The 1996 racing season began in Northern California with a record- smashing climb up Mount San Bruno. Glen Winkel had set a record of 16:17 last year in this decades-old event. This year the organizers offered a special $100 prize to anyone who could set a new record. Winkel didn't return to defend his title, but six riders responded to the challenge by coming in ahead of the previous record! The winner was unattached mountain biker Dave Meyer, who finished in 15:02. I expect that more will be heard about him in other road events this year.
George Mount, who has set a number of hill climbing records himself, worked as chief judge for this event. Spectators at the finish line enjoyed a spectacular panoramic view of the San Francsico Bay area under sunny skies with temperatures in the 60's.
Included in the lead bunch, all of whom finished withing 45 seconds of each other, were two category 4 riders, who should be considered for prompt upgrading. The winner of the category 4 event was Dave McAteer of the Tecate team with an outstanding time of 15:23.
-Les Earnest, chief referee
Many thanks to Skaates Plumbing, Petrolium Ventures, Bianchi, Visa, and MLO for the many wonderful prizes. The first women up the hill won over $300 in cash and prizes.
The best time up the hill, smashing last year's record of a bit over 16 minutes, was Dean Meyer (15:02!!!) who scored $100.00 plus cash and prizes. Who knew San Bruno could be warm, sunny, and lucrative?
There were familiar faces, new jerseys, and some fabulous comebacks.
The top two women were in the 18 minute bracket.....fast folks. One of the several husband/wife racing teams featured Donna and Lynn Merard....Lynn had hip replacement surgery last year. He started late because he pinned on his wife's number, offered to wait for her, and finished the climb with a smile and good cheer. Great job Lynn!
Linelle Betts, Pen Velo
Master 35 Place Name Time 1. Eric Downing 16:43 Tecate 2. Ken Eichstaedt 17:43 Valhalla 3. Geo Kitta 17:29 * Pen Velo 4. Bruce Matheson 17:56 Mako 5. Lorin Hawley 18:14 Apple 6. Jamie Weller 18:30 Olympic Club 7. Peter Steiner 18:42 Pen Velo 8. Ray Bennetts 19:11 9. Tim OHara 19:48 Fremont 10. Hugo Aguirre 19:58 Pen Velo 11. Brad Baldwin 22:03 Fremont 12. Richard Sewell 22:41 Valhalla * Raced in Master 35 Master 45 1. Robert Wong 19:39 Pen Velo 2. Peter Dahlstrand 20:59 BBC 3. Bart Borland 21:38 Fremont 4. Louis Surerier 21:53 5. Lynn Menard 22:15 BBC 6. Gary Bridges 23:28 Alto Velo Senior 1/2 Pro 1. Dean Meyer 15:02 2. Bob Simpson 15:14 Tecate 3. Dave Bailey 17:21 Stanford 4. Takesui Doi 18:47 Stanford 5. West Kurakana 18:53 Fremont Freewheelers Women 1. Jennifer Swatzsu 18:33 Los Gatos 2. Denise Ellestad 18:36 3. Narda Roushdi 20:16 BBC 4. Cynthia Hertzer 20:49 BBC 5. Elizabeth Benishin 21:08 Alto Velo 6. Jacque Phelem 21:36 Diablo 7. Donna Woods-Menard 25:48 BBC Senior 3 1. Kevin Winterfield 17:09 Alto Velo 2. Manuel Rodriguez 18:12 3. James Lillard 18:30 San Jose 4. Larry Guynes 19:27 Pen Velo Senior 4 1. Dave McAteer 15:23 Tecate 2. Phil Roberts 16:36 Softride 3. Daniel Connelly 16:44 Stanford 4. Norm Laird 17:02 ZAP 5. Bud Napolio 18:59 Cal Road 6. Gregg Summers 19:05 Pen Velo 7. Mike Hudgens 19:25 Fremont 8. Louis Sandoval 19:48 Fremont 9. Wayne Smith 21:07 Alto Velo 10. Mike Kurney 22:11 Fremont Senior 5 1. Michel Clark 18:23 2. Kevin Shumann 19:14 3. Mark Anderson 19:32 4. Steve Dowley 19:48 Olympic Club 5. Dan Kallewaard 20:45 Fremont 6. Arman Khachadourian 21:57 Pen Velo Public 1. Casey William 17:55 2. Casey Wedekial 18:09 3. Keith Lincoln 18:50 North Coast 4. Valery Axelrad 19:39 5. Art Gonzalez dnf Junior 1. Rob Evans 18:09 Team Bicycle Plus
name club cat place time Dean_Meyer unattached Senior_1/2_Pro 1 15:02 Bob_Simpson Tecate Senior_1/2_Pro 2 15:14 Dave_McAteer Tecate Senior_4 1 15:23 Phil_Roberts Softride Senior_4 2 16:36 Eric_Downing Tecate Master_35 1 16:43 Daniel_Connelly Stanford/Wheelsmith Senior_4 3 16:44 Norm_Laird ZAP Senior_4 4 17:02 Kevin_Winterfield Alto_Velo Senior_3 1 17:09 Dave_Bailey Stanford/Wheelsmith Senior_1/2_Pro 3 17:21 Geo_Kitta Pen_Velo Master_35 3 17:29 Ken_Eichstaedt Valhalla Master_35 2 17:43 Casey_William unattached Public 1 17:55 Bruce_Matheson Mako Master_35 4 17:56 Casey_Wedekial unattached Public 2 18:09 Rob_Evans Team_Bicycle_Plus Junior 1 18:09 Manuel_Rodriguez unattached Senior_3 2 18:12 Lorin_Hawley Apple Master_35 5 18:14 Michel_Clark unattached Senior_5 1 18:23 James_Lillard San_Jose Senior_3 3 18:30 Jamie_Weller Olympic_Club Master_35 6 18:30 Jennifer_Swatzsu Los_Gatos Women 1 18:33 Denise_Ellestad unattached Women 2 18:36 Peter_Steiner Pen_Velo Master_35 7 18:42 Takesui_Doi Stanford/Wheelsmith Senior_1/2_Pro 4 18:47 Keith_Lincoln North_Coast Public 3 18:50 West_Kurakana Fremont_Freewheelers Senior_1/2_Pro 5 18:53 Bud_Napolio Cal_Road Senior_4 5 18:59 Gregg_Summers Pen_Velo Senior_4 6 19:05 Ray_Bennetts unattached Master_35 8 19:11 Kevin_Shumann unattached Senior_5 2 19:14 Mike_Hudgens Fremont Senior_4 7 19:25 Larry_Guynes Pen_Velo Senior_3 4 19:27 Mark_Anderson unattached Senior_5 3 19:32 Robert_Wong Pen_Velo Master_45 1 19:39 Valery_Axelrad unattached Public 4 19:39 Louis_Sandoval Fremont Senior_4 8 19:48 Steve_Dowley Olympic_Club Senior_5 4 19:48 Tim_OHara Fremont Master_35 9 19:48 Hugo_Aguirre Pen_Velo Master_35 10 19:58 Narda_Roushdi BBC Women 3 20:16 Dan_Kallewaard Fremont Senior_5 5 20:45 Cynthia_Hertzer BBC Women 4 20:49 Peter_Dahlstrand BBC Master_45 2 20:59 Wayne_Smith Alto_Velo Senior_4 9 21:07 Elizabeth_Benishin Alto_Velo Women 5 21:08 Jacque_Phelem Diablo Women 6 21:36 Bart_Borland Fremont Master_45 3 21:38 Louis_Surerier unattached Master_45 4 21:53 Arman_Khachadourian Pen_Velo Senior_5 6 21:57 Brad_Baldwin Fremont Master_35 11 22:03 Mike_Kurney Fremont Senior_4 10 22:11 Lynn_Menard BBC Master_45 5 22:15 Richard_Sewell Valhalla Master_35 12 22:41 Gary_Bridges Alto_Velo Master_45 6 23:28 Donna_Woods-Menard BBC Women 7 25:48
Note on times
Least-squares fitting of an equation of the form time = A distance + B climbing to the Low-Key Hillclimb data, and analysis using the Whitt and Wilson bike power-velocity-grade-mass-rolling resistance equations yield the same conclusion, that times between San Bruno and Old La Honda should differ by roughly 10%.