What's your favourite climb?

[jimsheedy]

I still prefer 3 gorges

[singlespeedscott]

Man dalai, you must have some serious frequent flyer km's up. That and an understanding wife

[dalai47]

Very understanding wife and no children... Had 4 weeks France solo 2011. Then shortly after we returned from our Europe 2012 holiday together (I did squeeze in a quick side trip to Bormio solo) she asked where I was going next year; hence the USA trip this year!

[riles]

NSW:

- macquarie pass
- fitz hill
- honeysuckle rd climb
- 3 gorges
- Akuna Bay either way

QLD: Copperlode Dam (Cairns)

moving to Europe in January, so looking forward to a summer of climbing the Alps

[singlespeedscott]

I've done both Fitz and Honeysuckle. Both are OK but I wouldn't call them great. What is it about these two that you guys like?

[dalai47]

moving to Europe in January, so looking forward to a summer of climbing the Alps

Very jealous!

[biker jk]

I've done both Fitz and Honeysuckle. Both are OK but I wouldn't call them great. What is it about these two that you guys like?

Neither of these type of climbs can be found in Sydney. The first is short and very steep. The second is a climb almost twice as long as most Sydney climbs. They're good reasons for me to like both.

[warthog1]

Not too many decent climbs where I live so my favourite is Mt Alexander. This lists the North side of the climb. I prefer the south side and have done it more times. It is longer and generally less steep but still has some 10ish% sections. We have a bunch ride every Tuesday morning and it is good to smash oneself up the climb to see how you're travelling.
I've done Donna Buang a few times also and dont mind it either. It's probably better but alot further from home.

[skull]

I can't believe I haven't seen mt wellington in hobart mentioned yet.

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[Ross]

The climb into bed after a hard day's ride

[toolonglegs]

moving to Europe in January, so looking forward to a summer of climbing the Alps

Very jealous!

There is the downside of moving to europe and liking to climb... you can't do it for 4 or 5 months of the year unless you are moving to Spain... but then you would hardly be moving there for anything but retirement .
Where are you moving to riles?.

[dalai47]

Upside is they are in your backyard and can ride them the other 7-8 months of the year!

[riles]

I've done both Fitz and Honeysuckle. Both are OK but I wouldn't call them great. What is it about these two that you guys like?

Neither of these type of climbs can be found in Sydney. The first is short and very steep. The second is a climb almost twice as long as most Sydney climbs. They're good reasons for me to like both.

very well said! we have plenty of hard climbs, but not to the degree of those two on the fitz challenge! sure you can ride around mosman for the short nasty's and do the gorges or alike for the longer climbs, but we struggle to have anything over 4.5km in length!
maybe for me it was the pain that those two climbs put me through on the fitz, that made them so much more enjoyable! after having done fitz 208 edition, any clmb in sydney doesnt feel as bad, and doing the fitz has definitly helped my riding 10 fold!

[riles]

moving to Europe in January, so looking forward to a summer of climbing the Alps

Very jealous!

There is the downside of moving to europe and liking to climb... you can't do it for 4 or 5 months of the year unless you are moving to Spain... but then you would hardly be moving there for anything but retirement .
Where are you moving to riles?.

travelling through Europe from mid january, hoping to base myself with some family in Nice, for a good portion of the summer before heading to the UK - Giro & TDF are top of the TD list of course

[boss]

Adelaide...

Haven Rd... Unsealed 7.8% for just over 1km.



Woodland Way... 2.8km at 10%, several 15%+ sections and ends at 20%+



Tilley's Hill... 1.8km (AT) 9%, practically unsealed. One way up so one way down... can be a bit of a white knuckle descent if you're not careful.



Waterfall Gully... 3.8km at 2.6%, not much of a climb but great sub-8:30 effort.



Other climbs I like but don't have photos for:

Belair Rd - 5.5% for 3.8km... my daily commute.
Greenhill RD - 6.6% for 7.2km... longest steady climb in ADL.
The Old Freeway - 4.7% for 8.9km... nice, long, quiet but has a few flats and even a couple of slight downhill sections.
Humpty Hill (Main Rd... Black Rd to Cherry Gdns Rd) - 5.5% for 2.6km... super steady grade.

[march83]

I've done both Fitz and Honeysuckle. Both are OK but I wouldn't call them great. What is it about these two that you guys like?

Neither of these type of climbs can be found in Sydney. The first is short and very steep. The second is a climb almost twice as long as most Sydney climbs. They're good reasons for me to like both.

very well said! we have plenty of hard climbs, but not to the degree of those two on the fitz challenge! sure you can ride around mosman for the short nasty's and do the gorges or alike for the longer climbs, but we struggle to have anything over 4.5km in length!
maybe for me it was the pain that those two climbs put me through on the fitz, that made them so much more enjoyable! after having done fitz 208 edition, any clmb in sydney doesnt feel as bad, and doing the fitz has definitly helped my riding 10 fold!

I encourage you to drive west. less than an hour from the CBD and you're at the base of mt bowen and bellbird hill.

bellbird is nice and long when you include the flatter foothills: http://app.strava.com/segments/1226459" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
...with some steep pinches: http://app.strava.com/segments/647938" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and http://app.strava.com/segments/1186126" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

bowen has a similarly long pre-amble: http://app.strava.com/segments/1107316" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
...before it ramps up at the top like this: http://app.strava.com/segments/828227" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ...and this: http://app.strava.com/segments/631449" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

personally, i'm a big fan of megalong valley from blackheath: http://app.strava.com/segments/800032" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
nice quiet road, lovely bush, plenty of vertical metres, never gets uncomfortably steep.

and i spend a lot of time out at hawkesbury lookout: http://app.strava.com/segments/632101" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[march83]

...and if you're in the southern suburbs of sydney, you're probably not far from Macquarie Pass, Jamberoo Pass, and all the beauties of kangaroo valley...

[tomness]

travelling through Europe from mid january, hoping to base myself with some family in Nice, for a good portion of the summer before heading to the UK - Giro & TDF are top of the TD list of course

There is some great riding around Nice. Col de Madone, Col De Turini, Col de Braus, Col de Eze, Aspremont / Col de Chateneauf, Mont Chauve & Col de Vence to name a few. All rideable from Nice, with spectacular scenery. Enjoy your time there.

[toolonglegs]

There is the downside of moving to europe and liking to climb... you can't do it for 4 or 5 months of the year unless you are moving to Spain... but then you would hardly be moving there for anything but retirement .
Where are you moving to riles?.

travelling through Europe from mid january, hoping to base myself with some family in Nice, for a good portion of the summer before heading to the UK - Giro & TDF are top of the TD list of course

Yeah you will like Nice, like tomness said stunning scenery and rides... and very little flat roads
Bit warmer than where I am... already snowing here .

[JulMass]

Adelaide...

Haven Rd... Unsealed 7.8% for just over 1km.

Where is this Haven Rd?

Good old Pound Rd and corkscrew rd should be up there too if only for the satisfaction of conquering the little b*st*rds!

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[Chuck]

I encourage you to drive west. less than an hour from the CBD and you're at the base of mt bowen and bellbird hill.

bellbird is nice and long when you include the flatter foothills: http://app.strava.com/segments/1226459" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
...with some steep pinches: http://app.strava.com/segments/647938" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and http://app.strava.com/segments/1186126" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

bowen has a similarly long pre-amble: http://app.strava.com/segments/1107316" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
...before it ramps up at the top like this: http://app.strava.com/segments/828227" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ...and this: http://app.strava.com/segments/631449" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

personally, i'm a big fan of megalong valley from blackheath: http://app.strava.com/segments/800032" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
nice quiet road, lovely bush, plenty of vertical metres, never gets uncomfortably steep.

and i spend a lot of time out at hawkesbury lookout: http://app.strava.com/segments/632101" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://app.strava.com/segments/993030" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[CXCommuter]

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.

[2wheels_mond]

I can't believe I haven't seen mt wellington in hobart mentioned yet.

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While I haven't travelled with the bike I can't compare it to too many other climbs, but this is one of my favourites. Challenging, nice views, nice and long too without too many steep pitches.

[michaelten]

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;

[boss]

Adelaide...

Haven Rd... Unsealed 7.8% for just over 1km.

Where is this Haven Rd?

Good old Pound Rd and corkscrew rd should be up there too if only for the satisfaction of conquering the little b*st*rds!

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Haven Road joins Old Norton Summit Rd and Coach Rd. I think when riding up Old Norton Summit you turn at Horsnells Gully Rd, then Haven is on the right. Head up Haven and you end up about halfway up the Coach Rd ascent... so you can either choose more punishment (up Coach) or a quick exit (down Coach... make that very quick exit)

When I rode Haven last, during the middle of winter (i.e. ideal conditions), the straight sections were hard packed, but the switch backs were pretty rutted and can be quite difficult to negotiate. Having said that, I've never put a foot down... but found myself pointed the wrong way with no escape at 6kmph! Few very gentle leans can usually get you back in the right direction.

Pound is pretty good, personally I find Corkscrew to be a little over-rated. Still a good climb though.

While we are talking about tough climbs... I don't think I included this. Fernhurst/Cherryville Rd. It's actually along Marble Hill / Montacute, right in between Corkscrew and Pound Rd.

Little bit over 2km, 230m elevation, seriously one of the more relentless steep climbs in Adelaide. On par with Woodland Way... probably tougher than Coach Road or Kensi Road, and definitely a notch (or three) above Corkscrew or Pound.



The only downside to Fernhurst is that you have to ride down the thing to get back up. I.e. one way in, one way out. It will help you appreciate why the Cherryville fires earlier this year were so hard to fight, though.