LIHU‘E — If you’re thinking about signing up for Pedal to the Meadow, Angelo Catiggay has a little advice for you: “Train. Uphill train.” Which leads to the question, why train for uphill? Isn’t this just another road race? Nope. Not
LIHU‘E — If you’re thinking about signing up for Pedal to the Meadow, Angelo Catiggay has a little advice for you:
“Train. Uphill train.”
Which leads to the question, why train for uphill? Isn’t this just another road race?
Nope. Not at all. Some call it the Ironman of cycling. Others, the official hill race of Kaua‘i.
Consider the course: It’s 15.75 miles long. In that 15.75 miles, it climbs 3,800 feet. It’s a 6 percent grade most of the way, and if you aren’t sure how steep that is, set a treadmill at 6 percent and keep walking.
Now that sounds like 15 miles of pain, all sanctioned by the U.S. Cycling Association.
“It is the hardest uphill in the state,” Catiggay says without hesitation.
He should know. This will be his third time in Pedal to the Meadow, which is set for Sunday, May 26.
Many think about it, but few actually try.
Be ready for the 8 a.m. mass start at Kok‘e Road at the intersection of the haul cane road in Kekaha.
The finish is in Koke‘e State Park near the entrance to Kanaloahuluhulu Meadow.
In between, as already mentioned, is pain as the course climbs along the Waimea Canyon rim.
Wait, there must be some downhills in there, right?
“Not really,” said Kenny Ishii, also helping promote the race.
The fourth annual ride is presented by Tradewind Cycling Team. It starts on the Westside of the island and climbs along the Waimea Canyon rim.
“It is a scenic and challenging climb that starts at hot dry sea level and ends deep in the cool wet upland forest of the Garden Island’s interior,” according to the group’s website.
About 100 are signed up this year, among them, professional cyclist Mark Galedo from the Philippines. He’ll be going after the course record of 1 hour, 3 minutes, 47 seconds, set by last year’s winner, Eric Lau.
Top riders from the state are expected to be there, too, to push Galedo to the finish line.
Pedal to the Meadow might not be right for casual cyclists. There’s a three-hour limit — the course closes at 11 a.m. — to be an official finisher, but if you decide to go for it, Catiggay says the reward at the top is worth the struggle to get there.
“Ride it and experience it,” says the Philippines Hawaii Bicycling Club member.
Plus, there’s a bonus.
“At the top, they give you chicken,” he says, smiling.
The course also ends at the site of the annual Banana Poka Round-Up festival, which includes craft classes, exhibits, keiki activities, rooster crowing contest and live music. There will also be a race awards ceremony.
The entry fee is $35 if received online before race week. Late entry fee is $45. The price includes a T-shirt and water bottle, to go along with all that agony.
Info, registration: http://pedaltothemeadow.com
