirney ?:??:?? 20?? 29/175 ??
Osmundo (real name?)
Pikes Peak Bicycle Hillclimb 2010
Mike Teirney 4:40
First unicyclist ever to enter: Mike Teirney
Mount Washington Bicycle Hillclimb
Name Time Year Place/600 Wheel/cranks
Jonathon Sauerbray 1:39:33 2012(?)
Eric Scheer 1:40:42 2010 346 26/170
Mike Tierney 1:45:27 2005 399 29/???
First unicyclist ascent (I read someone did it in the 90s sometime)
Whiteface Mountain Uphill Bike Race
First unicyclist ever to enter: Steve Relles
Name Time Year
Jonathon Sauerbray: 1:06:49 2013
Roland Kays 1:10:25 2009 36/165
Eric Scheer 1:10:39 2010 29/175
First unicyclist ascent (unconfirmed): Steve Relles
Mt. Diablo Challenge
Name____________Time_______Year__Place/Total___Wheel/Crank___Gearing
Harrison Hsueh___1:05:11.2__2021__156/629______700c/150mm__Schlumpf
Ben Soja__________1:06:59.8__2019__152/488______29"/137mm___Schlumpf
Harrison Hsueh ___1:09:06.6__2019__163/488______29"/125mm___Ungeared
Glenn Drummond _1:13:08 ___2005 __NA/NA_______36"/165mm___Ungeared
Geoff Houghton___1:14:14.7__2012 __NA/NA_______36"/NA_______Schlumpf
Beau Hoover_______1:14:51___2009___484/907_____36"/125mm___Ungeared?