VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSON'S FOUNDATION.
>> Huell: WELL HELLO EVERYBODY I'M HUELL HOWSER AND IT IS AT ABOUT 9:00 O'CLOCK ON A BEAUTIFUL MORNING, WE'RE HERE IN SILVER LAKE HE INVITED US TO COME HERE IN WHAT HAS BECOME AN HONEST TO GOODNESS LOS ANGELES TRADITION.
HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN GOING ON >>> THIS IS THE 30th YEAR WE'VE BEEN COMING OUT TO FARGO STREET, THE STEEPEST HILL IN LOS ANGELES.
>> Huell: THE STEEPEST HILL, HOW DO WE KNOW?
>> BECAUSE THE BIKE CLUB TELLS US THAT, BUT THE LONG TIME PRESIDENT OF THE CLUB WAS A CITY ENGINEER WITH LOS ANGELES AND ESSERTHE -- HE CERTIFIED IT THE STEEPEST HILL.
>> Huell: SO THIS IS STEEPER THAN ANY HILL IN SAN FRANCISCO.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
IT STARTS OUT EASY ENOUGH AND GETS HARDER AT THE TOP VERY DIFFICULT HILL TO RIDE.
>> Huell: LET'S GIVE IT AWAY.
EXPLAIN HOW LONG THIS STREET IS.
>> IT'S A LITTLE OVER 500 FEET.
IT -- MAYBE LOOKS EASY ON CAMERA BUT WHEN YOU TRY TO RIDE THIS THING, THE HEART GOES, THE LUNGS, THE LEGS EVERYTHING GETS PUMPED IN BY THE TIME YOU'RE AT THE TOP, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO DO.
>> Huell: SO THE IDEA IS, THIS WHOLE RIDE ONLY LAST FOR ONE BLOCK?
>> ONE BLOCK.
IT TAKES MAYBE ONE TO THREE MINUTES OF EXTREME EFFORTS, IT LOOK LIKE IT'S TEN MILES BECAUSE IT'S SO HARD TO DO.
IT'S ALSO FUN.
>> Huell: YEAH, IT SOUNDS LIKE FUN.
>> IF YOU LIKE IT.
>> Huell: WHO COMES OUT THIS YEAR?
IS IT A CHALLENGE FOR NEW PEOPLE ALONG THE WAY?
>> IT'S A CHALLENGE FOR EVERYONE.
WE GET SOME OF THE SAME DIE HEARTS BUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER HEARD ABOUT IT.
EVERY BICYCLE CLUB IS NOTIFIED THIS EVENT SO WE'LL HAVE VARIOUS CLUBS AN ARRIVE.
>> Huell: A LOT OF SPECTATOR JUST INTO PAIN WATCHING PAIN.
>> WATCHING PAIN, YEAH, YEAH, AND A FEW OF US NOT INTO PAIN BUT IT'S REWARDING.
YOU GET A PATCH HERE, THAT MY WIFE SEWED ON MY JERSEY.
>> Huell: OH YEAH, IT SETS I ROAD FARGO STREET.
DID DO YOU ON THE GET THE PATCH IF YOU MAKE IT >> ONLY IF YOU MAKE IT.
LAST YEAR THERE WAS A MAN THAT TRIED TO MAKE THE HILL FOUR TIMES AND HE GOT WITHIN TEN FEET SO WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOOD ENOUGH SO WE GAVE IT TO HIM.
>> Huell: DO WE HAVE A HEART ATTACK OR MEDICAL PROBLEMS.
>> EVERYONE SIGNS A RELEASE.
NO ONE HAS BEEN HURT TO MY KNOWLEDGE.
A HELMET IS REQUIRED.
>> Huell: WE'VE GOT A YOUNGSTER.
ARE YOU GETTING READY TO RIDE THIS THING?
>> YEAH.
>> Huell: HAVE YOU PRACTICED RIDING UP A HILL THIS STEEP?
>> YEAH, I DID IT LAST YEAR.
>> Huell: HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR YOUR SON TO RIDE IN THIS?
>> HE WAS REAL EXCITED WHEN HE DID IT LAST YEAR.
I WAS OUT OF TOWN AND I DIDN'T GET TO SEE IT.
SO I'M HOPING HE MAKES IT THIS YEAR.
>> Huell: FAMILIES HAVE SUPPOSE TO BE DOING THINGS TOGETHER.
WHY AREN'T YOU RIDING?
>> I TRIED IT ABOUT 13 YEARS AGO AND I FELL BACKWARDS.
>> Huell: HAVE YOU TRIED IT.
>> I'VE NEVER TRIED IT.
>> Huell: TELL US ABOUT THE SECRET.
HOW DO YOU DO IT?
>> A TACK.
>> Huell: YOU ATTACK?
>> NO, I GO SIDE TO SIDE.
>> Huell: YOU MEAN YOU GO UP LIKE THIS.
>> YEAH.
>> Huell: THAT MAKES IT LONGER?
>> YEAH, BUT I CAN'T DO IT WHEN I'M GOING STRAIGHT UP.
>> Huell: YEAH, HERE WE GO UP HERE.
WHAT ARE YOU FELLOWS DOING UP HERE?
>> WE SUPPORT.
>> Huell: OH YOU'RE JUST GIVING SUPPORT.
>> WE FALL ALONG BEHIND AND SOMETIMES WHEN THEY FALL OVER, YOU CAN CATCH THEM.
>> Huell: OH Y'ALL THE SPOTERS.
>> YEAH, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU FALL DOWNHILL NOT UPHILL.
>> Huell: SO YOU'VE DONE THIS BEFORE.
>> IF YOU HAVE THE WRONG SHOES, YOU SKATE RIGHT NOW.
>> Huell: NOW ARE YOU ALL GOING TO RIDE TOO?
>> NOT THIS YEAR.
I NEVER MADE IT.
I TRIED IT A FEW TIMES.
>> Huell: LOOK WE'RE JUST BARELY WALKED UP THE HILL -- BOY IT'S STEEP.
>> YES, IT'S MY HOUSE.
>> Huell: THIS IS ANNUAL -- >> ANNUAL THING FOR ME.
I LOVE TO SEE THIS.
IT'S LIKE A REAL EVENT AND I COME AND SIT HERE AND FEED EVERYBODY COFFEE AND MY FRIENDS AND WHATEVER THEY BRING IN HERE.
>> Huell: SO WAIT A MINUTE YOU SIT HERE AND WATCH THESE POOR PEOPLE HUFFING AND PUFFING UP THE STREET -- ?I.
RUN THIS HILL EVERY DAY.
>> Huell: REALLY?
>> YEAH, FOR EXERCISE IN THE MORNING.
>> Huell: YEAH BUT YOU KNOW NOT EVERYBODY IS IN THE SHAPE YOU'RE IN.
>> YOU HAVE TO BE IN SHAPE IF YOU WANT -- IF YOU WANT TO ENJOY LIFE.
YOU CAN NOT FEEL SORRY FOR YOURSELF.
>> Huell: IS THERE A LESSON TO UNDERSTAND THIS HILL?
>> YOU HAVE TO HAVE A STATE OF MIND AND IF YOU DECIDE YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE IT, YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE IT.
BUT IF YOU DECIDE IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT, YOU GET SCARED, YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO DO ANYTHING.
>> Huell: HERE HE COMES.
[APPLAUSE] >> Huell: OH MY GOSH!
BOY, YOU CAN TELL RIGHT AWAY THAT THIS IS TOUGH.
>> YEAH, THIS IS VERY TOUGH.
>> Huell: LOOK AT THIS.
>> THE TRICK IS TO GO BACK AND FOURTH AND MAKE IT EASIER.
>> Huell: THAT'S CALLED TACKING.
>> YEAH.
>> Huell: BUT HE'S GOING STRAIGHT UP THE HILL.
>> YEAH -- >> Huell: CAMERON LET'S FOLLOW HIM UP IF WE CAN.
I THINK WE CAN -- OH MY GOSH.
>> Huell: OH MY GOSH.
I'M SERIOUS, THIS IS A STEEP HILL JUST TO WALK AND WE'RE ONLY ABOUT HALFWAY UPRIGHT NOW.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> Huell: THE CROWD IS GIVING HIM ENCOURAGEMENT.
>> GO HARD!
>> Huell: IS HE GOING TO MAKE IT?
ARE WE GOING TO MAKE IT?
>> COME ON!
>> Huell: HE'S GOING TO MAKE IT?
>> YEAH.
>> Huell: [BREATHING HARD]MY LEGS ARE GOING, I'M SERIOUS.
I CAN'T EVEN WALK TO THE TOP.
[BREATHE HARD] >> Huell: [BREATHING HARD] YOU MADE IT!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> Huell: HEY, CAMERON?
HEY CAMERON, TURN AROUND.
[BREATHING HARD] >> Huell: THIS IS EMBARRASSING.
WHOA!
[BREATHEING HARD].
THIS IS EMBARRASSING IT'S HARD TO WALK, LET ALONE RIDE A BIKE.
>> LET ALONE RIDE THE BIKE.
>> NOTHING TO BE EMBARRASSED ABOUT.
>> Huell: LET'S TALK TO THE GUY.
IF I CAN GET MY BREATH.
>> Huell: GIVE HIM A COUPLE OF MINUTES.
>> Huell: YOU'RE THE SAME WAY.
>> I'LL GIVE YOU SOME TECHNICAL DATA ON THIS HILL.
>> Huell: LOOK AT THIS.
WOW!
>> YOU CAN DO IT.
YOU'VE GOT IT.
THAT'S IT!
>> Huell: NOW SEE, YOU CAN NOT TOUCH K ARE YOU?
>> YOU'VE GOT TO COME ALL THE WAY UP.
>> YOU DESERVE SOMETHING.
>> HE DESERVES ANOTHER TRY.
AND BELIEVE ME, -- >> Huell: BOY YOU'RE TOUGH ON THE RULES.
>> WELL YEAH.
>> Huell: WHAT ARE THE RULES?
>> ONE RULE, START AT THE BOTTOM AND MAKE IT TO THE TOP.
>> Huell: BUT YOU CAN NOT TOUCH.
>> YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO DO BUT YOU CAN NOT TOUCH THE GROUND.
>> Huell: SO YOU CAN NOT STOP?
>> WELL YOU COULD STOP IF YOU DIDN'T TAKE YOUR FEET OFF THE PEDAL.
>> Huell: WHERE DO MOST PEOPLE CRACK?
>> I WOULD SAY PROBABLY ABOUT A THIRD OF THE WAY UPRIGHT ABOUT WHERE HE WAS.
USUALLY THERE IS A CAR PARKED ON THE RIGHT AND IF YOU'RE COUNTING ON THAT SPACE TO MANEUVER, THEN, THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO CAUSE YOU PROBLEMS.
>> Huell: THAT'S ABOUT WHERE I CRACKED ABOUT A THIRD OF THE WAY UP.
>> I HAD A FRIEND VIDEO TAPING AND SHE CRACKED RIGHT ABOUT THERE.
>> Huell: HERE COMES ANOTHER GUY.
CAMERON, LET'S ZOOM IN ON HIM.
HE DOES, YOU GOES BACK AND FOURTH.
ALTHOUGH THE GUY THAT JUST MADE IT, HE CAME STRAIGHT UP.
>> THAT'S HOW MY TRIP WAS STRAIGHT UP.
AND I ALMOST LOST IT BUT I CAME STRAIGHT UP.
>> Huell: THAT ADS A LOT OF DISTANCE.
>> YOU'RE TALKING A QUARTER MILE.
IF YOU CAN BALANCE THE BIKE AND DO THAT, IT SURE CUTS DOWN ON THE ANGLE.
>> Huell: IS THIS RACE KNOWN ALL OVER CALIFORNIA?
>> CERTAINLY FAMOUS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND I KNOW PEOPLE UP NORTH KNOW IT ALSO.
>> Huell: SEE, THERE YOU GO.
>> THAT IS THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF THIS.
>> Huell: HE PUT HIS FEET ON THE GROUND SO HE'S OUT.
>> THAT IS WHAT CAUSES MOST OF THE PROBLEMS THIS IS THE FRONT END TO COME UP BECAUSE THE ANGLE OF THE HILL.
AT LEAST IT WAS FOR ME.
>> Huell: LOOK AT HIM GOING DOWN.
OH MY GOSH!
I HOPE HE'S GOT GOOD BREAKS.
>> OH YEAH.
YOU'LL BE AMAZED.
>> Huell: NOW ARE YOU ALL HERE TO OBSERVE OR RIDE?
>> OBSERVE.
>> Huell: OBSERVE?
>> WE'RE SPECTATOR.
>> Huell: HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TO GO UP IT BEFORE?
>> I TRIED IT LAST YEAR, BUT HAD TO PULL THE WHEELS AND THE WHEEL CAME OUT.
>> Huell: IT'S TRICKY.
HAVE YOU TRIED IT >> I HAD A CAR THAT COULD NOT MAKE IT.
AND TURNING AROUND WAS SCARY.
IT'S A WEIRD HILL.
>> Huell: HERE COMES THE KID FOR HIS SECOND SHOT AND FOLLOWED BY HIS MOM AND DAD THERE TO GIVE HIM ENCOURAGEMENT.
HE'S TACKING LIKE HE TOLD US HE WAS GOING TO.
>> OH!
[APPLAUSE] >> Huell: IT'S TOUGH, I'M TELLING YOU.
NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED OF IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT.
IT'S TOUGH.
>> Huell: THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME?
>> YES, YES.
VERY APPREHENSIVELY.
>> Huell: WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
>> YOU WANT TO BE THE MAN, YOU DON'T WANT TO FALL DOWN IN FRONT OF ALL THESE PEOPLE.
IT MAYBE MORE ABOUT GEARING THAN ACTUAL STRENGTH.
>> Huell: HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THIS BEFORE?
>> FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS.
>> Huell: SO IT TOOK YOU FIVE YEARS TO -- >> TO GET UP THE GUTS.
USUALLY I'M OFF RACING AND NOT OUTDOING THIS.
>> Huell: BUT THIS IS A WHOLE OTHER THING?
>> QUITE.
>> Huell: I MEAN.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> Huell: A WHOLE OTHER THING.
>> YEAH, THE STEEPEST THING WAS 24 PERCENT AND THAT WAS PACKED GRAVEL ROAD.
>> Huell: AND THIS IS 33 AND A THIRD PERCENT ALL THE WAY UP.
>> YEAH, IT'S PRETTY SERIOUS.
>> Huell: HERE'S A LADY, YOU'RE STANDING HERE WATCHING NOT GOING UP ON YOUR BIKE.
>> NOT A CHANCE.
>> Huell: WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
>> I WALKED UP IT AND IT'S A KILLER GETTING UP IT IN SHOES.
>> Huell: YEAH.
>> YOU WALK UP HALFWAY AND WALK DOWN -- >> Huell: I'VE WALKED UP THERE AND IT ABOUT KILLED ME.
YOUR HEART IS POUNDING.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> Huell: SO YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A LOT 6 RESPECT FOR THEM.
>> THAT'S WHY I'M HERE, I'M RESPECTING THEM.
>> Huell: THIS IS YOUR TRADITION TO COME -- >> AND WATCH.
>> Huell: NOW YOU'RE HIS COACH, HOW WOULD YOU COACH HIM?
>> HE'S A GREAT DOWNHILL MOUNTAIN BIKER AND HE WAS LAUGHING WHEN I SAID THIS HILL WAS CHALLENGE.
SO HE CAME DOWN WITH HIS HEAVY BIKE BEFORE AND HE ALMOST MADE IT.
SO WE'RE HOPING GREAT THINGS FOR GARY CODY HERE.
>> Huell: IS IT CONDITIONING?
IS IT STAMINA?
WHAT IS IT?
>> IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.
IT'S DEFINITELY BIKE HANDLING SKILLS.
THIS IS THE STEEPEST HILL.
IF YOU SEE WHAT HE'S DOING, JUST TRAVERSING, IT'S DIFFICULT THESE PARKED CARS DON'T MAKES IT ANY EASIER.
>> I WAS UP HERE LAST WEEKEND AND IF YOU GET TOO CLOSE, YOU'RE ON THE EDGE OF LOSING TRACTION IF YOU SPIN THE WHEEL.
LIKE THE ROAD WAS WET EARLIER TODAY.
ASSUMING YOU CAN JUST NAVIGATE UP THE HILL IT'S JUST A MATTER OF BREATHING HEAVY.
I'M IN GOOD SHAPE AND MY HEART WAS EXPLODING.
>> Huell: SOME OF THE GUYS GO STRAIGHT UP.
>> THAT'S JUST A MATTER OF GEARING, YOU TEND TO HAVE LOWER GEARS ON A ROAD BIKE.
GARY HAS REALLY GOOD GEARS AND HE'S JUST GOT TO HANG THERE.
AND HE'S ABOUT TO STEEPER, YOU'RE HEART IS ABOUT TO EXPLODE.
>> Huell: HE'S GOT THE SPOTER BECAUSE IF HE WERE TO FALL, HE'LL COME ALL THE WAY DOWN THE STREET.
>> I'VE ACTUALLY SEEN PEOPLE STOP VERY CLOSE TO THE TOP.
IT'S A MATTER, IF YOU CAN NOT GET ENOUGH OXYGEN, -- >> Huell: HE MADE IT!
HE MADE IT!
>> YEAH!
>> Huell: NOW YOU AND YOUR WIFE HAVE LIVED ON THIS STREET A LONG TIME AND YOU REMEMBER THIS RACE FROM THE OLD DAYS.
>> EVERY YEAR WE WOULD WATCH IT.
>> Huell: AND HOW HAS IT CHANGED OVER THE YEARS?
>> WELL, I WOULD SAY THE FIRST TEN OR SO WHEELS, IT WAS JUST REGULAR BICYCLES, THE OLD BLOOM TIRES, I DON'T THINK IF YOU REMEMBER THAT.
>> Huell: YEAH.
AND HOW MANY PEOPLE MADE IT?
>> NOBODY.
NOBODY, NOBODY MADE IT.
AND THEY WOULD FALL DOWN THERE, THEY WOULD NOT EVEN GET HALFWAY UP.
AND THEN, AS THE YEARS WENT ON, THE BICYCLES GOT BETTER.
THE BICYCLE RIDERS GOT STRONGER AND THEY STARTED TO MAKE IT UP HALFWAY.
BUT NOT UNTIL TEN YEARS AGO, BACK IN THE 90s, DID THEY START MAKING IT.
>> WATCH THIS.
75 YEARS OLD AND STILL GOING.
>> Huell: SIR?
>> I'M DOING THIS.
[BREATHING HARD] >> COME ON, YOU CAN DO IT YOU CAN DO IT!
>> Huell: OH I DON'T WANT TO WALK BACK DOWN THERE.
>> KEEP PEDDLING.
>> ALL RIGHT, YOU'RE ALMOST THERE.
>> YEAH.
>> HE'S GOT IT.
KEEP COMING.
KEEP COMING.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> COME ON!
>> ALL RIGHT!
>> LET'S GO!
>> GOOD JOB!
>> GOOD JOB!
>> ALL RIGHT!
NOW YOU SAY THAT.
>> Huell: NOW YOU'RE DOWN TO START YOUR SECOND TIME UP.
WHAT HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME UP?
>> I AIMED TO GO STRAIGHT UP AND THEN I RECOGNIZED IT WAS TOO STEEP SO I STARTED TO SWITCH BACK AND FORTH AND BY THE TIME I TURNED THE FOURTH CORNER, MY WHEEL LIFTED OFF THE GROUBD -- GROUND AND I ALMOST WENT BACKWARDS.
>> Huell: YOU ALMOST WENT DOWN THE HILL.
>> IF YOU STAND ON YOUR CLEATS, YOU START ROLLING BACK.
I GUESS IT'S 33 PERCENT.
>> Huell: IT'S DECEIVING.
>> IT IS DECEIVING.
>> Huell: SO YOU'RE GOING UP ANOTHER TIME?
>> SURE WHY NOT, I'M ONLY BLEEDING ON MY HE WILLELBOW.
>> Huell: YOU MADE IT.
>> NO WARM UP AND I MADE IT.
>> Huell: SO YOU SHOWED UP, NO WARM UP.
>> NO WARM UP AND NO STRETCHING, AND I WENT UP.
>> Huell: ARE YOU SOME KIND OF IRON MAN?
>> NO JUST CRAZY, I THINK.
>> ALL RIGHT!
>> GOT IT!
ALL RIGHT!
GOOD JOB!
>> Huell: YOU KNOW I'M SURPRISED HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE MAKING IT.
>> THIS IS QUITE A FEW.
THIS IS QUITE A FEW.
>> Huell: I KNOW.
WHAT HAPPENED?
>> NEW EQUIPMENT.
PEOPLE ARE RIDING MORE.
THEY'RE IN BETTER SHAPE.
AND MAYBE BECAUSE THE CAMERAS ARE HERE AND THEY'RE TOO EMBARRASSED TO QUIT.
>> Huell: HERE COMES OUR KID.
HE'S MAKING HIS THIRD TRY.
THIS IS THE THIRD TRY FOR THIS YOUNG MAN.
>> OH YEAH.
>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO.
I'M COUNTING ON YOU.
>> Huell: LOOK AT THIS.
HE'S GOING TO MAKE IT.
COME ON!
>> COME ON BEN, YES!
>> GO GO GO!
YEAH!
>> Huell: ALL RIGHT!
WOW!
OH YEAH!
NOW THIS IS WHAT THIS RACE IS ALL ABOUT.
GIVE HIM HIS BADGE.
>> CONGRATULATIONS, BEN.
>> Huell: CONGRATULATIONS, WOW.
LET'S GET YOU STANDING WITH YOUR MOM AND DAD.
THIRD TIME IS A CHARM.
>> THAT WAS NEAT.
I DIDN'T GET TO SEE HIM LAST YEAR.
>> Huell: YOU COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT ANOTHER YEAR.
>> THAT'S FOR SURE.
>> Huell: LET'S GET A NICE SHOT OF THE THREE OF YOU.
YOUR NAME IS >> BEN.
>> Huell: BEN?
>> BEN VERTIGO.
>> Huell: AND THIS IS WHAT THIS RACE IS ALL ABOUT.
>> I'M TOTALLY IMPRESSED.
>> YOU'RE ALMOST THERE!
YOU'RE ALMOST IS THERE!
GOT IT!
>> HE'S ALREADY DONE IT ONCE BEFORE IT OFFICIALLY STARTED.
>> Huell: HUH-UH.
>> COME ON, YOU CAN DO IT!
YOU CAN DO IT!
>> YOU'RE THERE YOU'RE THERE!
>> COME ON.
>> YOU'RE THERE.
OH-OH.
YOU GOT IT.
YOU GOT IT.
>> Huell: HE'S GOT IT.
>> YOU'VE GOT IT YOU'VE GOT IT!
>> COME ON.
>> Huell: YEAH!
>> COME ON, YOU CAN DO IT.
YOU CAN DO IT!
FIGHT IT, STEVE.
>> YOU'RE THERE.
>> COME ON, COME ON COME ON.
>> OH, OH.
>> YOU'VE GOT IT >> Huell: HE'S GOT IT!
>> YOU GOT IT YOU GOT IT.
COME ON NOW.
>> Huell: YAY!
VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THEóWDDD