For most people, riding a bicycle up Mt. Washington’s Auto Road and making it to the top is challenging enough. The 7.6-mile paved road gains 4678 feet from start to finish. Its average grade is 12 percent, with an extended segment of 18 percent, and a 22 percent grade for the last 50 yards — “The Wall.”
Challenging weather adds to the difficulty. It can be brutally hot or cold, raining, sleeting, snowing — it’s all possible. Gusty winds can blow you and your bike off the road. It’s not just about elevation gain. It’s about being physically and mentally tough to deal with whatever the mountain throws at you.
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