Burl, I did a Fargo test run Saturday & had to resort to a (gulp) mtn bike as none of my classic bikes have 1:1 gearing or close... At 43 years of age and 235 lbs on a not quite 6' frame and off my early season condition ;^) I STRUGGLED to get up the hill...... twice I popped wheelies and went over back/sideward....I have several bruises and nasty cuts for the effort....
For those young/slender/well conditioned it's merely a concentrated burn for a few minutes. I skipped the Sunday 'offical' climb as I was quite sore Sunday morning. I will return in better shape and with an appropriate classic machine later this year and at the next official climb.
It looks nasty from the bottom and the narrowness of the street along with parked cars, potholes and glass/debris further increases the effort for the less-than-in-shape-rider for a really steep/longish street.
Matt Gorski
Belmont Shore, CA
> the new asphalt magazine is out with very cool articles and photos of velo
rendezvous and on keeper of the flame dave kirk. burl simon in los angeles
where i did not even attempt to ride up the steepest hill in l.a. on sunday
called fargo street because a 35% grade was too intimidating.