By Marty Basch

Dick Pollock stood atop a three-stepped ladder in the Attitash parking lot and addressed the collection of cyclists.

"Thank you for getting up at the crack of dawn for the first annual Crank the Crawford," the co-race director said to applause.

On a sunny Saturday September 11, 85 cyclists entered the Crank the Crawford and raced in the valley's newest hill climb, an  18-mile time trail up and over Crawford Notch on Route 302.

Doug Chiasson of Athol, Mass.  easily won at 50:40.75. Top female was Cindy McNett of Topsham, Maine, 1:01:31.

Fundraiser

A fundraiser for the Wildcat Mountain Alpine Education Foundation (Wildcat Ski Club) and the Mount Washington Valley Velo Club, cyclists raced up the lively mountain pass with some 1200 vertical feet in elevation gain with some fresh unlined pavement near the start, two railroad crossings and a construction zone near the top of the notch. The finish line was far past the top, down a hill and along a flat stretch by the Eisenhower Wayside where cyclists called out their bib number as they crossed the line.

The event drew comparisons to the popular May fundraising Crank the Kanc which routinely sells out. The Crawford ride had room for 200 riders.

"In a way this was easier than the Kanc," said Glen's Sally McMurdo. "For one thing, this one is shorter and the real climb is just in the last part. This was a beautiful day but there was a bit of a headwind at times."

The early season Kanc ride comes at a time when weather is iffy and the road tends to see less traffic. Also in spring, riders haven't spent much time on their bikes yet.

Last Saturday, the top of the notch was alive with activity with hikers, bikers and other visitors. Plus, a fundraising century ride progressing the other way was going on.

Bartlett's Steve Nichipor was one of the competitors. An occasional racer, he sometimes commutes to his job at Bretton Woods on a bicycle along the road and couldn't resist the allure of riding in the event's debut.

"I think the road is in beautiful condition," he said. "It was paved recently, the shoulders are nice and wide and it's a good steady climb. There's one steep pitch at the end that is an accomplishment."

That pitch is between Silver and Flume Cascades near the top of the pass.

Local-motion

"I was warned the pitch between the cascades is a killer," said North Conway's Martha Leich. "It was. I was in my little chain ring in the front."

Crawford is an eye-catching notch with its Webster and Willard views. Though several cyclists were more focused on the pavement.

Jackson's Steve Vosburgh liked the chance to compete on a road he trains on. An avid cyclist and cross-country skier, he also liked a local time trial at the end of the season when he's in better shape than the spring.

His focus was the race not the mountains.

"If I see the views I'm not going hard enough," he said. "I'll see them in the warm-up and the ride down. During a race my focus is about 50 feet in front of me."

There were also some mountain bikers in the crowd riding a more forgiving road bike because they were nursing injuries.

Eaton's Greg Grinnell, recovering from a hurt shoulder, also is a triathlete and competes in the Summer Mountain BIke Race Series. He enjoys the competition and prefers a time trail where riders' starts are staggered versus a mass start.

"I just like the competition and it's a beautiful day," he said. "I'm also looking forward to be riding in the first Crank the Crawford."

Intervale's Ann Ostroski, a regular in the Great Glen Trails series, recently had a wrist sprain and was riding a road bike.

"It felt really good," she said at the finish. "I signed up for this because I like to push myself. Otherwise I wouldn't do it."

North Conway's Steve Swenson was ready to ride.

"I think it's wonderful that we have a couple of local hill climbs," he said. "This is a start and it's nice to see the ski club and Velo Club get together. There is a lot of commonality there."

Wildcat Ski Club race program director Tom Flavin was pleased to see the turnout and the volunteers.

"We've always been interested in a fundraiser like this," he said. "We'll see how this goes. Maybe in the future they'll be a ride up Pinkham Notch or a series."

They’ll be back

Also, the racers who won their divisions have an interesting honor.

"Everyone who finishes at the top of each category gets to hold the course record for one year," said Pollock. "That only happens once. They'll have to come back to defend next year."