Ritterview
09-18-06, 12:02 PM
The climb up Highway 9 is said to be 7 miles, but where exactly does it start?
http://aycu26.webshots.com/image/3625/2005359560367118243_rs.jpg
http://aycu26.webshots.com/image/3625/2005359560367118243_rs.jpg
Northern California - Where does the Highway 9 climb start?
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qpliu
09-18-06, 10:32 PM
The climb up Highway 9 is said to be 7 miles, but where exactly does it start?
It's about 7.5 miles from the Saratoga-Los Gatos intersection, and there aren't any stop signs or traffic lights from there until the top. Is that good enough?
For me, though, it starts at the intersection with Highway 236 in Boulder Creek, though the real climbing doesn't start until Saratoga Toll Road. That didn't have any stop signs until the top until sometime last fall when the stop signs at the intersection with upper Highway 236 were installed.
It's about 7.5 miles from the Saratoga-Los Gatos intersection, and there aren't any stop signs or traffic lights from there until the top. Is that good enough?
For me, though, it starts at the intersection with Highway 236 in Boulder Creek, though the real climbing doesn't start until Saratoga Toll Road. That didn't have any stop signs until the top until sometime last fall when the stop signs at the intersection with upper Highway 236 were installed.
'nother
09-18-06, 11:35 PM
Bleh, yeah, Hwy 9 start is kind of fuzzy. A lot of people say it starts at the Pierce Rd. intersection, because many people come over Pierce to avoid the traffic in town. But, it's more like 6.5 miles from there. And of course there are those who take Redwood Gulch to avoid the Pierce Rd. traffic :) (3.2 miles from there I think).
If you like to climb, and like to do Hwy 9, what I like to do is go to the top and turn left on Skyline and go up to Castle Rock. It's not much further but it adds some more climbing and then you get a nice, long, sometimes rippin' descent :D
If you like to climb, and like to do Hwy 9, what I like to do is go to the top and turn left on Skyline and go up to Castle Rock. It's not much further but it adds some more climbing and then you get a nice, long, sometimes rippin' descent :D
Ritterview
09-23-06, 12:54 AM
Well, I've been Googling, and came up with this:
http://forums.roadbikereview.com/printthread.php?t=32664
Highway 9 (E)
distance: 6.5 miles
climbing: 2090 feet
start/finish: left curve at downtown saratoga to stop sign at 35
Description: Highway 9 has a fairly consistent grade between 6-7%. It features long straightaways in the beginning and some wide hairpin turns near the end. There is s shoulder to ride on but it the road is highly trafficked in afternoon commute hours and weekends.
I think that would put the start as depicted below, at which I believe there is a large left turn arrow. That is where I started last week, which turned out to be 6.5 miles.
http://aycu35.webshots.com/image/2714/2003443871756347580_rs.jpg
http://forums.roadbikereview.com/printthread.php?t=32664
Highway 9 (E)
distance: 6.5 miles
climbing: 2090 feet
start/finish: left curve at downtown saratoga to stop sign at 35
Description: Highway 9 has a fairly consistent grade between 6-7%. It features long straightaways in the beginning and some wide hairpin turns near the end. There is s shoulder to ride on but it the road is highly trafficked in afternoon commute hours and weekends.
I think that would put the start as depicted below, at which I believe there is a large left turn arrow. That is where I started last week, which turned out to be 6.5 miles.
http://aycu35.webshots.com/image/2714/2003443871756347580_rs.jpg
Ritterview
09-25-06, 09:56 PM
Please disregard the map in my last post. It is wrong. The "left curve at downtown saratoga" is depicted here:
http://aycu28.webshots.com/image/5067/2003862330980887349_rs.jpg
At the end of downtown there is a left turn sign:
http://aycu07.webshots.com/image/4446/2003878596601680130_rs.jpg
And around the left turn corner a sign marking Winding Road Next 7 Miles.
http://aycu28.webshots.com/image/3267/2003871362304030161_rs.jpg
From the "7 mile" sign, my odometer read 6.85 miles to the stop sign at the intersection of 35.
http://aycu28.webshots.com/image/5067/2003862330980887349_rs.jpg
At the end of downtown there is a left turn sign:
http://aycu07.webshots.com/image/4446/2003878596601680130_rs.jpg
And around the left turn corner a sign marking Winding Road Next 7 Miles.
http://aycu28.webshots.com/image/3267/2003871362304030161_rs.jpg
From the "7 mile" sign, my odometer read 6.85 miles to the stop sign at the intersection of 35.
'nother
09-26-06, 08:41 AM
^^ It's hard to say that the "climb" starts there...you can see from the pic that it's downhill right there, and that continues down for another 50 yds past the apex of that turn before it actually starts (very gently) climbing. And there's another little dip right before the bridge, a little further up the road.
Anyway, it's not that big of a deal...make the start wherever you want it to be!
Anyway, it's not that big of a deal...make the start wherever you want it to be!
Ritterview
09-26-06, 10:52 AM
make the start wherever you want it to be!
Obviously true. However, it is useful to have a benchmark for comparison between riders, and for one rider between different climbs. For example, I climbed the 6.85 miles from the "7 mile" sign in 43 min and 25 sec. last Sunday. This Sunday, I am going to do the Mount Diablo Challenge, in hopes of earning a coveted "One Hour" T-Shirt. Do I have a chance? Don't know, except to compare the times up Highway 9 of those whose times on the Mt. Diablo challenge are known. You can't compare times up Highway 9 if the starting point differs or is vague.
Obviously true. However, it is useful to have a benchmark for comparison between riders, and for one rider between different climbs. For example, I climbed the 6.85 miles from the "7 mile" sign in 43 min and 25 sec. last Sunday. This Sunday, I am going to do the Mount Diablo Challenge, in hopes of earning a coveted "One Hour" T-Shirt. Do I have a chance? Don't know, except to compare the times up Highway 9 of those whose times on the Mt. Diablo challenge are known. You can't compare times up Highway 9 if the starting point differs or is vague.
'nother
09-27-06, 08:44 AM
Obviously true. However, it is useful to have a benchmark for comparison between riders, and for one rider between different climbs. For example, I climbed the 6.85 miles from the "7 mile" sign in 43 min and 25 sec. last Sunday. This Sunday, I am going to do the Mount Diablo Challenge, in hopes of earning a coveted "One Hour" T-Shirt. Do I have a chance? Don't know, except to compare the times up Highway 9 of those whose times on the Mt. Diablo challenge are known. You can't compare times up Highway 9 if the starting point differs or is vague.
I follow what you're saying, but if you're going to benchmark, use something that other people also use as a benchmark, like Montebello (start at the stop sign at the bottom, end at the gate at the top), or Old La Honda (bridge to stop sign). Not too many people I know use Hwy 9 as a benchmark.
I follow what you're saying, but if you're going to benchmark, use something that other people also use as a benchmark, like Montebello (start at the stop sign at the bottom, end at the gate at the top), or Old La Honda (bridge to stop sign). Not too many people I know use Hwy 9 as a benchmark.