Jon Myers
For the last 3 years mountain bikers have beat the road bikers in the race up Mt. Ashland. I have done all the OBRA hill climbs in Oregon ��� Mary���s Peak, Larch Mountain, and Timberline and I know there are some very fast road hill climbers racing these days. There is no way a guy like me that is closer to age 50 than age 40 should be able to beat all the road racers to the top on my fat tire bike riding on dirt roads.
On the women���s side, the roadies (Jenny Slawta) have won for at least the last 5 years even when some strong women like Jade Wilcoxson have done the mountain bike climb. I know that there has to be some fast mountain bike women that can challenge the roadies.
Mount Ashland is an amazing climb that at 4600feet/1400meters of elevation gain, rivals hardest climbs in the Tour de France. The Alpe d���Huez climb only gains 1,150meters and the Col d���Aubisque 1,226meters. From what I have read only the Col du Tourmalet approached from the West (1,622meters) and the Col de la Madeleine (1,581meters) gain more elevation than the Mt. Ashland climb. If you think you are a climber or want to get an idea of what those epic Tour climbs are like, it is well worthwhile doing the Ashland Hillclimb.
-Jon