I came across a picture on the net that interested me. I decided to consider it in more detail and, at the same time, tell about what I saw. This may not be news anymore, but it's interesting anyway.
The picture shows a custom called Black Hills Beast. This is how it looked on design sketches:
It was created by order of Indian Motorcycles, among other things, the oldest motorcycle manufacturer in the United States. Officially it was founded in 1901, and Harley-Davidson - in 1903. True, there is one subtlety: the family business Harley-Davidson has been successfully operating for 114 years, and Indian has already been bent several times, revived, passed from hand to hand. ... Today, by and large, only the brand remains from that old "Indiana". But the brand is legendary. However, I will not get carried away with history, we are not talking about it now.
 
The custom I want to talk about today is based on the standard 2015 Indian Scout model. "Medium-sized" by the standards of the company itself.
Here is one (pictured above). But thanks to the efforts of customizers, it has been transformed almost beyond recognition.
The premiere of the novelty is timed to the next anniversary of the next race for the next cup of the next collective farm pumping station. I will not even try your patience and waste energy on explaining what this race was and why it is so dear to the guys from Indian Motorcycles. I can only say that the custom is styled after old motorcycles intended for "climbing a hill".
Hill Climb was once a very popular type of motorcycle racing. The winner in them was the one who was the first to climb up a rather steep slope. Not everyone succeeded in this, so the competition was considered rather risky, and, accordingly, spectacular.
We climbed up the slope, naturally, along a dirt track, which is very slippery for a motorcycle. That is why the Black Hills Beast has such a "toothy" rear tire, and even with chains on top of it. On loose ground, paddling such a wheel should be very cool, but you shouldn't go on a regular road like this.
The bike also has a highly elongated rear swingarm. This is intended to provide it with additional stability when accelerating on an inclined surface.
This, in fact, was the main intrigue of such competitions. As soon as the rider overdid the throttle a little and lost control of acceleration, the motorcycle got up on the rear wheel and overturned.
The Black Hills Beast is equipped with a standard "Scout" liquid cooled V-motor. Its displacement is 69 cubic inches. This is about 1, 1 liter. "with our money." And the power itself is declared by the manufacturer as 100+ hp. Also in this photo you can see a tuning muffler from RPW USA. It is significantly shorter than the standard and does not touch the ground when the motorcycle stands on the rear wheel.
The most luxurious leather saddle is also selected from the catalog of branded tuning accessories. By the way, $ 379.99 retail and tax excluded!
You can also see the expensive Fox cross shocks and just a bunch of all sorts of additional goodies. It can be seen that the guys had a budget and they did not skimp. But it turned out beautifully! True, an uncovered chain and its drive are for one race, no more.
In a word, everything is cool. Nevertheless, the question remains, why? Indian Motorcycles itself has hinted at length that something similar will go into production. Perhaps even next year. But personally, I somehow doubt it - the motorcycle turned out to be too specific. Why did I decide to tell you about it? Yes, simply because outwardly I liked him. I do not see any other reasons to procrastinate on this topic.
On the highway in Dagestan, the driver releases the handbrake, and the car rolls by itself. There would be nothing unusual about this if it were not for the direction of movement. A car with the engine off and without assistance - goes uphill, contrary to all the laws of physics. It seems that he is being pulled up by an inexplicable force.
An abnormal place on one of the sections of the highway in the Buinaksky district of Dagestan was noticed by local residents for a long time. For a kilometer of this road, almost everywhere where the ascent begins, you can turn off the engine and watch the amazing phenomenon.
... There are many places in the world where the laws of gravity, to put it mildly, do not work. For example, a unique natural phenomenon was registered in the Middle Urals. In the village of Galashki, located in the Nevyansk region, there is a stream that, contrary to all the laws of nature, flows up the mountain. A similar anomaly, or, according to scientists' explanations, "just an optical effect", was recorded in a mountainous area on the Chelyabinsk-Ufa highway (between Zlatoust and Satka). In the suburb of Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria, on one of the sections of a busy highway, there is its own anomalous zone. It looks like an ordinary road, but in fact it is a place where, according to local motorists, who put pressure on the brakes when their car goes up the hill, no laws apply.
It was repeatedly mentioned in the press about the strange phenomena occurring near the Megure hill in the town of Bacau in Romania. There, in the early 90s of the last century, a large treasure was discovered - 2000 silver coins from the era of the Roman Emperor Trajan. After this discovery, some unknown force began to push all foreign objects - even cars - from the bottom of the hill. Correspondents from the capital, sent to investigate, told about their experience: "The hood of the car was lifted, as if from the action of a mighty underground spring, and the car drove back to the top of the hill!" Local old-timers claim that from time to time a mysterious blue flame appears on the hill (whose name can be translated from Romanian as "mound").
The actual repetition of anomalous phenomena in Romania is also observed in Israel. Eyewitnesses say that near Beit Shemesh the water also rises up the slope. One of the tourists, after hearing stories about a similar phenomenon, decided to conduct an experiment: he stopped the car on this mountain, put it on "neutral" and released the brake. Contrary to expectations, the car was rolling up. This anomaly is observed along the entire length of the highway, about 800 meters, up to the intersection of this road with the main highway.
Eyewitnesses cannot somehow explain such phenomena, but they report that this place is unusual - it is associated with the loss of the Ark of the Covenant. It was in these places that the Jews lost a rather large chest with stone tablets, where the 10 commandments were inscribed.
Another anomalous section of the road, shrouded in mystical secrets, is located in Israel near the Megido hill, where, according to the Revelation of John the Theologian, the last battle of Light and Darkness should take place - Armageddon. And, finally, the third section, where an unknown force pulls objects up, is fixed in the Kidron Valley. From here, according to the Bible, the final judgment will begin
Monument in the form of a magnetic horseshoe
The Internet encyclopedia Wikipedia has compiled an overview of some places in the world; known for their supernatural anomalies in the field of gravity. On the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea, there is the so-called Magnetic Hill, where cars pulling out slow down and start rolling up! Local residents seriously say that these are the tricks of the "little people" pushing cars up the slope text.
There is a similar hill called Electric Brae in the southwest of Scotland in Ayrshire. Along the A719 highway for motorists passing along the hill, special signs have been placed and even a massive stone pyramid has been installed, on which a warning of an anomalous phenomenon is carved.
Among other things, from the text on the granite monument, you can learn that during the Second World War the legendary General Dwight D. Eisenhower visited Electric Brae, who wished to personally get acquainted with the strange phenomenon.
On Peanuts Street in the Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte, cars drive up the road for a quarter mile with their engines turned off.
At the entrance to a hill in Bedford, Pennsylvania, giant GH (gravity hill) letters are printed right on the pavement with indelible paint so the driver knows where to stop, shift into neutral, and release the brake pedal.
Similar phenomena are observed near Newcastle on the Isle of Wight, on Jeju Island in South Korea, on the Rocca di Papa highway south of Rome, in southern Poland, Turkey and Greece.
In South Australia, near Peterborough, 35-year-old farmer James Breff, who had just bought a brand new car, was driving carefully along a deserted road when suddenly a wheel was punctured. Naturally, he did not have a spare wheel with him, and, getting out of the car, went up the mountainside for help: in front, two kilometers away, there was an auto repair shop. However, he did not go even twenty meters when he noticed that his own car was overtaking him! Since then, the anomalous mountain became known as Bruff Hill, and a monument in the form of a magnetic horseshoe was erected at the top of the hill, which attracts a bicycle from below.
Parapsychologists explain all of the above cases by the fact that in anomalous places deep underground there are faults in the earth's crust, from where there is a release of magnetic field energy that affects objects and people.
Most traditional scholars are unequivocally skeptical of this explanation. In their opinion, no gravitational forces act on the so-called anomalous sections of the road, and the whole point is only in the imperfection of human vision, "clinging" to the terrain, rocks, trees and other objects standing along the route. Due to them, then there is a distortion, that is, visual deception. Therefore, with an apparent ascent on this section of the road, in fact, there is a slight descent there.
As an example, scientists cite Mount Spook in Lake Wales, Florida. A highway runs along this mountain. And if you look at it from a certain point, then a small slope is clearly visible, which then turns into a steep rise. At the bottom of the slope, there is a street sign permitting parking. It is in this place, after the brakes are released, the cars begin to move forward, up the slope.
But it turned out that this is only an illusion. It is created by the surrounding hills combined with the curves of the highway. When viewed from the side, the “lowest point” rises above the road. Here the traffic is one-way, so drivers cannot turn around to be convinced of their delusion.
To expose the "miracle", surveyors placed special levels in several places on the highway that did not show the slope. However, the "scientific exercises" of scientists made absolutely no impression on the local residents. “Yes, even though you set all Spook with levels,” they exclaim. - What will change from this? All the same, cars, as before, with the engine off, will not roll down, as the scientists want, but up the slope ... "
You are very tired during weekdays, so you decided by all means to spend your legitimate weekend with fun and benefit for yourself. And what can more cheer up and relax, no matter how an amusement park is. A huge entertainment center has just recently opened in your city, where you can find attractions to your liking. If you are more attracted to the water, you can climb a dizzying huge slide, several miles long, and get an indescribable drive from the competition on the fastest downhill. And, if you are more attracted by overland pleasure, or there is simply no desire to get wet, then you can always saddle a racing scooter and go all the way along a breathtaking bend from twisted tracks, where, by the way, there are also competitions among visitors for the title of the most reckless racer. This is adrenaline, which will simply blow your brain from overexertion. This is exactly the kind of crazy rest you need after a hard working week!
Usually, skyrunning (from English high-altitude running, running at sky level) is understood as a method of movement in mountainous terrain at an altitude of more than two thousand meters above sea level in relief. At the moment, the main types of skyrunning are:
- High-altitude marathon (race with an ascent of 2000 meters and a length of 30 km to 42 km);
- High-altitude race (races at an altitude of 2000 to 4000 meters, from 20 km to 30 km maximum);
- Vertical kilometer (race with a height difference of 1000 meters and a distance of no more than 5 km);
History of origin
Vertical races originated in the United States. America is famous for high-rise buildings, and already in 1977 the first vertical race took place at the famous Empire State Building. Then the rush of building skyscrapers swept over Asia, these races began to gain popularity there as well. Then the phenomenon went to high-rise buildings in Europe, and skyrunning came to Russia relatively recently.
The main reason why more and more athletes choose vertical races is the desire to get new emotions. This is quite natural, because when the marathon within the city has already been taken, the trail through the mountains and forests is also in the piggy bank, and sports excitement constantly drives you forward - many people want something new. Vertical races are becoming both a new type of self-challenge and entertainment. 
Vertical races - challenge yourself
Race distances can be from 100 meters to 160 kilometers. However, the specific conditions are determined by the format of the race. For example, at one of the most famous of these races Red bull 400 runners have to climb 400 meters uphill at 35 degrees, and the track record is 03:40:01. When running up the stairs of skyscrapers, the ascent angle is 90 degrees. Of course, athletes do not climb to the last floors directly vertically up, but on stairs, which are located at an angle of 45-50 degrees. At longer distances, the increase in altitude is gradual.
Each such track has its own records. For example, in New York, the main record holder in the vertical race at the World Trade Center is the Pole Petr Lobodzinski. This year, he overcame 104 floors of the tower in 12 minutes 5 seconds, rising to a height of 546 meters. And in the capital of South Korea, Seoul, the track record was set in 2017 by Australian Mark Bourne. He climbed the 123rd floor of the Lotte World Tower in 15 minutes 44 seconds, reaching a maximum height of 555 meters. 
Additional differences between skyrunning and regular running are manifested in the biomechanical and metabolic processes of the body. The fact is that during vertical running, athletes release more lactic acid than during normal running. In addition, running up the stairs makes the muscles work with a vengeance. The following can be distinguished as a positive effect: - Workout hips, glutes and abs
- Actively burning fat
- Strengthening the cardiovascular system
- Development of endurance
- Development of joints and ligaments, strengthening of bones.
Vertical races in Russia and in the world
Vertical races already have their own world series of starts Vertical World Circuit, a member of the International Skyrunning Association. Races usually start in May and end in December. This year, the series runs in 9 cities: Seoul, Paris, New York, Manila, Beijing, Shanghai, Osaka, London and Hong Kong.
In our country, vertical races are also gaining popularity. Various competitions were held in Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Volgograd, Perm, Sochi, Izhevsk, Moscow and other regions of Russia. For winning such starts, cash prizes are awarded, as well as slots for participation in Russian races. Often vertical races are organized for charitable purposes. 
If you have a desire to try yourself in a vertical race, then participation in the "Olympic Vertical" is an excellent way to test your strength - this is an extreme race on the slope of Mount Armeyka with a length of 300 meters. The start is scheduled for July 1 in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. You can register for the event. Photo: redbull.com, gonyctourism.com, telegraph.co, impresspages.lt, dagelan.co, verticalworldcircuit.com, vk.com/zabegvisotsky, mashable.com
And even without it, a lot of cross-country starts go along tracks with an abundance of descents and ascents. At the same time, not everyone realizes that running uphill and downhill is slightly different from that on the plain. Ignoring this leads to increased energy consumption and injuries to the musculoskeletal system. Moreover, there are differences in the approach to running up or down, both in preparation and in running technique. In this article, I want to touch on the issues of the peculiarities of running technique.
So what is so special about uphill running? I must say right away that when running uphill, almost everyone starts. This means that almost everyone starts to land on the forefoot with shorter strides. True, a considerable percentage of runners bend in the belt at the same time, which already breaks the structure of correct running. Hence the first element of the uphill running technique:
- Keep your body as close to vertical as possible. To facilitate this task, look 10-15 meters ahead of yourself. It is a mistake to think that looking down, you distract your thoughts from the heavy ascent. Look ahead and it will be easier for you to run.
- The second thing to look out for is repulsion. When running uphill, you need to move your body weight up. It is energetically expensive. If you still have strength and want to run fast, the person subconsciously increases the repulsion power. However, this will waste a lot of energy. It will be much more correct and significantly more economical to increase the lift (forward movement) of the hip while maintaining the rapid removal of the leg from the support. To verify this, try the following: step with one foot on a step and take a second quick step forward with the other foot. Now do the same, just make a leap up the same step and try to move forward as quickly as in the first case. Compare your feelings and the energy expended.
- So that when running, the steps are quick (not tightened), after raising the knee, you should lower your leg without whipping the lower leg. It's not that hard to do with practice.
- Cadence: The cadence should remain the same as it was when running on the plain and be between 175 and 185 steps / minute. Only their length will decrease slightly. Naturally, your speed will also decrease. Therefore, if you are running on a hilly track, you should not pay much attention to the change in running speed in real time (according to the GPS clock). If you try to maintain a target pace, this will lead to the fact that you will run at a variable (in terms of effort) pace, which will inevitably result in a deterioration in time at the finish.
Downhill running, or as runners are more often called - downhill. The first thing I want to point out is that don't think that on the descents you are compensating for what you lost while running uphill. This is simply impossible, at least according to the law of conservation of energy. Moreover, if running downhill is wrong, then you can aggravate your condition. The deterioration in the first place will be as follows: since running with long strides is relatively easy when running downhill, most runners land well in front of them, often on a straight leg. At the same time, the kinetic energy of impact on the surface is greater (after all, you are flying from a height!), It is absorbed by the joints (ankle, knee, hip) and the spine, as well as the so-called inhibitory muscle group. The strongest of these is the quadriceps muscle of the thigh. Ask those who have run the Boston Marathon or Comrades Marathon down, they will confirm that these muscles were the most painful for them. Inflammation of the periosteum, pain in the knee joints may also worsen. But the momentary effect will be expressed in the fact that by the end of the distance your legs will obey you less and less, especially at a marathon or other ultra-long distance. To avoid this or reduce the negative effect to a minimum, you should adhere to some principles:
- Oddly enough, I'll again mention the upright posture: keeping your torso straight is the first step in reducing problems. It would be logical to increase the forward lean to "catch" the fall. But you need to bend over with the center of gravity, i.e. lower abdomen. If you lean forward with your shoulders, then this will provoke an even greater outlining of the lower leg and, as a result, an increase in the length of the stride.
- It is possible to increase the length of the stride, but again due to the extension of the hip / knee forward. If, at the same time, you quickly remove your foot from the support and put it under you, then it is absolutely possible to maintain such a gentle landing.
- The logical conclusion from the above is to maintain a cadence of about 180. If the descent steepness is small, then at a frequency in the range of 175-185 your steps will be wide, and your landing will not go far beyond the projection of the center of gravity. If the steepness of the descent forces you to take too long steps, then it would be more correct to purposefully reduce their length at the expense of running speed. Yes, your running speed may be slightly slower than the runners around you, but trust me, you will more than play it on the plains or on the climbs in the later stages of running. Even more important, you will save your legs and back from the traumatic effects of landing in front of you while running downhill.
I recently returned from South Africa, where after participating in, I spent a few days visiting my friends and was very surprised to see that local runners do not have even tracks for running. More precisely, there is such a place, but only on the promenade along the beach in Durban. If you drive a few kilometers inland, the only place you can run is over the hills. This applies to both younger students and adult joggers. A simple children's 5 km race runs along a track with such ups and downs that the average city dweller of Russia does not dream of. So these people have an advantage: they are adapted from childhood to run up and down.
To summarize the above, it should be added that when planning to participate in a race on a hilly track, you should pay attention to strengthening the ligaments and tendons, as well as the strength of the muscles of the legs and upper body. It is the latter that ensure the maintenance of the correct posture during running, especially in the last third of the distance, when fatigue sets in and the degree of conscious control of posture and technique decreases. You just need to do the "correct" exercises to strengthen the postural (posture support) muscles. These include the transverse and deep oblique muscles of the abdomen, the small muscles of the spine (which make up the long extensor of the back), and the deep muscles of the pelvic region.
Plyometric exercises should also be used. A typical example of plyometrics is jumping from a low height (15-20cm) with a quick rebound, both on two legs and on one. Just remember that these exercises are a rather "sharp" strength preparation tool, and they can be used by experienced runners or in small quantities.
In trail running and cross country running, competitors run on uneven surfaces with their feet constantly positioned at different angles. In this case, compact, controlled steps become even more relevant. Most trail runners are of the opinion that footwear for these events should have a thicker sole to provide maximum protection from bumps, rocks and other hazards. But the thick outsole encourages runners to run with long strides. In addition, increasing the thickness of the sole slows down the reaction time of the muscles to signals from the proprioceptors of the feet and ankle joints, and this can already lead to injury due to the late reaction of the muscles of the body to an unexpected position. Everyone decides for himself which shoes he should run in, but I recommend testing for yourself and choosing sneakers with the minimum thickness of the sole that is comfortable for you.
I wish you a happy running on rough roads, paths and all other places!