Uphill hour record?

[colster]

Came across this rather intersting idea from Joe Dombrowski

http://www.velonews.com/2016/12/news/joe-dombrowskis-uphill-hour-record_426289

I fully support this! Anyone else...

[caddis]

That sounds great!

[Svetty]

Now that he's suggested it you wonder why it's never been done before......

[euph]

He has put some serious thought into it, practically laid out all the basic rules already. I like it. Might bring a small focus back to lightweight bikes if it catches on.

[Mr.Gib]

I don't think this will work. There are certain situations where you can have very powerful tailwinds on climbs. I have been on climbs near coastal areas where powerful on shore winds get forced into mountain valleys and over passes. The winds can accelerate to 50 km/h or more. I am a mediocre climber at best, and I have had a few experiences going uphill where I had to brake hard for some of the turns.

The competition will become about finding the perfect conditions, not climbing. Too many variables. Sorry Joe D.

[grouk]

In your opinion what is the best type of climb to the highest value of vam?
More or less steeper? i get higher vam values in steeper climbs like 8/9%.

[pdlpsher1]

More steep = higher VAM because there's less air and rolling resistance.

[asc8ic]

Wow, Incredible Challenge. Might will some of pro-race climber challenge it.

[jekyll man]

Dumb idea.....

Need somewhere that's steep enough to get a high VAM, but the problem with that is generally they aren't that long.

Somewhere is found that is perfect, and used countless times to break the record.
What happens when you're the first person to summit the climb in under 60 mins? Its not a 58:29 record or whatever.

Just becomes another hill climb time after that.

[cyclespeed]

More steep = higher VAM because there's less air and rolling resistance.

Don't you mean higher altitude = less air?

There are very steep hills that start at sea level....Mallorca springs to mind....

But there would be an advantage in less air drag (not Crr) in picking a high climb. The Galibier (from Valloire side) strikes me as a good choice.

[istigatrice]

I think he might be referring to less physical air to move through per vertical meter climbed. Otherwise I'm not sure what he's on about.

[AJS914]

Dombrowski said this on the Velonews podcast and then it became a separate story like he's making some announcement. It was a little on the tongue and cheek side. He thought it would be cool to do it and get the record first even if someone came along and beat him soon after - kind of like Jens Voigt doing the hour record.

The UCI though is never going to recognize this as a legit record.

[Multebear]

I think this is a good idea. To compensate for the need of long climbs, it could be made as a half hour record e.g. Or 40 min maybe. But if it's a half hour record, it'll be hard to beat Pantanis 36:40 up Alpe d'Huez.

[cyclespeed]

But if it's a half hour record, it'll be hard to beat Pantanis 36:40 up Alpe d'Huez.

Are drugs allowed?

[Multebear]

But if it's a half hour record, it'll be hard to beat Pantanis 36:40 up Alpe d'Huez.

Are drugs allowed?

Of course. As long as you don't get caught....