| overview | volunteers | week1 | week2 | week3 | week4 | week5 | week6 | week7 | week8 | week9 | overall |
| 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 |

2008 Low-Key Hillclimbs
get over it!

Pen Velo!
San Bruno Hillclimb!
Join Pen Velo for their annual New Years classic, The San Bruno Hillclimb!. Low-Keyers have been an annual force at this traditional open to the new year, one for which the Low-Key series is an excellent preparation!
Pen Velo!

Check out Tim Clark's Low-Key Hillclimb power-to-time converter! This uses high-resolution route profile data of each climb under the assumption of uniform power, accounting for wind resistance, rolling resistance, and, of course, overcoming gravity! Only approximate for runners.... Or, you might also want to check out Michael Barnes' Power-Speed Analysis Excel Spreadsheet, with an accompanying PDF article!

Get over it!

Returning again, after the Grand Return of 2006, and when You Just Couldn't Get Enough in 2007, it's time to Get Over It with the 2008 edition of the Low-Key Hillclimbs. You are ready.

The Low-Key Hillclimbs are back and better than ever for 2008! Low-Key founder and refounder Kevin Winterfield remains in exile in the barren lands, but Low-Key continues with 2008 series coordinator Dan Connelly. Come on out, and if you've enjoyed climbs in the past, volunteer to help out or even coordinate a week! Coordinators get to ride the entire series for free, while volunteers get 2 free weeks per week volunteering () !

The philosophy of the Low-Key series is to allow each cyclist, no matter what his or her level, no matter what his or her speed, to establish goals, and meet them. It's all about the hill, the rider, and being at one with the bike. We'll see you there.

The Schedule

week date time climb format coordinator results
1 04 Oct 2008 reg 9:15 - 10:00
start 10:10am
Montebello mass start results!
Luke Burton's photos
Josh Hadley's photos
Brenda Brunner's photos
The Brunners' video!
2 11 Oct 2008 reg 9:15 - 10:00
start 10:10am
West Alpine mass start results!
Brenda Brunner's photos
Christine Holmes' photos
The Brunners' video!
3 18 Oct 2008 reg 9:15 - 10:00
start 10:10am
Quimby Road (Murillo start) mass start results!
Christine Holmes' photos
Adam Tow's photos
Josh Hadley's photos
Brenda Brunner's Photos!
The Brunners' video!
4 25 Oct 2008 reg 9:15 - 10:00
start 10:10am
Bear Gulch mass start results!
Christine Holmes' photos
Eric Willis's photos
5 01 Nov 2008 reg 9:15 - 10:00
start 10:10am
Montevina mass start canceled!
Pat's photos
6 08 Nov 2008 reg 9:15 - 10:00
start 10:10am
Jamison Creek Rd mass start results!
Josh Hadley's photos
Garrett's photos
Phil's photos
Denny's finish-line video
7 15 Nov 2008 reg 9:15 - 10:00
start 10:10am
Metcalf Rd mass start results!
Christine's Photos
Stephen Fong's Photos
Gary and Janet's photos
8 22 Nov 2008 reg 9:15 - 10:00
start 10:10am
Lomas Cantadas mass start results!
Stephen Fong's warm-up photos
Pat's photos
Michael's photos
9 27 Nov 2008 reg 8:30-9:20
start 9:30am
Mt Hamilton mass start results!
Stephen Fong's photos
Howard's summit views
Josh Hadley's shots
Bill Bushnell's photos
Brenda Brunner's photos
The Brunners' video!

Each week, overall points will be allocated in men's and women's categories, with standings also recorded in rider-defined categories -- pick your own! Overall series rankings will also be maintained, with riders accumulating points from their best results.. only results for half (rounded up) of the climbs to date are required.

Team scores will also be kept, with points to the top three from each team. Ride with an established team, or create one just for the series!

Details of the scoring system!

Complete Guide to Climbing
John Sommerson's excellent Complete Guide to Climbing by Bike is a 2008 Low-Key sponsor!

You: The Volunteer

We need volunteers to make this series work! Volunteers get two free rides for each one at which they help out, plus get pro-rating of points so they don't miss out on overall standings. Coordinators get to ride the whole rest of the series for free!

Check out the list of volunteers so far!

Fire off an email () if interested!

The Registration

Each week, registration will open an hour before the listed time, closing 15 minutes before. No pre-reg. $10 voluntary donation, volunteers get 2 weeks free, under 18 years old are free, coordinators are free! Waivers available at registration. Two free entries if you volunteer, three if you're a coordinator!

If you can, you'll want to print and fill out the PDF release form before the event.

Email List

We have an email list! See http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/lkhc/.

Getting There

To avoid congestion and other headaches please do the following:

  1. park legally (ok, goes without saying, right :)
  2. park away from the climb location and ride to the registration and staging areas - this avoids masses of cars and bikes, which isn't good. Plus, you need a warm up anyway, right? Most, if not all, of these climbs have ample parking within a good warmup distance from the registration, staging and the start.

Better yet, ride to the start, or take public transit! The relaxed Low-Key start time make riding and/or taking the train an excellent option. See Caltrain's website for train schedules, or 511.org for BART and bus options. Bike route info is also available from 511.org.

The Low-Key Way

The low-keys are just what you want them to be. We do time and keep track of times and points, but by no means is that the main reason for these climbs. They're for having fun, checking out the area climbs, and meeting people.

A wide spectrum of folks climb this series - and you can create your own team and category. Or, better yet, choose an existing category, for a bit of friendly Low-Key competition.

For those new to Low-Keyin', the process is simple:

  1. you show up at the start (we like to encourage people to ride to the start to minimize congestion), register, sign the release, get your special NUMBER STICKER that you place on your handlebars (something people keep throughout the series, and the years... anyone still have their sticker?)
  2. then depending on the climb, we either mass start the group, or start you in small groups, or individually..
  3. you climb to the top at your own pace - some fly up, others sit and chat with friends and other riders
  4. when you reach the top, you yell out your number (which is funny to watch as some folks can barely speak), we record the time,
  5. then you can eat our array of bananas, fruit drinks, etc and socialize with the folks at the top.
  6. About a day later, we place the times on the website along with "points earned" (details available here)... each week we do this and tally the votes until the end when...
  7. we have the final ceremonies for several categories we make up - some standard ones, some unexpected.

Contact

Email Dan Connelly


"Without Low Key, I never would have learned how hard I can push myself, for so long." -- Pat Parseghian, 2007 Endurance winner

Dan Connelly