Aug. 8, 1998
Bridge of Flowers 10K road race.
Shelborn MA

800 runners and one handcycle. Terry became the first "wheelchair" to ever complete the famous 20 year old race course. Climbing a 10% grade for a mile on broken pavement isn't something wheelchair road racers can do. This course is perfectly suited to the ONE-OFF handcycle. We think this will become our "home course". It is scenic, friendly, and the rest of the course is downhill.
(see Terry's newspaper clipping from local paper)

We did it! the world's first arm powered ascent of Mt. Snow. 3 1/2 hours. In order to avoid all the bicycle racers, we started out on one of the grassy ski slopes. Though the traction was good, straight up one of those huge wide ski trails proved to be quite grueling. About half way up we traversed the mountain on a dirt road (there are no paved roads) and joined the main access road. This road was last year's wheelchair clinic course (going downhill of course). Terry made good headway, steadily climbing the rough, rocky dirt road. With lots of water bars and loose gravel, he had to pay constant attention to his line. The only trouble spot was about 1/8 mile from the top where he got into some loose dirt, spun the rear tire, switched his hands over to the brakes and slid backwards. The mountain is so steep there that even with both front wheels locked up he slid backwards for about 10 feet before managing to get a hand back on the cranks. The cranks via the chain and rear tire, grip on the uphills far better than the two front wheels. It was demoralizing to have to climb the very steepest spot on the route again, but with a better line, the second try proved successful. The gearing was plenty low. Terry even "sprinted" the last 100 feet in the middle chainring! The 20 minute ride back down was ample payment for the hard way up. Terry got lots of practice ridding on two wheels and on the water bars. There will be younger, lighter riders to beat his time going up the mountain but his skill as a downhiller will be hard to match.

The downhill

With our new fat Pirellis, we were looking forward to the downhill race, but the new course was way to much for any of the four wheelers. No one who did it once was willing to try again. It was simply too dangerous. All the wheelchair entrants crashed repeatedly on the steep rock and root infested dropoffs.

The dual slalom

race course was much more suited to the four wheelers. Terry was about 1 1/2 seconds out of qualifying for the finals. Considering that he had never even seen a dual slalom race before, and this course had no level spots for cranking, we are very happy with his results. We are more convinced than ever that even on a course like this, with no place to exploit our ability to crank, we will win. Our prone riding position allows a big advantage in cornering power and bump absorption. We will be winning dual slalom races soon.

Publicity coming up from Mt. Snow: Rodale's Mountain Bike, ESPN, Dirt Rag, and Velo News. Currently featured in Bike Culture magazine.