Dirty Dozen Race To Again Provide Steep Challenge For Cyclists

PITTSBURGH, PA - The Dirty Dozen bicycle race, a Thanksgiving weekend Pittsburgh tradition for nearly four decades, is grueling under the most ideal conditions. They likely won’t be ideal when hundreds of cyclists compete in the event Saturday.

Last year brought sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 50s as cyclists tackled the city’s 13 steepest hills over a 50-mile course. This year, the weather is expected to get no warmer than the mid-40s and rain is likely for most, if not all, of the event.

The race has grown considerably in popularity since its humble beginnings in 1983, when co-founders Danny Chew; his brother, Tom; and their friend Bob Gottlieb were joined by just two other cyclists. In 2017, a record 453 people registered for the event. Danny Chew tackled the challenging course annually until being paralyzed in a bike accident in 2016.

The race includes Canton Avenue in Beechview, one of the world’s steepest streets with a 37 percent grade; Sycamore Street in Mt. Washington; Rialto Street in Troy Hill; Berryhill Road in O'Hara and Flowers Avenue in Hazelwood. Those streets that are difficult to walk up slowly, let alone competitively bike on.

The race begins at 9 a.m. at the Rhododendron Shelter in Highland Park just around corner from the former start at Bud Harris Cycling Track. If you competed in the race last year and are doing so again this year, be aware that the course has changed. In 2017, the first hills were Center, Ravine, Christopher and High. This year the course will be Christopher, Center, Ravine and High.

Image via YouTube.

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