«STEEP LOCAL CLIMBS» Collection
updated October 1999.

«STEEP LOCAL CLIMBS» COLLECTION - OCTOBER 1999.

The following posts were submitted to the Eurobike mailing list in October
1999 in reply to the «Steep Local Climbs» thread. I collated them because
they interest me and I thought they might interest you. The posts are as
submitted to Eurobike, except that I suppressed some paragraphs which were
clearly off thread. I also suppressed footers, but not email addresses. I
advised the Eurobike list of my intention to submit this collection to the
archives, and nobody objected. Anyone who has now changed their mind and
wishes to remove their posting from the collection should advise the
Eurobike webmaster.

Hope this is useful and stimulating.


DISCLAIMER. Only experienced and fit cyclists with appropriate gearing and
with specific medical approval can consider riding such steep climbs.
Cyclists may have no legal right to ride some of the sections of road
described, and some sections may be dangerous to ride. I make no warranty
about the statements made by individual authors. The individual authors,
Eurobike and I all decline to accept any responsibility for any consequences
of any attempt to ride along any of the sections of road described.

(Brian Tomlin)

===============================================================

Date: Wed, 06 Oct 1999 06:34:24 PDT
From: "Drew Schaefer" 
Subject: Steeps - then and now

Hi, bonjour EB'ers,

THEN
When I lived in Colorado, riding from Vail to Copper Mt. over Vail pass was
the 'ticket'.  Up old Highway 6, there's a point where you descend under
the Interstate on the bike path that takes you to the top.  But, get this -
once you have descended, there are two tight hairpin turns BAM BAM, and
then the WALL, what really has to be about 120 metres of 25 + %, and with
those turns simply no way to accelerate! (not to mention the sand in those
turns)

NOW

Living near Geneve, Suisse, all might remember the Tour '98 (I know, "what
Tour?") 'climbed' le Col de la Faucille, into the Jura mts. (on a map, find
Bellegarde SW of Geneve)

Unfortunately, what they climbed was the easy side (Fact= they never
actually touched the Col, were about 3 km from the actual pass), 1100
meters over about 45 KM.  Had they gone directly from Geneve to Gex, and
then up the STEEP side, same altitude, in about 16 KM, there are the most
beautiful switchbacks, and at the very steepest, Napoleon's Generals built
a fountain to preserve a natural spring ... best waterbottle refilling
station ever devised!

Climb that Col, and return via Bellegarde, or north to the Col de la
Givrine ... magnifique ! !

Second best view of Lac Leman (Geneva) ...

Ciao,
Drew

=========================================================

Date: Thu, 07 Oct 1999 10:35:26 -0400
From: eric.lefebvre@lmco.com (Eric Lefebvre)
Subject: Re: Steeps then and now

Bonjour Drew,

I lived near Geneva (St Genis-Pouilly) when I was working at cern and I
climb several time this "magnifique" Col de la Faucille. Each time when I
passed the "Fontaine Napoleon", I knew that it was time to get off the
saddle.

Do you climb the Saleve just at the south of Geneva ? This is the best view
of Lac Leman, Jura, Alps and Mont-Blanc. Since the mountain is narrow and
steep you feel like being in plane, very impressive.

Au plaisir,
Eric


=======================================================

Date: Tue, 5 Oct 1999 10:09:16 +0100
From: David Martin 
Subject: Steep climbs etc.

The lake district passes people are thinking of are Wrynose (1 in 4) and
Hardknott (1 in 3) if you go from little Langdale. You could also add in a
third climb by going through Langdale, Chapel stile, up to Blea Tarn, then
go over Wrynose and Hardknott. I don't know how steep it is going this way
from Chapel Stile but goint th eother way up Blea tarn road is 1 in 4.
Another good pass is Honister pass, at 1 in 5. All three of these (4) are
in the several hundred meters height gain.

For scenic climbs, Trollstigen in West Norway (yes, just down the road from
Troll wall) is probably one of the better ones. This has to be seen to be
believed as it winds its way up a cliff. Fortunately there is a tourist
shop at the top of the difficulties to stop at for refreshment. Another
place to ride to is Geiranger. Both roads in are very steep with more than
a few twists but the views are wonderful.

When I was younger and in UK I used to ride along the North Downs (Leith
Hill/Box hill/Ranmore common). Lots of short (a few hundred meters) but
steep (18-25%) climbs there. Typically climbed anaerobically with 42/18 or
if I was feeling soft 42/21. My knees have never been the same again.

The british take a perverse delight in short steep climbs, having an annual
hill climb championship (a previous winner was a certain C. Boardman).

=======================================================


Date:  Sun, 03 Oct 1999
>From "April Pedersen Santinon" april@medianet.it

The hardest little climb I know is in the Euganean Hills, southwest of
Padua, near the town of Luvigliano. It's known as the Pirio and it is
infamous. A sign at the bottom says 22%. It's about 1.5 km, I think. It
requires absolute concentration and an iron will. If you falter, either
mentally or physically, it's all over.

(ed: unrelated paragraphs snipped, also because I lost the original, sorry).

=====================================================

Date: Mon, 04 Oct 1999 23:31:55 CEST
From: "Brian Tomlin" 
Subject: Re: Really tough climbs

Hi April,
that’s another item in my TODO list, thanks. I know exactly what you mean
about not faltering; I first learned it on a 22% climb that is slightly
longer than 1.5km and closer to you than me! But I did say local climbs,
so....

If we are going to go short but steep, then the climb up Monte Gregorio at
the mouth of the Valle d’Aosta (north Italy) is a good candidate and very
little known. From Brosso (797m) to the point of La Cavallaria (1440m)
there are 643m climb in 6.3km – but the 10% average does not tell the real
story. The first kilometre is almost flat, the next two must climb well
over 350m... If there is no cloud at the top (a rare event) there will be
people jumping off with parachutes, and a breathtaking view of Monviso 100
miles away. If you have suspension, head down the other side towards
Quincinetto, otherwise return the way you came, and be careful about the
drainage gaps.

(ed: beware that this road is currently closed to traffic except for
authorized exceptions, and that a significant stretch is still unpaved. The
path down the other side is for skilled off-road riders only)

======================================================================

Date: Mon, 04 Oct 1999 23:56:57 +0200
From: leon 
Subject: Re: eurobike-digest V1 #1948

Hardest climb in The Netherlands

Unfortunately we do not have many steep climbs here. Keutenberg in the
South of Limburg is the hardest. Sign says 22%. I cannot ride it without a
stop. (42x26) It lasts some 800 meters I guess.


=====================================================

Date: Mon, 04 Oct 1999 17:42:41 +0200
From: Martin Correns 
Subject: Really tough climbs

Here in franconia (northern bavaria) the steepest climbs are some roads of
23 to 27%, but only for roughly 1 km. Some old roads go simply straight
uphill. The 27% road is actually banned for bikes going downhill (Germans
tend to regulate everything) since you cant stop there with a brake that
just delivers the minimum legally required brake power. My usual apology is
that I was unable to decipher the road sign while going downhill at that
speed.

On a more european scale (it s called eurobike) the steepest road I know is
the road leading to the military installation on top of the Gibraltar rock.
According to the road sign its 1 in 2 1/2 (40%) and quite a challenge with
front and rear panniers on the bike. Going downhill with a fully loaded
bike in the pre-cantilever era was scary, I barely managed to maintain a
constant speed, not to mention slowing down.

Another really steep climb is at Lake Garda, a very small road from Nago
(above Torbole) to the Rifugio Monte Velo, part of the Monte Velo MTB
circuit. I don t know the gradient but the road is steeper than most of the
trail sections, my front wheel kept coming up in the hairpins.

Martin

======================================================

Date: Mon, 4 Oct 1999 19:30:37 +0100
From: dennis prickett 
Subject: Really tough climbs

[ed: snipped comments about Stelvio and Gavia]

One climb I liked to do in the North York Moors is White Horse Bank near
Helmsley, a  25% 1-1.5 km climb but with a spectacular view (on a clear
day) of the Vale of York and also there is the  large white horse
maintained on the hillside. On a really clear day from the top of York
Minster 40 km away you can just see it.

There are a whole bunch of short steep climbs in the North York moors and
wolds usually with very lovely views from the tops.  Arrr- I'm getting
adopted homesick. Another climb, but for mountain bikes in the Garriby
incline, the bed of an old railway that goes for most of a km and probably
33-40%. The railway serviced a mine and there were two sets of carriages
connected by a cable.  One went up the hill and the other down as a
counterbalance. This failed spectacularly when the cable broke and killed a
number of people. I've done a few climbs in the Lake district including the
one mentioned whose name I also cannot recall.  I never really sorted out
why roads didn't traverse the hills rather than going straight up as they
seem to do in most of Britain.

ciao

Dennis

=============================================================

Date: Tue, 5 Oct 1999 21:02:55 +0100From: "Allan Nelson"

Subject: Re: Steep climbs etc.Date: Tue, 5 Oct 1999 10:09:16 +0100
From: David Martin Subject: Steep climbs
etc.
>The lake district passes people are thinking of are Wrynose (1 in 4)and
>Hardknott (1 in 3) if you go from little Langdale. You could also addin a
>third climb by going through Langdale, Chapel stile, up to Blea Tarn,then
>go over Wrynose and Hardknott. I don't know how steep it is going thisway
>from Chapel Stile but going the other way up Blea tarn road is 1 in 4.
>Another good pass is Honister pass, at 1 in 5.
>All three of these (4) are in the several hundred meters height gain.
Ah yes - one of my regular 'training' runs over Wrynose Pass, thoughfrom the
Duddon Valley side.
The bit from Langdale up to Blea Tarn is known as 'Wall End' (for a verygood
reason!).  Saw a chap almost turn his camper van over on one of thehairpins.
I remember going over Wrynose from the 'steeper' 1in4 side once and was
overtaken early on by a Reliant Robin (three wheeler).  When I got about100
yards from the top (the really steep bit - that's what makes Wrynosesuch a
killer - it save the best till last), there was the Reliant Robin stuckin
the middle of the road.  He realised he wasn't going to make it and tried toturn
around (the road is very narrow) and he was stuck.  As I grovelled pasthe
asked me to give him a push!
I declined (if I'd got off there, I'd never have got going again),
andlooking back I could see his wife - still sat in the car - arms folded -
lookingpretty
angry ;-)))I took some photo's of Wrynose and Hardknott climbs one day, but
they look sotame on a photo.  Why is that?  I suppose it's like watching the Giro
or Tour deFrance.  The camera flattens out the gradient don't you think.
BTW - I 'did' Monte Serra last year (over to Lucca).  Great ride -
lovedevery minute of it (later of course ;-)  This year, we'd intended to do a loopover
Monte Serra to Lucca and back to Pisa (over Monte Serra again), but ranout
of days.  Which side of Monte Serra is the steepest?  From the Calci sideor
from the Lucca side?  A good friend of mine bought a house outside Pisa, andhe
chose the plot because of it's uninterrupted views to Monte Serra -
hisfavouriteride.
Another favourite of mine in Italy was Suveretto to Sassetta.  Notsteep, but
a superb road for cycling.  It winds around so much you get
totallydisorientated!
Allan.(whose 'granny' gear is his feet)~~~

=========================================================


Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 11:57:50 +0100
From: dennis prickett 
Subject: Steep local climbs

Rosemary kitchen?  amazing how things changed from my original Rosemary
chimney.     This is really Rosedale Chimney.  Begins in Rosedale Abbey in
the North Yorkshire Moors and climbs up to Blakely Ridge  (where you can
find The Lion Inn, The third highest pub in England located on an old
pilgrams trail to between Whitby and various abbys inland.) .  I'm sure a
proper description of the climb exists but I've never seen one.  It was
just something you had to climb if you lived in the area. I don't know
exactly how long it is but it's around a kilometer, no hairpins and the
sign at the bottom reads 33%. It's believeble as the front wheel wants to
pop up.  It's a steady grade  so there si no respite until the top. There
is another  climb from Rosedale Abbey ( also up to the Blakey ridge road
but to a point further north towards Westerdale) has a sign of 25% and
probably slightly longer.  This whole area of the North Yorkshire Moors is
full of walls like this if you like this sort of thing. And now I'm south
of Milan where the closest local climb is a bridge over the motorway. ButI
did take a friend visiting for the worlds up th Ghisallo yestersy and the
chiesa at the top  is amazing  and no description that I've ever read about
it comes close to a real life experience.  An essential pilgrimage for any
ciclist.

Sorry for the babbling- Still recovering from the intense weekend cycling
experience

Dennis Prickett


=========================================================

Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 17:40:25 +0200
From: Roger Hughes 
Subject: Re: Steep local climbs

At 16:40 12/10/99 CEST Brian Tomlin wrote:
>On  Tue, 12 Oct 1999, dennis prickett dprickett@ieo.it writes:
>>I don't know exactly how long it is but it's around a kilometer, no
>>hairpins and the sign at the bottom reads 33%.
>Thanks. Gulp. I=92ll add your posting to the list.

Last time I rode - OK, walked - up Chimney Bank it was 1400 yards, I think
(well, the time before when I really did ride that's what it said on the
start sheet), and there was a RH hairpin somewhere near the bottom; then
what appears on the approach to be a LH hairpin in fact only turns 90
degrees and goes straight on up ... the 1 in 3 bit is maybe about 300 m
long and then it "flattens out" to about 1 in 6 (which is a bit of a
killer, because you assume that it's going to get rather easier than it
actually does).=20

Much shallower descent on the other side to Hutton-le-Hole, good with a
howling easterly tailwind and a big gear.

Got some nice ones round here as well - Mur de Huy, anyone? Route
Merveilleuse up to the citadel in Namur is nice but not that steep; there
are a fair number of other ways out of the Meuse valley that are worth a
look too.

Cheers

Roger

====================================================================


"Luca Guala" gualal@hotmail.com writes:

I was in the Army as a Lieutenant in Bologna in 1985 and the bicycle was my
"steam off" device to forget all the troubles of the day (other than a
faster but not allowed way to inspect the barracks at night). The angrier
and more nervous I was, the harder I rode. The nearest place where I went
to let steam off was the climb to the Sanctuary of the Holy Lady on the
Colle di S. Luca, just out of Bologna. The road starts climbing suddenly
very steep, I can't give you any data on steepness and length, but it's
awfully steep: it was made for pilgrims who craved for suffering, and not
for cyclists! The road is flanked on one side by a covered footpath, mostly
made with stairs, just in case it rains... After a tight hairpin the climb
becomes even steeper. Usually, I couldn't stay on the bike after that bend
(my bike had a 42/24 as the lightest gear) but when I was really, really
angry, I climbed further. Only once I made it to the top without
dismounting, though. Boy, was I nervous that day!