Well, I’m sorry to say that there is absolutely nothing this year that would compare with potters hill of last year.

That hill SUCKED…………..

I kinda liked it, but I got there early. Having to walk because of others would have been a serious disappointment. 

jeffreydennis said: I kinda liked it, but I got there early. Having to walk because of others would have been a serious disappointment. 

That was the case when I got there late.  The road was packed, people walking right, left & middle.  I stopped half way up & walked.  I too was disappointed until I got to the top and found a beer stand at the side of the road!  It’s a sick world and I’m a happy man!!!!

Michrider, I too think I could have conquered Potter’s Hill had there not been so much traffic.  Most of the walkers kept to the side, but those trying to make it through the middle and giving up created hazards for others.  

Don’t we ride the Pilot Mound Hill???  I have walked that trough in the turf at least a couple of times.  Say HI when you go by.

RIDE RIGHT

Okay, I’m having trouble wrapping my head around Potter’s Hill (probably because I’ve never been.)

I would say yes but I’m not real good at guessing feet of climb and what not. I’m sure it was well over a mile long though and had a great grade incline. You’d have to experience Potter Hill to understand that hill……..

According to statistics found using MapMyRide.com, Potters Hill road climbs 324′ in .97 miles with an average grade of 6.4%.  The grade is claimed to be 18% at it’s worst.  The MapMyRide folks classify it as a Class 4 climb.  Now, having said all that, I have not found the elevation info on MapMyRide to be too terribly accurate, compared to say a quality Garmin GPS reading …. so, who knows.  Generally, MapMyRide comes up considerably short on elevation gain compared to an actual GPS reading.  BikeRideToaster.com typically yields figures 20% higher or so for the same course.

Myself, I made it up.  In low gear (39-25) of course. It was hard, but doable, alternating in and out of the saddle.  Fortunately, at the time I showed up there was room to navigate up the left side. 

This is my first Ragbrai.  What days do we have the tough hills.  I have been on many a hill and not walked yet.  i.e 1200ft in 4 miles with 13% grade at worst.  Potter Hill sounds like it could have been my first to walk…18% grade is huge.  I would like to have a chance to ride the tough hills by ensuring that I’m fairly early to the tough climbs.  Hence my question of the days with the tough climbs.

If I remember, my Garmin listed it as over 600 feet….  Garmins go off of barometric pressure and they calibrate when they are turned on….  You can have several different Garmins side by side with different elevation readings….  The general range was between 600 and 1000 feet in about a mile….

And speaking of Potter’s, I saw this on my ride today….

OK, for some reason it isn’t taking my image….  So here is the link….

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150367588131164&set=a.10150367587571164.431236.545171163&type=1

RJBTrek said: This is my first Ragbrai.  What days do we have the tough hills.  I have been on many a hill and not walked yet.  i.e 1200ft in 4 miles with 13% grade at worst.  Potter Hill sounds like it could have been my first to walk…18% grade is huge.  I would like to have a chance to ride the tough hills by ensuring that I’m fairly early to the tough climbs.  Hence my question of the days with the tough climbs.

You won’t have any problem.  The first two days will be hilly, but I don’t expect any really long or steep grades in that part of the state.  They will be like oversized rollers, hill after hill after hill.  With as much bicycle traffic as there is typically, it is difficult (dangerous even) to charge down the hills to attack the next.  You pretty much have to keep your pace and climb each hill in a civilized manner.  Choose a comfortable pace, stop for beverages and other enjoyment along the way, and you will be very fine. You won’t be walking.

PS:There will be some other surprise hills, I’m sure, through the week.  Be prepared when leaving Colfax, for instance.

It’s only courtesy that if you must dismount to go up a hill, that you walk on the right hand side of the road.  People popping off and staggering all over the place is not only unsafe, it’s rude.  So if you realize that you’re not going to make up any hill, please dismount and move over.

You want to see hills, come to Pennsylvania.  The early settlers weren’t blown away by the Rockies or the Plains; it was the mighty Appalachians that hammered them.  I know Iowa isn’t flat, but the hills are nothing compared to what we deal with here.  20% isn’t that uncommon, and climbs that are miles long at over 6-7% average are all over the place.  Just remember, if you coast down the hill, you will suffer going back up the next one.