Answering the question “water or beer” from supporters passing out cups on hilly Suffolk Street to cyclists of Pittsburgh’s Dirty Dozen race on Saturday, the preferred drink of choice was beer. Lucas Nothnagel, a 21-year-old University of Pittsburgh student participating in the race, said the shot invigorated him.
Hundreds turned out in spandex and sunglasses for the race, which covers about 60 miles and goes up Pittsburgh’s 13 steepest hills. Some raced competitively, while others joined “casual” heats.
“It’s difficult enough that it feels like a win to be finishing,” said John Miller, a three-time participant. The Dirty Dozen was created by former professional endurance cyclist Danny Chew in 1983, and it does not receive any corporate sponsorships. “It’s completely grassroots,” said Mr. Miller, who was racing with a friend who was turning 40 for the 40th year of the event.
The energy at the Rhododendron Shelter in Highland Park — the course’s starting point — was imbued with both excitement and, perhaps, dread.
Eddie Leonard, a 43-year-old orchestra conductor who has completed the race eight times, said with a smile that he was “looking forward to it being over.” Among a trio of young men (including professional cyclist Robin Carpenter, 31), one said he was cycling in the race “for personal glory only.”
Mr. Leonard and another participant, Josh Licata, were spotted on the side of the road about 20 minutes into the race with flat tires. Mr. Licata said he had all the components to change his flat — in a box at home.
Spirits were high throughout, however, and a sense of community trailed along with the riders. Polly Tyo, a resident of Perry South, where the seventh hill, Suffolk Street, was located, had set out tables with candy, coffee, water and beer, with music blaring through a speaker.
A Buffalo Bills fan, she’s a seasoned tailgater and brought the same energy to the race’s sidelines. Riders knew of the “Bills Mafia house,” where people brandished homemade signs and passed out water (but mostly beer) to huffing riders.
Ms. Tyo started setting out the tables four years ago, and said she’s ramped up to match the Dirty Dozen energy.
“We always want to make sure our neighbors are taken care of,” she said. “That’s what it’s about.”
Though not known as the hardest hill of the race, Suffolk Street is long and requires riders to push through multiple turns and a homestretch of cobblestone.
Robin Carpenter, 31, who was the first to make it up Suffolk Street, said it hurt more than the others: “That one burned a lot,” he said.
Spectators along Suffolk included family members of participants as well as former Dirty Dozen cyclists, such as Sean Brady. The Dirty Dozen used to take place on the Saturday following Thanksgiving, but organizers moved it earlier in the year for a chance at better weather.
Mr. Brady created the “Dirty Onion” to take place on the now-free Saturday, a similar but more casual bike race throughout 16 neighborhoods within Pittsburgh’s North Side. Though riders can peel off the route at any time, the Dirty Onion includes 10,000 feet of climbing, said Mr. Brady.
Why someone would suffer through round after round of grueling Pittsburgh hills didn’t immediately seem clear until Beechview’s Canton Avenue, the ninth hill in the race.
Canton is known as the steepest street in America, with a 37% grade. Saturday afternoon, the cobblestone street was slick with rain and wet leaves.
Observers of the professional heat said only about two-thirds of the riders rode up it successfully; placing a foot down during a hill climb disqualifies riders. In later heats, about 40% completed it on the first go.
Olivia Beattie, a 26-year-old Carnegie Mellon University graduate student and Dirty Dozen first-timer, attempted the hill four times and got it on the last try. Her friend, 28-year-old Xiayu Peng, also a first-timer, completed the hill on the first try but said her tank was draining.
“I’m getting really tired,” she said. “Each hill is a little harder.” But she said she was so happy when she made it to the top, despite sliding on the wet cobblestone.
Among others who made it up Canton included Lucas Nothnagel, fueled by beer, and Josh Licata and Eddie Leonard, who were eventually given tire patch kits by fellow cyclists. At the top, riders refueled with Pop-Tarts and Twinkies.
Some cyclists screamed their way up the grade, others pumped judiciously until they crossed the painted white line at the top, with spectators cheering and ringing cowbells the whole way. The broad smiles on the faces of those who crossed that line were telling of the purpose for many participants: to attempt a uniquely Pittsburgh challenge.
“When you go up a hill that steep, your heart starts beating so fast that you feel like you are going to die,” said Mr. Brady. “You have to get through that and realize you’ll be fine.
“If there’s no risk, there’s very little reward,” he added. “If you finish this race, you feel like you’re on top of the world.”
First Published: October 28, 2023, 11:47 p.m.
Updated: October 29, 2023, 3:14 a.m.
