Hill Climb - Riders of the Purple Sage II

Set up a couple hundred feet from bottom
Rev it, pop clutch and run through gears

The Thumper roars

Devil's Hole, Idaho 1976
L-R: Tom Campbell, Jack Ohl,
Charlie Brown III, Jerry "Leadbelly" Salsberry

The vibrations course through your entire body
Take it to the highest speed you feel fairly safe with
Hit the bottom and start climbing that hill

Incline causes loss of momentum
Lose traction
Front end gets lighter
Downshifting to increase torque
Run out of gears short of top

Front wheel bounces high
Bail out, bail out!
Get away from falling metal
Bike lays on hillside

Lift it, heavy
Dead weight
Hand holding brake
Position it pointed downhill

Release brake
Run alongside
Hop on
Pop the clutch
Thumper comes to life

Ride and slide to the bottom
To try again


(For Jack, CB III and Leadbelly - see Riders of the Purple Sage I)