Sporting number 666 Dennis Farrell was missing his horns but took the overall crown up Maui's Mt Haleakala in this years Cycle to the Sun race in a time of 2:47:21 besting professional triathlete Chris Lieto by 39 seconds. Lieto was at a definite disadvantage by racing his tri-Trek (clip-ons included) to the devils 12+ pound LUST custom bike. To his credit Farrell was racing in the 45-49 age group and had at least a 15 year age difference on the tri-guy. Neither was any threat to the course record set many moons ago by Jonathan Vaughters of 2 hours and 38 minutes.
I don't know if Dennis is anyway releted to our own Kerry Farrell as they race in the same age group - but it could be some fireworks if the two ever meet as Kerry (age 47) is no slouch going uphill either - finishing 3rd up the Mt Baker hill climb [a mere 40 seconds behind "The Lung" (Ned Overend, 52)] and 2nd overall at the Crystal Mtn Hill Climb. Kerry it's time to go to Maui next year!
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I would love love love to race "cycle to the sun" but the last few years it has been on the same day as the Washington State Hillclimb.. :-( Rode the course "recreationally" many years ago in right at 3 hours but am 10 lbs. lighter now and a lot faster!! Maybe one day I'll pass on Crystal and go for the big one on Maui. 10,000 vert in 36? miles. YUM YUM YUM
K
Well since we know the date for next year's Cycle to the Sun (AUG 24th) tell Dave Bachman to schedule the Crystal Hill Climb some other weekend.
BTW, coming in 2nd to Ian McKissick (BMC pro) after he set a new course record ain't too shabby, especially since you handly beat the former course record holder by over half a minute. But a 23 minute hill climb or even an hour twenty (like Mt Baker) doesn't compare to at least twice that on Haleakala.
The top climbers have a "VAM" (verticle ascent meters/hour) of about 1500-1700 depending on the length of the climb (Pantani on l'Alpe d'Huez had a VAM of approx. 1780). If they kept up that pace they'd do the climb in less than 2 hours. Vaughters on Haleakala did a VAM of 1165m/hour (3845 feet/hour); equal to 2 hours 38 minutes.
The guy who won Cycle to the Sun this year had a VAM of 1082m/hour or 3570 feet/hour (which is about the pace I climbed l'Alpe D'Huez in 2000).
I know you have the capacity of exceeding that pace for the short term, but can you do it for an extended period all the while gaining altitude? I think you can!
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