Events: Tour of the Catskills 2022
(2022) There could not have been a more perfect day to ride the fifteenth running of the Tour of the Catskills. After weeks of 90+ degrees, nature threw in a day of mid-sixties temperatures and partly cloudy skies over Tannersville, NY, on August 13th. Anthem Sports saw a supportive turn out for the three distance event. Having summited the beast of Devil’s Kitchen four years ago, it was decided to have another crack at it on the 75-mile course.
The opening twenty miles of the Tour of the Catskills is magical. With a net loss of over 700 feet from Tannersville to Prattsville, the speeds are naturally high. This year’s front group was especially sketchy. There were two types of riders: ones tightening their Boas on their shoes, and ones tightening the Boas on their helmets. With numerous brake checks, the opening miles proved riders were in a hurry to get somewhere, but they weren’t sure where. A police escort helped the front group manage a sensible 25-mile-per-hour average pace before the climbing started in Prattsville.
Once into Prattsville and over the next four miles, the route recouped eight hundred feet of climbing and a ranked category three climb. The front group rode away as stragglers quietly focused on the ever-lengthening horizon. On the route there was an expected 5,700 feet of climbing for the 75-mile route. The middle part of the course was where much of the uppage was. The middle portion is also where some of the most beautiful vistas were begging for riders to stop and take in the grandeur the Catskills has to offer. Farms in the foreground, the livestock were dwarfed by background hills and mountains that make this region unique.
Tour of the Catskills 75-mile start in Tannersville, NY, rolled off at 9am under perfect weather.
Meanwhile there were incredible descents. In one five-mile stretch, the route plunges a continuous 1,300 feet, complete with tight turns and remarkable views. There were also puffy white clouds electrified the ride’s atmosphere as they glowed against the morning blue skies. Here is where the Tour of the Catskills earns its place of regular participants. On the day I managed to average 35 miles an hour for five minutes, taking on water, relaxing the legs, and admiring the peaceful part where few riders passed. The route was halfway complete when we scorched into Durham, NY, with the same passionate volunteers vehemently gesturing to turn out of town. The volunteers were absolutely dedicated about getting involved in the Tour of the Catskills.
A reserved approach to the Tour of the Catskills somehow saw the fastest ever event for me. Perhaps the cooler weather helped with completing nearly 80% of the course in three hours. Small concerns about having firepower for the brutal climb at the end of the Tour of the Catskills crept in when doing maths regarding pace and effort. Hunger pangs entered the concern only to be alleviated by the second rest stop at mile fifty.
The opening downhill miles are dotted with beautiful views such as this one of Hunter Mountain Resort.
The rest stop was upbeat, in part due to a devoted volunteer named Juanita pouring giant jugs of water into eager cyclists’ bottles. Behind the volunteer was a pickup truck with a sticker that read something like, “I volunteer. Thank yous are my paycheck.” It summed up her effort perfectly as she smiled, even thanking the riders for coming out this year. Naturally I continued my tradition of relieving the aid station of at least a sleeve of Fig Newtons. Arriving riders excitedly recounted parts of the course to their teammates and friends. I decided it was time to tackle the final section, the most trying climb of any course I’ve ever ridden.
The climb is hard to believe, especially when the climb is preceded by a seven-mile roller coaster road called Hearts Content Road. The chance to maintain speed shows the road was named by a cyclist (heading east I’m sure). Here is where I rode with two guys from a team named Thug Racing or something similar and watched one of the riders with a frame sticker of Axeal or something simply throw his gel wrapper into the woods. The apathetic attitude of it all stoked the fires in preparation for the climb. Meanwhile another rider kept jostling for position with me atop his new Madone. I played the game, knowing he would be gassed before the climb.
As if out of nowhere, Devil’s Kitchen - properly known as Platte Clove Road - reveals itself immediately and without concern for a rider’s ego. At first it would be understandable for any cyclist to consider this a short stinging climb to be dealt with and moved on. Hardly the case, the climb keeps going up. This is a category two climb that ascends nearly 1,300 feet in less than 2.5 miles. Per Strava, the road averages 10% with areas exceeding 20%. Descending motorists filled the air with the wafting of burning brakes. As a matter of observance, the road seemed especially busy with motorists during the Tour of the Catskills. Different from other attempts, the road was less populated by participants. Sure enough, the Madone rider who was jostling with me earlier was standing at the exact start of the Devil’s Kitchen climb, looking as if he were struggling with a mechanical.
The climb out of Prattsville is where we said goodbye to most of the peloton.
Having summited Devil’s Kitchen for the first time in 2018 I knew it was possible to do it again, but I was also nervous I had gotten greedy by returning for another go. Here I was climbing the toughest road in a newer kit, newer shoes, and a new bike since my last appearance on Platte Clove Road. I knew there would be dark times going up. My goal was to keep going without putting a foot down. The approach was: stand and make an effort on the steeper ramps, rest and recoup on the less steep sections. Those who have visited the Kitchen will tell you the right-hander is where dreams are broken. The left hander finishes off the believers. Having made it to the right hander with economy, I passed a group of riders pulled over at one of the recently added alcoves. With the left-hander coming up, I had to ignore the walking rider. This road demoralizes those still atop the bicycle. Walkers hung in the distance, taunting the rider into hopping off. Without so much as a sideways glance, I struggled past the dismounted rider. After the left, there is another steep pitch, but hope was entering the picture. Make quick work of this steep section and the climb is essentially over. Regrouping on one of the less steep areas, the next steep section was attacked. The hard parts were getting easier.
There I was atop Devil’s Kitchen, having stayed on the bike for the climb’s entirety and not a single person was around to see me giggle. Like a little kid I sported a smirk until another kind volunteer flagged me down offering water. There was no way I could have made it to the finish with gusto without him. And he couldn’t have been more thankful for me participating. Encouragingly, he said only a few more miles, those words echoed as cramps set in and the dread of a slightly uphill route to the finish in Tannersville.
Shortly after passing the dilapidated building next to Spruce Street, the anticipation of the finish welled to the surface. A left turn onto Church Street and back to the parking lot behind Last Chance Antique and Cheese Shop escorted riders through the inflated start/finish banner. I collected my finisher medal, sent a text to the team DS to report I was clear of the course, and then I rolled to the secondary team car to pack up and head home.
After searching for purpose on the 75-mile course, the spirit of the event was located once I got to the car. Somehow I lost the bit to my torque wrench to remove my front wheel. Luckily a participant, who happened to be parked next to me, was backing out. I asked them if there was a multi-tool somewhere. The passenger hopped out with alacrity and told me about his day on the 25-mile course. He was from Glens Falls, NY, and since he got to ride, he was to accompany his wife to some yard sales on the way home. He could not have been more excited about his Tour of the Catskills. I could not have been more thankful he was available when I needed help most.
I headed out of Tannersville thankful for such a beautiful day in such a gorgeous area featured by such an amazing route. Anthem Sports said this would be the last year but that feedback requested it for 2023. And why not? How can such a beautiful event get shelved? I could have thought of anything at the Circle W general store in Palenville: the perfect weather, the successful Devil’s Kitchen summit, but what I kept coming back to was the rider in the parking lot who helped me. His happiness from his completion of the 25-mile course was inspiring. Especially since his parting words were, “Maybe next year I’ll try the 75-mile course!” I hope he does, and I hope there is a Tour of the Catskills 2023 for him to try it.
