The weekend after this past Thanksgiving, I participated in the most challenging, rewarding, painful ride of my life on two wheels – the 34th annual Dirty Dozen race in Pittsburgh, PA. A simple explanation, the DD is a 50+ mile ride that highlights the 13 of the steepest hills of the iconic steel city.
My first exposure to this race was a youtube documentary, sent by the very friend who introduced me to the thrills of road biking. At the time, we joked “look at these crazies”, but in the following years it became a bucket list bike ride. Fast forward to this spring, and another friend tells me, “My brother signed me up for this year’s DD.” That’s all it took to accept the challenge and plan the trip.
On Black Friday, after a day spent relaxing with family and overeating, I loaded my bicycle and picked up my traveling partner Steve before we began the 560-mile drive to Pittsburgh. My personal cap on road travel is about 6-7 hours, so it helped having someone to keep me entertained through the farmland that is most of Ohio – and help with driving. Traffic was light for the most part, and we managed to complete the trip without any fights, sanity mostly intact.
Around 8pm, we entered a tunnel and came out to the lights of Pittsburgh. Truly a city cut in the mountains, I was overwhelmed with the challenge I had set for myself. Twisting and turning along each winding road, it was easy to lose our bearings as we cut through the city. Fear of the challenge had caught me earlier that week, but now I was face to face with reality. These were “big boy” hills.
Our gracious host Patrick tried to calm my nerves that evening. I had ridden long distances. I ride regularly. I understand the mental tenacity needed to complete long distances and endure the pain of riding 10+ hours. He hadn't completed the race in previous tries*. He was in his personal worst shape and unsure he could get through it. This encouragement helped, but only slightly as I knew he was familiar with the terrain of his native Pittsburgh, and I was out of my league.
*a technical completion is climbing each hill without putting a foot on the ground
Saturday morning, we packed our bikes and drove to the starting line. A record group had assembled, as this year we rode to benefit one of the founders of the race who had been in a paralyzing accident earlier this year. Danny Chew was present through Skype, welcoming the large group from his hospital bed in Chicago. The crowd tried to keep quiet to hear as he spoke about his personal experience and gave encouragement for those daring enough to face the DD.
We set off in groups of about 50 riders. Patrick, John, and I joined the 55+ year old racers, in the fourth heat. Seriously, riders in their 60s made me look silly throughout the day. Beginning at 9:30, we made our way to the first hill. Words can't describe the steepness of some of these hills. Without going into detail of each attempt, I can state that I only completed 6 hills.
Some of the obstacles were like climbing a wall. My bike's front tire came off the ground multiple times, and the threat of falling backwards was very real. Other hills began easy enough, but would switch back into a monster climb or take so long you'd think it would never end. I felt muscles reach their maximum tension and cramp with each pedal stroke. Some riders would be in the midst of a climb, freeze and fall off their bike, as muscles stopped working. I considered a grade drop to single digits a welcome respite. There are technically 13 hills in the race, but even making our way to some of them was a draining task.
This marked my first visit to Pittsburgh, and I caught parts of the city that are missed by most tourists. With Patrick as a guide, I was given a tour beyond costs. He would point out key landmarks, share personal insights of each neighborhood, and explain changes made in this year’s race. I fell in love with the authenticity and pride that each neighborhood exuded. The climbs were a small sacrifice for the sheer joy of riding on a crisp fall day, flying up and down the terrain of this vibrant city.
For most of the journey we were greeted with waves and patience. The shouts and cheers from observers were often the exact key to finishing a hill. Very few showed their honest frustration with the 400 cyclists traveling through their busy streets in packs of 50-70 riders. Still, each group leader and organizer of the Dirty Dozen made the entire experience seem safe and welcoming.
It is an experience I will never forget. I was humbled and awestruck. Riding my bike for a little over four years, I have made progress fast. That being said, Pittsburgh riders are the strongest I have ever seen. Never will I complain about any hills in Nashville. No hill steep enough. This was not a complete victory for me. In fact, I consider it mostly a loss. My normal bike (the Benotto) stayed, as it is not geared properly for the hills of western PA. I rode my KHS, a touring bike with 21 speeds and straight handlebars. While the gearing was great, standing to climb was difficult. Pulling my body into the correct position meant I might swerve aggressively toward another climber. This drastically changed how I approached the hills, as I felt uncomfortable standing – especially in a crowded pack. Still, these are only excuses. Watching some of the riders race up the tallest hills I have ever experienced was inspiring.
Patrick killed it. Each time I got to the top of a hill, walking or riding, he was there waiting. I’m not sure he even broke a sweat, completing the ride for his first time. His brother-in-law, John, also did great work - only needing to stop on one hill about halfway through the ride. We managed to finish just before dark, and only got a little lost on our way back to the car.
The following day, we made the trip back to Nashville. Steve took a majority of the ride. I was thankful for his assistance as my entire body ached. It took about three days to recover from the ride. Multiple Epsom salt baths and a steady diet of pain relievers helped. I managed to get back on the bike a week later and ride around town. It’s a changed experience. The DD taught me about my bike, my body, and my mind. It gave lessons in perseverance, patience, and intensity. By far, my greatest bike achievement to date, and a new goal. I will complete those 13 hills. It may not happen in 2017, but some day.
*You can give to Danny Chew's recovery here
*A brief, fun video of some of the hills, straightened - here
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