Appleby Line in Ontario

[Goriot]

Wondered how many of you guys have tried this incline. It is deathly.. long, winding and steep. Supposedly the steepest incline in all of ontario, and lasts just over a km? I hope to challenge myself one day, I usually ride down on Britannia/Derry, but never go up there!

Also, I was in a car (ugh) on Friday evening going up that hill, and I gave a thumbs up and said "good luck with the hill", to two people stretching at the base. I did this in best intentions, but then realized how much of a JAM I must appear to those two. I was in a car with a friend who drives fast, hates road cyclists and can't ride a bike. I would have much rather joined you guys. Congrats to you guys for making it.

[Turd Ferguson]

I think I know the ride your refering too. About 6 years ago on a POS mountain bike I did a ride from Winston Churchill & Derry to Burlington. While I remember it being pretty verticle, I've rode steeper hills.

I did a loaded tour this year from Tdot to Tobermory. It's had it share of big hills and the one I remember most is when leaving Wiarton. Also, when circumventing Lake Ontario I recall a rather nast hill in Fairhaven NY...at the time it seemed 80 deg uphill.

I'm house sitting at the parents in Burlington all next week and hope to hit the halton hills ! Good riding (except during rush hour)

[Malistryx]

It's not too bad. Especially when your options are bike up or try to make it up in shoes with Look cleats the first time you've ever worn them :lol:

I ride out in that area pretty regularly on my road bike, once you get going you'll be fine! Try it some time.

[roosmachine]

Out of the 6 climbs in that area, I find the 14th Sideroad the worse, Bellschool isnt easy either. One of these days I gotta ride all 6 climbs in one ride. (Appleby South, bellschool, 14th, Steeles, Appleby North, and 6th Line).

[Malistryx]

I just went and rode this a few times today thanks to this post :D

It was shorter than I remembered it being... Ran into a bunch of other cyclists doing it and chatted with a guy from Guelph for a bit, it was fun.

[chephy]

Yep... It's scary enough in a car! I've been on that road in a car with my brother driving, and he's f*cking nuts (he's a terrible driver: typical young unsafe male). It's gonna be funny if one day he'll run me over on that road. :D

[ghettocruiser]

Just north of Derry Road in Milton.

I drove through one time and thought "I should bike this". That was pretty much the end of the thought. Maybe one of these days.

[kobayashi]

Where along Appleby Line are you talking about?

My parents live in Burlington and I know Appleby Line, but can't think of anything where anything strenuous is - of course I've also never crossed Highway 5/Derry on Appleby, or even ridden anywhere around there. Speaking of which, Brant Street must be a good climb north of Highway 5/Derry.

[pinerider]

It's actually in Milton, Koba, Appleby Line climbs the escarpment just north of Derry Rd, it has a very steep section near the top. It also descends the escarpment just south of hwy 401, it's not nearly as steep there.
The Ontario road championships route will be climbing Appleby Line north of Derry on August 26, race headquarters will be at Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area

[Bike-a-Boo]

I've pondered that hill. Don't think I'll ever be up for it. I'm not surprised that it's the steepest!

[m42stanle]

This is a great ride, and I did a 60k from Milton to Rockwood and back via Appleby line last Sat morning before the rain started. It is a killer climb (took Steeles up the escarpment on the way there) especially if you're like me riding a 53/39 double with a 12-23, but the descent following Appleby line toward Campbellville Rd is fantastic, with some great curves.

I was having so much fun I nearly rear ended a minivan that had slowed down to about 35 km for one of the corners marked 30 km/h... I could probably have taken it at about 50 km/h, and managed to reach about 80 km/h on the descent down Steeles on the way home.

If anyone knows of a ride even half this fun within 30 km or so of the GTA please let me know... routes like this are one of the few things I miss about living in the country. :-(

[chephy]

If anyone knows of a ride even half this fun within 30 km or so of the GTA please let me know... routes like this are one of the few things I miss about living in the country. :-( Taking Brimley in Scarborough down to the lake is fun. :) Too bad it just kind of stops and you have to brake at the bottom. And I know, it's just one hill, not a whole ride.

But Milton IS within 30 km of the GTA! Some people even include it in the GTA! :eek::)

[ghettocruiser]

Taking Brimley in Scarborough down to the lake is fun.

One evening, training for a race, I did that hill seven times. I was there until almost midnight.

Come race day, it didn't help.

[LikeToBike]

If anyone knows of a ride even half this fun within 30 km or so of the GTA please let me know... routes like this are one of the few things I miss about living in the country. :-(

+1 on this!!

Would love to know of some routes like that closer to the GTA.

Apart from the Brimley Road "hill" already mentioned I don't know of any decent hills.

[chephy]

One evening, training for a race, I did that hill seven times. I was there until almost midnight.

Come race day, it didn't help. Last time I did it I found that it was actually a surprisingly "easy" hill. But then I've been finding this with more hills lately. Maybe I'm just getting better. :)

Apart from the Brimley Road "hill" already mentioned I don't know of any decent hills. Well, there is Poplar Plains near St. Clair and Avenue Rd. It's not that long, but it's quiet traffic-wise, there a bike lane and (often) a nice shade. And the way the roads are set up there, it's quite convenient to do that hill over and over and over again... I live near there and regulary see guys in full kit blast down Russel Hill and then grind up Poplar Plains. Repeat until legs give out. :)

[pelotonracer]

It's the hill for the Ontario Provincial Road Cycling Championships. I did that hill 3 times in about an hour grinding up with my 39 x 25, it's no that bad. I definitely hit my Max HR somewhere near the top though (around 195 BPM). Anyways, I can't seem to go up faster than 13 km/h on the steepest sections. Come this Sunday to the see the best racers in Ontario jam it up this hill!

[LikeToBike]

On the topic of steep hills. I was biking out in Grimsby area yesterday....Woolverton Road from Main St. to Ridge Rd....holy crap that's a steep hill!

[fuzzthebee]

It's the hill for the Ontario Provincial Road Cycling Championships. I did that hill 3 times in about an hour grinding up with my 39 x 25, it's no that bad. I definitely hit my Max HR somewhere near the top though (around 195 BPM). Anyways, I can't seem to go up faster than 13 km/h on the steepest sections. Come this Sunday to the see the best racers in Ontario jam it up this hill!

Here are your race highlights on video:

http://www.veloomedia.com/2007_pages/2007_road/2007_Prov_RR_Cadet_Men_Flash.html

[skiracing]

To add to the topic... I was driving North on Airport Rd from Hwy 9 all the way to Stayner this weekend. It's pretty much up and down all the way and in some sections has long steep hills. I don't know how it compares to Appleby but I think it could still be a nice ride in the summer. Anyone rode there?

[pinerider]

Here are your race highlights on video:

http://www.veloomedia.com/2007_pages/2007_road/2007_Prov_RR_Cadet_Men_Flash.html

Great link fuzzthebee!!! Thanks for posting it!