George Street, anyone?

[ltolman]

Barney's Bicycle and the Seven Hills Wheelmen present:

the seventh annual
GEORGE STREET BIKE CHALLENGE for MAJOR TAYLOR
... an uphill time trial ...

Sunday, July 27, 2008
10:00 a.m.
Main & George streets
downtown Worcester, Mass.

See how fast you can pedal up one of Worcester's steepest hills, a 500-foot
quad-buster where "the Worcester Whirlwind," 1899 world cycling champion
Major Taylor, used to train. The average grade is 18 percent.

Open to ages 12 and up.
Entry fee $15.
Helmets required.
One rider at a time against the clock.

Got a minute? Check it out on video! (The video is only a few seconds
longer than it takes to actually bike up the hill.)
YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mychS7IAy_s
QuickTime:
http://www.majortaylorassociation.org/e ... 08_2Mb.mov
Windows Media Player:
http://www.majortaylorassociation.org/e ... 08_1Mb.wmv

REGISTER ONLINE AT
http://www.majortaylorassociation.org/e ... et08.shtml

Race-day registration: 8:30-9:45 a.m.
First rider starts at 10:00 sharp.
Medals will be awarded in various age categories for males and females,
plus a tandem category.

Proceeds benefit the Major Taylor Association, Inc., which put up a statue
of Taylor in May 2008 at the Worcester Public Library in Salem Square --
the city's first monument to an African-American. Proceeds will help MTA
continue to educate people about Major Taylor's life and legacy and to
support the library's statue maintenance fund.

BIKE RAFFLE! $5 per chance.
Win a 24-speed Giant OCR3 road bike from Barney's, or a custom,
limited-edition Major Taylor cycling jersey, or other cool stuff. Prize
list and raffle tickets:
http://www.majortaylorassociation.org/e ... le08.shtml
You can order raffle tickets online or by mail: $5 per chance, or three for
$12, or six for $20. Or get them at Barney's Bicycle, 165 Chandler St.,
Worcester. Prize drawing will be approximately 1:00 p.m. July 27, at the
conclusion of the George Street Bike Challenge. You do NOT have to be
present to win.

Major Taylor cycling jerseys ($79):
http://www.majortaylorassociation.org/jersey.shtml

Major Taylor books & posters:
http://www.majortaylorassociation.org/donations.shtml

WHO WAS MAJOR TAYLOR? Marshall W. "Major" Taylor (1878-1932) of Worcester
was the world's first black sports superstar. Known as "the Worcester
Whirlwind" and "the colored cyclone," he was world cycling champion in
1899, American sprint champion in 1900, and broke numerous track cycling
records, at a time when cycling was more popular than baseball. He was the
second black world champion in any sport (after bantamweight boxer George
Dixon in 1891). He had to fight Jim Crow prejudice just to get on the
starting line, and he faced closed doors and open hostility with dignity.
The Major Taylor Association is dedicated to honoring his athletic
achievements and strength of character -- sportsmanship, devotion to God,
caring for those less fortunate, and personal struggle for equality.

More information, including last year's results:
http://www.majortaylorassociation.org/e ... et08.shtml

Barney's Bicycle, 508-799-BIKE (799-2453)

Whirlwind Sponsor: Puma
Pacesetter Sponsors: Standard Auto; AdventureCORPS
Media sponsors: Worcester Telegram & Gazette; Charter Communications

Printer-friendly event flier:
http://www.majortaylorassociation.org/e ... tflier.pdf

Hill profile:
http://www.majortaylorassociation.org/e ... file.shtml

Map:
http://www.majortaylorassociation.org/e ... 2008.shtml

New this year:
Garden Fresh Courthouse Cafe is open at the foot of the hill.
http://www.majortaylorassociation.org/e ... hMenu2.pdf
We recommend their performance-enhancing muffins and cookies.

[DCorso]

I just finished reading the book about Major and recommend it to anyone who loves cycling. Hard to believe that back in 1900 people were even crazier than we are.

[tsavage]

We could meet in a western 'burb and ride over as a group? Its only a few miles from Westborough or Hopkinton.

Better yet, we could do the Hill Climb and still get over to Norwell for a 1:15 start?

[michaelcole]

I reg'd before I left for vacation

come and sprint a hill with me
30 seconds even for the slow guys

[michaelcole]

Each time I've done it I've kept it in the same gear start to finish. 39 up front and about mid cassette in back. Probably the 16 or so.

[cookm]

I think I'll give this one a try.
Mike

[michaelcole]

come on people.

no pre-reg necessary. you can show up at 11 or maybe later and they'll still take your cash and give you a number.

it's a fun time both racing and watching

I'm heading out now, hope to see a few of you there

[ltolman]

2008 George Street Bike Challenge for Major Taylor

Great turnout from MRC and great performances on the hill! Podium finishes for Tom Goguen, Manny Goguen, and Michael Cole. Thanks for coming!

Complete results:
http://www.majortaylorassociation.org/e ... ts08.shtml

Front-page story:
http://www.telegram.com/article/2008072 ... 80662/1116

Raffle winners:
http://www.majortaylorassociation.org/e ... le08.shtml

I'll try to put together a photo page.

Meanwhile, here are some YouTube links from medalists Bob & Lynn Cooney of Oxford, of their ascents and those of Lynn's brother Dale and their friend Kelly (Seven Hills Wheelmen's 2007 Rookie of the Year):

Lynn Cooney
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eK77hpZ4uI

Dale Para
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpXT6bZ4Wq8

Kelly Tonini
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWzu4nVhQGY

Bob Cooney
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oLjQ2liPlw

[ltolman]

Photo pages are posted. The pictures of individual riders at http://www.cyclingpix.net are available for purchase, and there's another photo gallery just for fun. Follow the links from
http://www.majortaylorassociation.org/e ... et08.shtml