Americans wrote:It's only one block long, but Fargo Street, with its 32% grade, equals the steepest street incline in Los Angeles. Our annual event challenges all comers to see if they can make it up on a bike, and if so, how many times in one day.
This year, on a beautiful day in Silverlake, 105 riders, including two skaters, signed up to climb what has been called a “beastly hill,” Fargo Street. The number of people participating in this traditional Wheelmen ride has been increasing in recent years; the Fargo Street Hill Climb is alive and well!
Sixty-seven of the riders, including the two skaters, made it up the hill, another impressive number. Both young and not so young old riders were among them. Two fifteen year olds, Geoffrey Galper and Trevor Richie, were successful. So were two “old timers,” Doug Kubler and Dennis Scammell, both age 66.
No records were set for the most climbs in one day but Kent Karns made a very impressive 51 climbs. Jesus Agrezor also did well with 32 climbs. Right behind him was Francis Ignacio with 31. Those were all great efforts.
Only a few women attempted to ride the hill this year and only one of those was successful. Not surprisingly, that distinction belonged to Rosalie Kneebone, the women’s record holder with 16 climbs last year. Rosalie dialed it back a bit to 5 climbs this year.
Notable were the number of cycling clubs represented this year, some twenty in all, including (of course) the Wheelmen, the Dockriders from Marina Del Rey, and the Adobo Velo club, with several members in attendance.
The news media was also well represented. KABC Channel 7 and the L.A. Times sent reporters, as did the L.A. Weekly. Seems that our event is interesting to a lot of folks. For a copy of the L.A. Times report, click here.
We had plenty of help again this year, which was much appreciated. Nikki and M.J. Ignacio, and Ericka Usi did an outstanding job of getting riders signed up, and Francis Ignacio and Rosalie Kneebone helped with staging the riders at the bottom of the hill. Kermit Ganier kept track of the finishers and handed out patches, as he as done for many years. Thanks to everyone for keeping things so well organized.
All-time records: In 2008, Steve Gilmore set the men's record of 101 ascents, which took him 9 hours. Roselie Kneebone's 16 in 2009 is the women's record.
