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Re: What's your favourite climb?

Posted: Fri Nov 22, 2013 11:59 am
by CXCommuter
michaelten wrote:
CXCommuter wrote:Ahh- Kurrajong is my old stomping ground back in the 1990's and early noughties. Greggs road in Kurrajong was always a good finisher after a ride- rather steep pinch at the end. Some good unsealed hills also to the north (ie Comleroy Road/Wheeney Creek. A bit off topic but always loved the TTT efforts along Windsor flats also. Completely unknown hill near where I grew up- Cliftonville Hill (Cliftonville Road) up From River Road in Lower Portland, not that long but 15-20%- last did it in Christmas with a 39/25- felt like my knees where going to explode.
Megalong Valley is another favourite- particularly after riding 6 Foot Track.

I ride Comleroy a bit on CX bike, add in the climb to Colo Heights then onto Wisemans Ferry going up Laughtondale: http://www.strava.com/activities/73294391" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Cliftonville is a good climb, super steep. I do it on a 39/25. Hill repeats up it sometimes as well! http://www.strava.com/segments/802454" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I am amazed that Cliftonville Hill is up on Strava with a few riders on there- will have to borrow the Stepfathers Bike and take my Garmin with me to give it a shot next time we are over in Sydney.

Re: What's your favourite climb?

Posted: Sat Nov 23, 2013 9:40 am
by Chuck
skull wrote:I can't believe I haven't seen mt wellington in hobart mentioned yet.

Very nice climb. Not easy but there are no super steep pitches either. I think anyone with a decent amount of fitness and a bit of patience can summit without too many problems.

The day I did it was very clear and the views to my right after I left the tree lined section were spectacular.

Here's a write up and some pics by a fellow forum member....

http://marc.durdin.net/2011/12/hobarts- ... -summit-2/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: What's your favourite climb?

Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 1:07 pm
by anttismo
I don't mind climbing as long as I don't need to go too fast, and the gradient isn't too high. Anything upto about 10% can be done at a manageble rate, so many of the climbs in and around Melbourne are great. Most of Mt dandenong, but particulalry Mt donna buang. Nice, consistent and relatively gentle grandient, so just plod along and enjoy it. Those old forrests are great.

As soon as you need to push, run up toward FTP and so on, it changes from being pleasnet to being uncomfortable, especially once it's more than 15 or 20 mins in length. A time trial up donna buang is not for me.

On the other end of the scale, Mt dandy has a few fairly unleapenst climbs. Inverness Rd gets a bit steep, but Terry's avenue is my new least favourite, having climbed it saturday morning. That bugger holds those 15~20% for long enough for it to be very, very unpleasent. Outside of the challenge of doing it, there is nothing enjoyable about that climb to me...

Re: What's your favourite climb?

Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 7:06 pm
by kb
anttismo wrote: ...
On the other end of the scale, Mt dandy has a few fairly unpleasant climbs. Inverness Rd gets a bit steep, but Terry's avenue is my new least favourite, having climbed it saturday morning. That bugger holds those 15~20% for long enough for it to be very, very unpleasant. Outside of the challenge of doing it, there is nothing enjoyable about that climb to me...
I'm undecided on Terry's. I seem to remember it as more enjoyable the further in the past it is :-). It has it's uses though. I tend to feel stronger after climbing it, and if I'm struggling on another climb, I can tell myself, "at least it's not Terry's". I'm aiming for it to eventually be easy, but I'm starting to suspect that's not going happen, at least not without a drop of 10kg or so. The street itself is lovely but can have a bit too much local traffic. Inverness, on the other hand, is fun unless it's stinking hot or you're already drained.

Re: What's your favourite climb?

Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 10:41 pm
by Chris249
I really enjoyed Jamberoo Mountain Road between the NSW Illawarra coast and Southern Highlands one misty morning; quiet, beautiful, nice wildlife (lyrebird etc) and with what's claimed to be 15% for over 1 km plus another 19k of climbing.

Some of the Mt Ainslie routes start about 500m from my house. The road route offers a bit under 3ks at 7-8% average and a max of 13% or so. One fun bit about Ainslie is that if you take a CX bike you can choose at least three routes to attack it; the road, the rocky fire trail, or the singletrack up Ainslie Wall. Doing all three is a nice short work out. It's got views, roos, varied routes and steeps, which is damn good for something 5ks from the CBD.

Stelvio and Gavia are both something else, though. The sheer scale of the Alps is almost impossible for those of us used to this flat continent....it's almost hard for the eyes to focus across those airy chasms. Sitting outside the little restaurant made of stone huts and fed by running glacier water on the Gavia, staring across kilometres of space to the distant meadows sloping at 30 degrees while listening to cowbells chiming from miles away is surreal. The little Alpine resorts like Ponto di Legno and Nauders, with the ever-present sound of running alpine streams, make for fantastic contrasts with the peaks. Planning my return trip in 2015!

Re: What's your favourite climb?

Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 2:04 am
by antomeno
Mortirolo in Italy

Re: What's your favourite climb?

Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 1:25 pm
by GAV!N
I live near Berry/Kangaroo Valley, so pretty spoilt for choice.

- Mac Pass (preferably on a morning with minimal traffic. The tradies that roar up there don't appear to like cyclists :evil: )
- Berry Mountain. Both sides are good, but I prefer the west, beautifully serene.
- Barrengarry. Similar to Mas pass but probably better traffic, and an extra 1-2% gradient.

Re: What's your favourite climb?

Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2013 5:36 pm
by porkpie
I like the 5 hills. Start from Turramurra through Bobbin Head to Brooklyn then back via Berowra Waters, Galston Gorge and Bobbin Head again (100km all up).

If you like steep do Crosslands repeats or Richmond to Bowen Mountain then up Bells Line of Road into Warks Hill Road.

Re: What's your favourite climb?

Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2013 3:08 pm
by X-ray
GAV!N wrote:I live near Berry/Kangaroo Valley, so pretty spoilt for choice.

- Mac Pass (preferably on a morning with minimal traffic. The tradies that roar up there don't appear to like cyclists :evil: )
- Berry Mountain. Both sides are good, but I prefer the west, beautifully serene.
- Barrengarry. Similar to Mas pass but probably better traffic, and an extra 1-2% gradient.
+1 for all of these climbs.

I did Barrengarry for the first time on Sunday and really enjoyed it. Unfortunately I couldn't enjoy the view due to the fog hanging over the mountain!

Re: What's your favourite climb?

Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2014 2:49 am
by Walsh95
Went up Mount Tomewin Currumbin Valley from the Gold Coast side. Greets you with a lovely 800m of 14%, followed by a few km "respite", before 2.8km at 10%. Best "fun" I've ever had on a bike.

Re: What's your favourite climb?

Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2014 9:56 am
by adamr
Last Friday in the TourDownUnder BUPA Challenge we took over the South Eastern Freeway for the first part of the ride. Thousands riding together. I heard a few people mention how hard they found it. It was probably about 10km of fairly steady incline between 4 and 7 percent. No flats that I recall. We are not used to that length of climb in SA. I would love to do it again, but it is usually closed to Cyclists. I think the VeloAdelaide in March also does it.

Re: What's your favourite climb?

Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2014 12:27 pm
by boss
adamr wrote:Last Friday in the TourDownUnder BUPA Challenge we took over the South Eastern Freeway for the first part of the ride. Thousands riding together. I heard a few people mention how hard they found it. It was probably about 10km of fairly steady incline between 4 and 7 percent. No flats that I recall. We are not used to that length of climb in SA. I would love to do it again, but it is usually closed to Cyclists. I think the VeloAdelaide in March also does it.
The South Eastern Freeway (not the Old Freeway) is 7.5km and 6% average grade. Not allowed to ride bikes on there other than designated events.

I don't mean to tutt tutt you but there are several other comparable climbs in Adelaide that are accessible 24/7, 365 days a year.

From South to North...

- The Old Freeway is 8.9km at 5.1%. Starts at the same place as you would have started the SE Freeway, except it's got it's own dedicated path. It's a two-lane singletrack (up/down) in some sections, but in the fastest bits the descenders are on the road. There are some short false flats, flats and 'downhill' sections but it is a good climb, and a great climb when you consider there are no cars.

- Greenhill Rd is the steadiest out of the bunch, 7.2km and 6.6%. Extremely steady

- Norton Summit is 5.5km and 5.1%. If you keep going to Mt Lofty via Woods Hill Rd, you can make it 16km at 3%. Admittedly a few flats and short rolling sections but a great effort if you push hard the whole way.

- Montacute Rd is 7.2km at 4.9%.

All of those climbs are within 10km of the CBD. And I've ignored the plethora of sub 15 minute climbs within 10km of the CBD.

We're spoilt for choice man, you might not be used to climbing for 8km but please don't blame it on a lack of terrain!

Re: What's your favourite climb?

Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2014 2:59 pm
by doggatas
Mt Wellington 17.7km (AT) 7%

http://www.strava.com/segments/781004" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

There is 1km of flat after about 4.5km and a 9-10% section for 3.5km at the 11km mark. I should ride it more given how close it is from the CBD, but I am soft.

edit: Already mentioned, but deserves another.

Re: What's your favourite climb?

Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2014 3:54 pm
by Ross
boss wrote:
adamr wrote:Last Friday in the TourDownUnder BUPA Challenge we took over the South Eastern Freeway for the first part of the ride. Thousands riding together. I heard a few people mention how hard they found it. It was probably about 10km of fairly steady incline between 4 and 7 percent. No flats that I recall. We are not used to that length of climb in SA. I would love to do it again, but it is usually closed to Cyclists. I think the VeloAdelaide in March also does it.
The South Eastern Freeway (not the Old Freeway) is 7.5km and 6% average grade. Not allowed to ride bikes on there other than designated events.

I don't mean to tutt tutt you but there are several other comparable climbs in Adelaide that are accessible 24/7, 365 days a year.

From South to North...

- The Old Freeway is 8.9km at 5.1%. Starts at the same place as you would have started the SE Freeway, except it's got it's own dedicated path. It's a two-lane singletrack (up/down) in some sections, but in the fastest bits the descenders are on the road. There are some short false flats, flats and 'downhill' sections but it is a good climb, and a great climb when you consider there are no cars.

- Greenhill Rd is the steadiest out of the bunch, 7.2km and 6.6%. Extremely steady

- Norton Summit is 5.5km and 5.1%. If you keep going to Mt Lofty via Woods Hill Rd, you can make it 16km at 3%. Admittedly a few flats and short rolling sections but a great effort if you push hard the whole way.

- Montacute Rd is 7.2km at 4.9%.

All of those climbs are within 10km of the CBD. And I've ignored the plethora of sub 15 minute climbs within 10km of the CBD.

We're spoilt for choice man, you might not be used to climbing for 8km but please don't blame it on a lack of terrain!
Just come back from a week cycling around Adelaide and agree these hills are great. :)

Re: What's your favourite climb?

Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2014 7:14 pm
by Angus
I'm in Brisbane and generally head to the Gold Coast Hinterland for my climbing fix.

Springbrook/best-of-all lookout climbs about 1000m over 29kms. First part is a relaxing climb, the last 6 or 7 kms are tough and unrelenting. At the end you get a magnificent view into the Northern Rivers area of NSW,the lookout is pretty much on the border. Often covered in cloud though!

Binna Burra and O'Reillys are also good climbs to the lodges, about 30 and 25 kms respectively. Binna Burra has a flattish section on the beechmont plateau. O'Reillys is a pretty constant 3.5-4% with a sting in the tail in the last km or so.

Tamborine in the hinterland and Nebo/Glorious closer to brisbane are nice climbs although not so much elevation.

Had a ball with the climbs around Bright last November as well! Missed Hotham because of snow, a problem we don't have to face in Qld. Buffalo, Falls and tawonga gap were all good.

Like to do Donna Buang, and also the climb from bellingen to Dorrigo.

Re: What's your favourite climb?

Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 9:11 am
by iaintas
Woodbridge hill. My old local, not sure of my time up it as i was not on strava until recently.

http://www.strava.com/segments/642722" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: What's your favourite climb?

Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 6:42 pm
by ldrcycles
doggatas wrote:Mt Wellington 17.7km (AT) 7%

http://www.strava.com/segments/781004" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

There is 1km of flat after about 4.5km and a 9-10% section for 3.5km at the 11km mark. I should ride it more given how close it is from the CBD, but I am soft.

edit: Already mentioned, but deserves another.
Deserves several mentions :) being a queenslander I've only had one opportunity so far to do it but it was incredible, can't wait to get back there.

O'Reilly's is a fantastic climb, mostly quite sedate but with a pinch of about 10% right near the end as Angus mentioned.

But my favourite is definitely Bellthorpe, which singlespeedscott mentioned on the first page, it's about as long as climbs get on the Sunshine Coast, brutally steep (39-28 is a good gear if you're fresh but not enough if the legs are a bit off) and beautiful scenery. I've done it at least 20 times :) .

Image


Image

Re: What's your favourite climb?

Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 8:15 pm
by ska'
Mt Wellington (As previously discussed) awesome climb quite hard if you go up cascade road.

Colinsvale road (Also in Hobart) is a cracker as well and probably my favorite.

Now I've moved to townsville and there is 2 "hills" :(

Re: What's your favourite climb?

Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 9:15 pm
by jasonc
those pictures look awesome ldr - that bellthorpe?

Re: What's your favourite climb?

Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 9:38 pm
by ldrcycles
jasonc wrote:those pictures look awesome ldr - that bellthorpe?
Yep, that is the section about hallway up that simply disappeared in the flood a few years back. How they did all that work for only $2 million I will never know.

What's your favourite climb?

Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 10:52 pm
by singlespeedscott
There great shots and certainly help to capture how steep it is. I would love to see a picture of the bitch of a pinch a bit further up the hill after the 180 degree turn.

Re: What's your favourite climb?

Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 11:31 pm
by ldrcycles
You mean this one?

Image



I've taken about a dozen photos trying to capture how steep it is, and none of them have worked. I'm assuming that is the point Strava claims 32% :) .

Re: What's your favourite climb?

Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2014 3:10 pm
by singlespeedscott
That's the one. It certainly feels steeper than it looks.