Celebrating 10 Years of Cycling!
The 2009 race was held on Sunday, October 4th
 Last year's fastest racer was Flavia Lepene, who made it up the mountain in 48 minutes, 48 seconds. (Left) Join us next year year for another GREAT race.
Download the 2009 Race Results:
Poor Mountain Results 09
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Poor Mountain HillClimb is sponsored by:
Free Motel Rooms
Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism presents the 10th Poor Mountain HillClimb to be held near Roanoke, Virginia on October 4, 2009
Rising almost 4000 feet from the floor of the Roanoke Valley, Poor Mountain dominates the surrounding landscape and is a long time favorite climb of local bikers.
The starting line is located just minutes off I-81, about ten miles from downtown Roanoke, in scenic Roanoke County. The Poor Mountain HillClimb will be held rain or shine. See maps for registration, start and finish locations.
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| Jermiah Bishop - 2003, 2004, 2006 & 2007 Poor Mountain HillClimb Champion Course Record Holder at 37:16 set in 2007 and a member of the Trek/Volkswagen Team |
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The Poor Mountain HillClimb has quickly become a race where great climbers shine. Past winners include 2002 U.S. Road Racing Champion Scottie Weiss, World Class Mountain Biker Jeremiah Bishop and 2003 24 Hours of Moab Solo Women's Champion, Trish Stevenson, and World-Class Mountain Biker Susan Haywood.
Parking, check-in, registration and post race awards will be held at beautiful Camp Roanoke. See Family Activities for more info about Camp Roanoke.
POOR MOUNTAIN: A COURSE FOR MOUNTAIN BIKES OR CYCLOCROSS BIKES Before 2007 we were a mountain bike race only. But racers, like Jeremiah Bishop and some roadies suggested that a cyclocross bike might have some advantages because of the variety of road surfaces we offer. (See course description.) Bishop said "Because the course is so steep I recommend a mountain bike with a triple and 26 in. wheels and a min. 1 1/4 in. tires. But if you want to ride a road or cross bike I recommend a sturdy 700 wheel set, a 34 cassette and tires of 38c min. and a triple chain ring." Make sure you rear tire has good grip.
For additional information on the Poor Mountain HillClimb, please contact Wendi Schultz
wschultz@roanokecountyva.gov, or call (540) 387-6078 ext 251 or Skip Huffman, Race Director skip2ride@yahoo.com
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COMMENTS ABOUT THE POOR MOUNTAIN HILLCLIMB…
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Scottie Weiss - 2002 Poor Mountain Hillclimb Winner and 2002 US Road Racing Champion.
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Jeremiah Bishop, 2003, 2004, 2006, & 2007 Poor Mountain HillClimb Winner and Trek/Volkswagen Pro Racer:
“The challenge … is as good as it gets, a challenge against a mountain like this you need no competition, this is the heart of the sport and athletes challenging themselves against great obstacles…”
Scottie Weiss, 2002 Poor Mountain HillClimb winner, and 2002 US Road Racing Champion:
Poor Mountain is a "...tough, tough climb."
Bernie Sanders, Roanoke, VA - Blue Ridge Bicycle Club:
“I thought it was excellent, great course, beautiful day, well-run, great competition, my first mountain bike race, I will do more.”
Dick Howard, - PMHC Race Director: "Seven miles of pain and not one foot of fun."
Kyle Grant, Roanoke , VA - 2007 PMHC Participant: "I want to let you know that I did the Wintergreen Ascent, which is a road bike time-trial. I thought that was the hardest bicycle event I had ever done. That is, until Poor Mountain."
We think the PoMo is unique in this country as it is the ONLY race where MOUNTAIN BIKERS can compete head to head with CROSS racers. The fastest male and female finisher will be awarded cash prizes. The following classes are men and women, novice, sport & expert/pro. ALL CYCLISTS ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR A CPSC, SNELL, OR ANSI APPROVED HELMET! Also new this year, the race is no longer restricted to mountain bikes, Cyclocross & Road bikes are allowed. All bikes must have functional brakes and gravel road is best suited for mountain bikes.
NEW: A bike race geared just for kids… at Camp Roanoke! Bring your kids, bikes & helmets for a morning of riding/racing on the trails around the camp.
FREE MOTEL ROOMS! We have a limited number of free motel rooms for qualified racers for the night of Oct 3rd . FAX your resume to Wendi Schultz (540) 387-6146. Make sure you include a phone or email address so we can get back to you. If you have an impressive resume, we'll get right back to you and as soon as we receive your entry we'll assign you a room. First come, first served. Call Skip Huffman, Race Director at (540) 400-4854 or email skip2ride@yahoo.com for info.
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| Men Course Record |
Jeremiah Bishop |
37:16 |
2007 |
| Women Course Record |
Flavia Lepene |
48:46 |
2008 |
| Single Speed Men |
Gordon Wadsworth |
51:09 |
2007 |
| Single Speed Women |
Justine Rawley |
1:12:00 |
2007 |
| Anybike Men |
Frank Mullins |
50:24 |
2007 |
| Anybike Women |
TBD |
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| Clyesdale Men |
Adam Caldwell |
1:04:42 |
2007 |
| Athena Women |
TBD |
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COURSE CONDITIONS AND DESCRIPTION
Course conditions may vary due to weather conditions., but this is an all-weather course. The course is 6 3/4 miles long with a total of about 3000 vertical feet of climbing. The first 1 1/2 miles are paved and climb gently. Then come 1/2 miles of paved 13% gradient.The following four miles are hard packed dirt with some embedded rocks, some loose rocks with gradient varying around 7% to 10% with a couple of short, steeper sections. The final 3/4 miles are hard packed or loose gravel with a gradient between 15% to16%.
There is never any mud, no major ruts, no single track, no logs or boulders, plenty of passing room.
NO BIKE TECHNICAL SKILLS ARE NEEDED. This is simply a straight ahead, shoulder to shoulder, vein poppin', tongue droppin', bike rockin', knee knockin', jaw lockin' CLIMB.
The final 3/4 mile!
Note: The entire course will be open to auto traffic but there will be a police escort for the first two miles.
COURSE ETIQUETTE
Cyclists are asked not to descend Poor Mountain until after 1:00 pm as other racers may still be ascending. Watch out for them and yield to them.
| Most of the course looks like this. |
COURSE LOCATION & MAPS
The Poor Mountain HillClimb will be hosted at Roanoke County's Camp Roanoke, located in western Roanoke County, Virginia, just off Interstate 81, Exit 132 (Dixie Caverns).
Roanoke County is easily accessible via Interstate 81 from Tennessee, West Virginia, Maryland and Washington D.C., or via US Route 220 from Greensboro, North Carolina.
Race Day check-in and pick up will be at Camp Roanoke (see the link below for directions to Camp Roanoke), along with a post race Awards Presentation and showers for race participants.
Click here to view Google Maps Directions to Poor Mountain HillClimb Location
Online registration is provided through Active.com!
Click the below to register online!
We have a field limit of 200 set on this event. Race Day registration will conclude at 10:00 AM. Early registration fee is $20 received before (or postmarked by) September 8. After September 8 until race day, registration is $25.
POOR MOUNTAIN HILLCLIMB RULES
MASSED START: All classes race together.
HELMETS: All bike racers must wear CPSC approved helmets.
WHAT YOU CAN RIDE: All bikes must have a functioning front and rear brake. No dropped bars in "Mountain bike " classes. Cyclocross and Road bikes are allowed.
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RACE CLASSES:
The Poor Mountain HillClimb offers the classes below. There is no recreation class for this race. Due to the physical difficulty of this race, no one under 14 years of age will be permitted to register or to race.
CLASS/CATEGORY: as determined by your ability on race day ...
Men's Novice- Men's Sport -Men's Expert/Pro
Women's Novice -Women's Sport- Women's Expert/Pro
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RACE CLASSES:
The Poor Mountain HillClimb offers the classes below. There is no Recreation class for this race. Due to the physical difficulty of this race, no one under 14 years of age will be permitted to register or to race.
Category as determined by your ABILITY on race day ...
Men's Novice- Men's Sport -Men's Expert/Pro
Women's Novice -Women's Sport- Women's Expert/Pr
EARLY REGISTRATION ENTRY FEE: $20 for entries received or postmarked by September 8, 2009.
THERE IS A FIELD LIMIT OF 200 RACERS, SO REGISTER EARLY. You will be notified by phone or email if you do not make the field. Unless you hear otherwise, your entry has been accepted. You can print a registration form from this site, or obtain a registration form at Cardinal Bicycle in Roanoke, VA. Online registration powered by ACTIVE.com.
LATE REGISTRATION ENTRY FEE: $25 after September 8, 2009 You can also call to register by phone at (540) 387-6078 ext 251 until the end of business Wednesday, September 30th, 2009, 4:00pm with credit card. CASH ONLY on race day.
Mail your completed registration entry to:
Poor Mountain HillClimb
Roanoke County Dept. of Parks, Recreation and Tourism
1206 Kessler Mill Road
Salem, VA 24153
Attn: Wendi Schultz
Make checks payable to: Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism.
For additional information on the Poor Mountain HillClimb contact Wendi Schultz at wschultz@roanokecountyva.gov, or call 540-387-6078 ext. 251 or or Skip Huffman, Race Director skip2ride@yahoo.com
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The Poor Mountain HillClimb starts at 11 A.M. on Sunday, October 4.
Race day check-in will be held at Camp Roanoke only, at 10AM sharp! Click here for directions to Camp Roanoke. Racers will leave Camp Roanoke at approximately 10:30 AM for the starting line at the bottom of Poor Mountain. Racers can leave a labeled bag of fresh clothing at Registration and race staff will take to the finish line at the summit of Poor Mountain.
Cyclists can check in and pick up their numbers and packet at Camp Roanoke on race day. Arriving early for registration day of is HIGHLY recommended. Pick up/day of registration opens at 8:00 AM and closes at 10 AM SHARP!. At 10:30 AM all racers will mount up for a brief warm-up ride to the official starting line at the bottom of Poor Mountain.
Special Timing Note: Our timing cut-off will be 1:00 PM.
After all participants have completed the race, everyone is invited back to Camp Roanoke for lunch, showers and the Awards Presentation!
Family members can purchase a meal ticket for just $6 per person.
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A bike race geared just for kids… at Camp Roanoke! Bring your kids, bikes & helmets for a morning of riding/racing on the trails around the camp. Print Bike Blast Application and pre-register to be received in our office by October 1st.
Learn More about Bike Blast 2009 Here
The Poor Mountain HillClimb will use Roanoke County's Camp Roanoke as it's Race Day check-in location. While most mountain bike races are in "the middle of nowhere," Camp Roanoke offers a great place for your spouse and family to spend a few hours while your loved one is truckin' up the mountain. See www.camproanoke.com or e-mail Wendi Schultz at wschultz@roanokecountyva.gov for more details about the camp, and a few of the amenities available for spouses and family members, including:
• Real bathrooms (with showers available post-race)!
• Picnic Shelter
• Basketball court
• Lots of open space for field games (soccer, horseshoes, volleyball, badminton)
• Plenty of shade
• Convenient to Dixie Caverns and Downtown Salem
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A total of $1,450 in cash prizes will be awarded at the post-race reception at Camp Roanoke, including $250 for male and female record breakers ($125 each). Field limit is 200 racers. RECORD SETTER PRIZES FOR 2009!
RECORD SETTER PRIZES FOR 2009!
There will be a New Course Record prize for beating Jeremiah Bishop's time of 37:16 set in 2007 and/or Flavia Lepene's record of 48:46 set in 2008.
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The best place to watch these races is obviously at the summit of Poor Mountain (see map). The final climb is fairly straight and steep and offers great sight lines as well as wonderful views off the mountain. Do not park on this climb. There is side of the road and off road parking past the finish line but be sure not to block the road for race vehicles. Also be EXTRA sure not to block access to any of the communication facilities at the top of Poor Mountain.
DO NOT PARK IN RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAYS!
The second best place to watch is near the intersection of Honeysuckle and Poor Mountain Roads (see map). Plenty of beside the road parking here. This is ¾ mile from the finish and is the steepest part of the course at a brief 21% gradient. Great view of the Roanoke Valley, sunny, great sightline. DO NOT try to drive down Poor Mountain Road from the intersection of Honeysuckle. There is no parking there. Park near the intersection and walk down. It’s only 50 yards or so to a great viewing area.
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SPECTATORS WARNING!
Don’t try to drive up or down the dirt middle section of the course. You’ll puncture your oil pan or get your car stuck in an embarrassing rut and it will be cheaper to just push your car over the side of the mountain and abandon it than have it towed out. Plus you will get in the way of the race and race vehicles. Just don’t do it!
2008 RACE RESULTS
Download the Adobe Acrobat PDF of the 2009 Race Results:
Poor Mountain Results 09
MOTELS, CAMPING AND ACCOMMODATIONS
There is a nice motel selection on I-81 near exits 137 and 141 (see map for exit locations and proximity to racecourse). Lots of places on West Main Street in Salem, Virginia to eat. Dick Howard suggests Mac ‘n Bob’s in downtown Salem. There is camping at Dixie Caverns (only 3 miles from Camp Roanoke) at exit 132, or phone 540-380-2085. There are great road and mountain bike rides in the Roanoke Valley. Try the Blue Ridge Parkway for road rides or Carvin's Cove Reservoir for mountain bike rides. Host Hotel is Howard Johnson Conference Center- 540-389-7061 say Roanoke County's Poor Mountain HillClimb for a special rate, mention Wendi Schultz's name.
For other local attractions, visit www.visitroanokeva.com.
OUR WONDERFUL SPONSORS...
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Roanoke County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism is dedicated to offering quality recreation events, classes and facilities for the entire family. Call (540) 387-6078 for a current program brochure or call our 24-hour automated phone line (540) 387-6455 for upcoming events and programs. |
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Cardinal Bicycle in Roanoke has the largest selection of bikes and accessories in Southwest Virginia. They are a longtime sponsor of bike racing. Cardinal Bicycle is conveniently located on Route 460 East in Roanoke. Phone (540) 344-2453. |
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Special thanks to Roanoke Valley Amateur Radio Club for their assistance on race day! Couldn't do it without you! |
Contact Roanoke County's Special Events Department at (540) 387-6078 for more information about upcoming events. To find out how your organization or business can help sponsor a particular special event, e-mail wschultz@roanokecountyVA.gov.
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