PAVIA, PENNSYLVANIA
Back on roads safely away from vicious man and dog-eating dogs, I decided I would try to hit 50 mph today. On US Rte 30, two miles west of Stoystown, Pa., is an awesome steep hill which is straight as an arrow, hits a dip in the bottom, and goes straight up the other side. In other words, a perfect hill to gain speed. No worries about curves or stopping.
This hill also held memories as a child. I was probably 14 years old when the Mack Family from Pine Hill, N.J. (near Philadelphia) was visiting. They had been friends with my parents since 1950. We had met earlier, probably at Camp Allegheny near Stoystown, and were headed on U.S. 30 towards Ligonier. I ended up in the car driven by Jack Mack. When he saw this road, he gunned it. Proudly, he got the car up to 93 mph, which I think is still the fastest I have gone in a car. If he could go 93 in a car, I thought that perhaps this would be my best chance at hitting 50 mph on a bike.
I parked at the bottom of the hill and started my one-mile ascent up the 7% grade. Much of this climb was 10-11% but there is a 5-6% section in the middle, which brings the average down.
At the top, I turned around, put the bike in the big gear, and pedaled as fast as I could. When I could not pedal any faster, I got into my aero tuck and watched the speedometer creep up – to just 45 mph. I was disappointed.
I rode through the dip at the bottom of the hill and began my climb up the other side. The total climb was 0.7 mile, but the steepest section was near the bottom – the last 0.4 mile. In this section, the road averaged a 10% grade.
Though I went all the way to the top and turned around to try it again, my speed didn’t really creep up until I hit the bottom ramp. My Trek computer had me at 49.2. Close, but not quite 50. I will have to try again next week.
After a few minutes, I decided I would head over to Altoona, mainly to ride Horseshoe Curve. But when I reached Summerhill (yesterday, by bike) and saw the sign for Blue Knob State Park, I decided to follow the sign and head to Blue Knob instead. It has the distinction of being the second-highest peak in Pennsylvania, behind Mount Davis in Somerset County.
I parked at the park entrance and began the 4.5-mile climb to the summit. Many sections were hitting 14-15% and 16% in the last section. It was a nice workout.
There are no roads like Mount Washington, but climbs like Blue Knob are helpful. Glad I came back, even if for one day.
UPDATE: There will be no try next week. I have changed the gearing on my bike to ready myself for Mount Washington and have removed the “big ring” necessary to hit top speed.
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