»In which the word is 'burly'!

"You go past some of these guys and think what's wrong with these people," said Mr. Kraynick. "My idea of nice ride is finding the best 13 hills to go downhill."

The Dirty Dozen -- the name deceives us for the sake of superstition: the ride actually consists of thirteen grueling climbs, including Beechview's 37º Canton Avenue -- began about twenty years ago, and relegates to second place the ten nine ascents of Fillmore St, a mere 18%, that form the main challenge of the San Francisco Grand Prix. "Back in the early years (the 80's) a macho attitude prevented any rider from using gears lower than a 42x24. In recent years, the ride has gotten easier due to lower gearing and several of the hills being paved (asphalted) which used to be rough cobblestone or wavy blacktop killing what little momentum the rider had." I am a little shame-faced to note that Negley between Fifth and Dunmoyle, one of the toughest climbs I ever finished in Pittsburgh, checks in at a sissy 18% for two blocks or so, and does not figure in the Dirty Dozen route (great illustration!) at all. Sycamore St, for many years the heart of the Thrift Drug Classic professional race, fits in the Dirty Dozen just past the half-way point.

Ad-propos of gruelling climbs, Aram reports that he made it up the exhilarating 35 miles and 10,000 vertical feet, from beach to peak, of some volcanic mountain in Hawai'i. Details to follow ...