Men, women cyclists set marks in Mount Baker Hill Climb

CAT SIEH

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GLACIER — Amid the sea of colorful spandex and the cluster of aerodynamic helmets, less serious riders prepared for the sixth annual Ride 542 on Sunday, Sept. 7.

“We only signed up in the competitive class because we didn’t want to get up early,” joked Thomas Haas, 40, as he and five other friends from Vancouver, B.C. prepared for the grueling 4,300-foot climb from Glacier to Artist Point, fondly known as the Mount Baker Hill Climb.

“It’s totally for fun,” said Hass’ friend Ramsey Azim, 32. Also in the group, Steve Hodge, 30, added, “We’re just going to (upset) all the other riders going up.”

| DANNY GAWLOWSKI THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

Mt. Baker Hill Climb
HILL CLIMB WINNERS

Both the man’s and women’s records for the Mount Baker Hill Climb were broken Sunday, Sept. 8. Unofficial times were only available for the winners in the competitive class, because of timing equipment complications.

WOMEN’S WINNER: Leah Goldstein, 39, of Vancouver, B.C. Time: 1 hour, 26 minutes, topping her winning 2007 record, 1 hour, 29 minutes and 58 seconds.

MEN’S WINNER: Ian McKissick, 27, of Everett. Time: 1 hour, 16 minutes and 39 seconds, topping Adam Jensen’s 2007 record of 1 hour, 18 minutes and 19 seconds.

MORE RESULTS: For more results, visit www.norkarecreation.com

The annual event, which attracts cyclists of all abilities from around the world, boasted record participation this year, with more than 750 participants competing in five classes on the fully closed Mount Baker Highway.

For professional rider Leah Goldstein, 39-year-old Vancouver, B.C., the goal was to break her own 2007 winning time for the 24.5-mile course, thereby breaking the women’s competitive record and winning the $4,000 prize.

“Mentally, I know what to expect this time,” she said at the starting line. “But everything has to go perfectly.”

Meagan McPhee, 23, of the Western Washington University Cycling Team, said she was just in it for the fun. “I’m excited because I’ve never ridden this highway when it’s closed before,” she said.

Spectators clanged cowbells and one onlooker dressed in a death mask and costume rang a bell as riders rounded the final curves before the summit.

At 1 hour and 26 minutes, Goldstein was the first woman to cross the finish line, breaking her record and winning the $4,000 pot.

2006 winner Ian McKissick, 27, of Everett, took the men’s race again at 1 hour, 18 minutes and 19 seconds, breaking Adam Jensen’s 2007 record and winning an additional $4,000.

Jensen, who came in at a slower time than last year, said the rigors of dental school took a toll on his training time this year. “You can definitely tell the difference when you’re training a quarter as much,” he said. “But it’s a great race and a beautiful day. You can’t win ’em all.”

Tandem class winners Alex Brede, 48, and Richard West, 60, both of Bellingham, smiled and laughed as they cooled down.

“The older we get the easier it gets,” said West, who has competed in the race since its inception in 2003. The pair said their winning time was roughly 1 hour and 40 minutes.

Nearby, Erik Philipson, 10 — the youngest race participant — rested after his first Hill Climb.

“It was a lot harder than I expected,” he said, adding that “maybe” he’ll try again next year.