Wednesday, January 21, 2015

State of the Union Avenue Climb

In this new year it is my hope that we can work together to bring safe and fun bicycling to more Memphians. In the past we have dealt with incomplete infrastructure, trail remodels, and bad weather. Now, we have turned the page. We can look forward to new monthly challenges, Strava Club Group Rides, and gift certificates. Yes, gift certificates!

We are a little late coming into the January local challenge, but I'm just coming out of hibernation. Rest assured, (see what I did there?) this one is gonna be interesting. Memphis is known for being flat so when a Cat 4 climb pops up in the middle of the city you gotta wonder, WTF Mate? This is one of those automatically generated segments that appears when Strava analyzes someone's ride data and maths it out that they climbed enough in a set distance for it to be tougher than your average hill. This segment has only one rider, and it's been that way since 2012*, so it's ripe for a new KOM and QOM. It's called the Union Avenue Climb, which is strange because it is not on Union Avenue, rather adjacent to it. Regardless, 273 feet of elevation difference in 6/10ths of a mile, average grade of 8.3%. So attack it, right!



You have until the end of January to KOM or QOM this. Winners will each receive a $10 gift certificate. Yes, gift certificates!

Go ride!

*I had someone go ride this and they noted that the segment crosses the trolley tracks on Madison, so be very careful!