Local bike shops QuadCycles, Quadmultisport and the QuadCycles Racing Team announce the First Annual School Street Bicycle Hill Climb. The race, which benefits the QuadCycles Junior Cyclocross Team, will take place in Arlington on Saturday, August 22, 2009. The event will be run in time trial format, with the first rider departing
the start line at 9:30 a.m. and the last rider going off at 12:30 p.m.

Commencing at the gate of Cutter Hill Park and concluding just before
Gray Street, the 900-foot course features 150 feet of elevation gain
and an average grade of 17 percent. Though the climb will prove
challenging, the fastest riders will likely complete it in under one
minute. All riders must wear helmets and compete on bicycles with at
least one functional brake. As each rider will receive only one
chance to complete the climb, those not able to finish the course may
walk their bicycles back down the sidewalk to the start, or walk up
the sidewalk to the finish.

An awards ceremony will follow the event at 12:45 p.m., with prizes
awarded for the three fastest male riders and three fastest female
riders in age groups 12-14, 15-16, 17-18, 19-29, 30-39, 40-49, and
50+. Any locals hoping for a chance to shine on the bike but daunted
by the idea of 150 other competitors should note that separate prizes
will be awarded to the fastest male and fastest female Arlington
residents, and also to the fastest male and fastest female School
Street residents.

Riders should plan to arrive at the event early to allow themselves
time to check in and sign a mandatory waiver form. The course will be
open for warmups from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. The entry fee is $10 for
those preregistering through bikereg.com, and $13 for those
registering on the day of the event. Commemorative T-shirts will be
available on the day of the event for an additional fee.

For those traveling to the event by car, local street parking will be
available with the following exceptions: School Street, Robbins Road,
the Cutter School Condominiums lot, and the Brattle Square business
lot will all be no-parking zones; however, School Street will remain
open to resident traffic for the duration of the race. Temporary bike
parking (in the form of bike racks) will be provided to all
participants. Restrooms and changing rooms will be available at
QuadCycles on Massachusetts Avenue, half a block east of School
Street; cyclists who are hungry post-climb can purchase food at A&A
Deli across from QuadCycles.

For more information regarding this event, contact:

Ted Packard
10 Oakland Avenue
Arlington, MA 02476
(781) 648-1091 (H)
(781) 267-2714 (M)
ted.b.packard@gmail.com