1996 Mount San Bruno Hillclimb

distance=3.5 miles; climbing=1070 feet

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


Monday January 1, 1996 10:00 a.m. the 1996 racing season commenced. The weather was unbelievably warm, the times were positively HOT, and the prizes were plentiful.

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


Results by Category

     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


Results Overall

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%.