The Allen Clark Memorial Hill Climb — the annual grunt-fest that has fast become a rite of cycling passage in the Mad River Valley — is a grueling time trial that rises 1,600 vertical feet in 6.2 miles, from the intersection of Routes 100 and 17 to the top of Appalachian Gap.

The event is named in honor of long-time Mad River Valley resident, Allen Clark. An avid cyclist who took up biking late in life, he rode 2,500-3,000 annually in Vermont. Allen especially loved the challenge of the Appalachian Gap. This event is a tribute to Allen’s life and a fundraiser for Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports, an organization that meant a great deal to him.

The cost to register is $50 for adults and $30 for kids.
Bikers are encouraged to pre-register in advance of the event by clicking here

Race-day registration will take place from 8:30-9:30AM in front of Stark Mountain Bike Works. A $10 surcharge per entry will be added to all day-of registrations. Entry includes automatic participation in a raffle for lots of great shwag!

For more information, call 802-793-0109

Best Times — Medals awarded to the top three men and women in age categories. Post-race shwagraffle.

New Records — A special prize of $100 cash will be awarded to any man or woman who can set a new course record. Current records: Phil Mason — 23:11.43, Marti Shea — 26:47.30.

Combined Events — Trophies will be awarded to the man and woman with the best combined times for the bike race and Saturday’s Stark Mountain Hill Climb footrace.

Details:
Date – Sunday October 6, 2024
Start — 10 AM, Stark Mountain Bike Works, Route 100 & Route 17, Waitsfield, VT
Finish — Top of Appalachian Gap

• Length: 6.2 miles
• Vertical climb: 1,600 feet
• Race format: Time trial, 30-second intervals
• 8 age categories, from 15 and under to 70 and over.
• Registration fees: Adults – $50, Kids – $30, $10 surcharge per entry for race day registration.

The Course

The time trial course begins at Stark Mountain Bike Works at the corner of Routes 17 and 100 and rises 1600 vertical feet over 6.2 miles to finish at the intersection of the Long Trail at the summit of the Appalachian Gap.

The road, originally named the McCullough Turnpike when built in the 1950s, is currently the highest paved road in Vermont kept open year-round, topping out at 2,356 feet. The road wasn’t constructed using the high-tech survey methods available today; instead, the bed was laid out following the natural contours of the terrain. With an average pitch of roughly 10 percent over the last 2½ miles, the climb is steeper (if shorter) than most climbs in the Tour de France. But steepness alone isn’t everything. The numerous changes in pitch and direction are really what make the App Gap climb a challenging and exhilarating ride, both physically and mentally.

Who Can Participate?

Cyclists and Unicyclists of all ages and abilities with any type of bicycle are invited to tackle the challenge of racing to the top of the Appalachian Gap. In keeping with the spirit of its namesake, the late Allen Clark, the Hill Climb is a celebration of cycling as a sport for people of all ages and physical abilities, with any type of bicycle. Clark was a Mad River Valley cycling enthusiast and a regular bike-shop customer who didn’t take up the sport until he was in his sixties. He went on to log between 2,000 and 3,500 miles a year, well into his 70s, riding in all weather and in every month of the year. His favorite bike was a Bianchi hybrid, fully rigged with racks and a huge storage trunk. The bike weighed more than 40 pounds — more than twice the weight of a typical racing bike.

The Ap Gap climb was one of Clark’s favorite rides, as it is for almost every cyclist in the Mad River Valley. The climb can be difficult and even downright painful, but getting to the top is always extraordinarily rewarding. Regardless of what level rider you might be, riding the Gap is the ultimate fitness reality check. That’s why local riders come back to the Gap again and again, in a kind of love/hate relationship.

Categories

Prizes will be awarded for both men and women, 15 years and over. Junior riders, under age 15, will finish at Mad River Glen.

• Under 15
• 15-19
• 20+
• 40+
• 50+
• 60+
• 70+
• Adaptive
• Tandem
• Unicyclists

Volunteers

The Allen Clark Hill Climb relies on volunteers to make this event happen. Please consider offering a few hours of your time to ensure the race happens. Here are the needs – contact info@madrivervalley.com or call (802) 496-3409 if you are interested in helping out.