Northeast - hardest climbs in new jersey. list yours....

im partial to warrenville rd off of route 22. anyone give it a go? short distance, nice grade :)

I went from Newark to West Orange - six miles, had to walk up some of those and had trouble walking. All the cars parked had blocks under the wheels. I don't know the grade but garages had foundation exposed on one side and the ground went halfway up to the floor above it on the other side of the house which weren't all that wide.

Start anywhere and go to High Point, NJ. Very rural area, don't plan for stores.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1146471

Over 250 feet a mile.

Fiddlers Elbow ... or any climb up Montana Mtn. Route 22 service road up Jugtown Mtn. out of West Portal.
Byram Rd up from Rt. 29 out of Byram ... most of the climbs east from Rt.29 into Kingwood Twp. Thatchers Hill out of Flemington. Any road heading south off of Musconetcong Rd. into Lebenon Twp., actually all over Lebanon and Tewkbury. Rt. 512 out of Califon towards Fairmont. They are all my favorites ... thats all I can think of at the moment. There are hundreds of GREAT climbs in NJ.

As mentioned above, Fiddler's Elbow has a great reputation. Have never ridden it though.

As far as places around me, you might want to checkout Skyline Drive from West Oakland Ave in Oakland, NJ up to the upper parking lot for Ramapo State Forest.. to the Ringwood, NJ area and CR511...

Another short steep climb is Stonetown Road by the Monksville Reservoir. Not long but has a short steep section..

Jay

Ft. Lee Road or West Pallisade Ave or any parallel route that goes straight up the Englewood cliffs.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1146471

Over 250 feet a mile.

This is the reason I got a road bike! My mountain bike was way too heavy to deal with the hills in West Orange, Livingston, Montclair, etc. Which road specifically did you ride? I clicked on the link but it's tough to see which street/road you took. Curious as this is where I normally ride.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1146471

Over 250 feet a mile.

Hey, that hill up to South Mtn. Reserve is part of my regular post-work ride. The NJ hill that always kicks my butt is Black River Rd. north from Pottersville towards Parker. Have yet to try High Point....

My cousin lives over on Lenox Terrace. I looked at the map, figured hey, it's only 7 miles I can do that in my sleep. A tad hungover I set off, nice ride for some of it (wide shoulders) until the last 2 miles or so. Brutal!

Here's (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=25+University+Avenue,+NJ&daddr=Central+Ave%2FCR-508+%4040.765810,+-74.232840+to:40.773392,-74.257364+to:Bradford+Ave+%4040.775610,+-74.259050+to:Lenox+Terrace,+West+Orange,+Essex,+New+Jersey+07052,+United+States&mrcr=1,2&mrsp=2&sz=14&mra=dpe&sll=40.771312,-74.250755&sspn=0.041406,0.099993&ie=UTF8&z=14&om=1) what I did - the roads between 577 and 508 are residential and STEEP. 508 has a really long downhill that would be great coming back up, and then up to Lenox off 508 is another pretty steep climb. But you could get in plenty of work just going back and forth between 577 and 508 (both are main roads, 508 cars are going over 50 mph so I wouldn't stay on there too long if you could avoid it).

Here's (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=25+University+Avenue,+NJ&daddr=Central+Ave%2FCR-508+%4040.765810,+-74.232840+to:40.773392,-74.257364+to:Bradford+Ave+%4040.775610,+-74.259050+to:Lenox+Terrace,+West+Orange,+Essex,+New+Jersey+07052,+United+States&mrcr=1,2&mrsp=2&sz=14&mra=dpe&sll=40.771312,-74.250755&sspn=0.041406,0.099993&ie=UTF8&z=14&om=1) what I did - the roads between 577 and 508 are residential and STEEP. 508 has a really long downhill that would be great coming back up, and then up to Lenox off 508 is another pretty steep climb. But you could get in plenty of work just going back and forth between 577 and 508 (both are main roads, 508 cars are going over 50 mph so I wouldn't stay on there too long if you could avoid it).

I know that area very well. That is not an easy ride - Northfield has a ton of car traffic and the hills on that road are steep. Next time try taking it straight towards Livingston, passing the Hockey Arena & Turtle Back Zoo, now that is brutal! I have yet to accomplish that ride myself, as I'm just a newbie trying to get miles under my legs.

I briefly saw that area when I was waiting for the bus back home - after a few beers at his place I couldn't even imagine attempting that last hill though the idea of all those downhills on the way back were tempting :) Definitely looked steep!

+1 on Byram-Kingwood Road. A couple miles south, Federal Twist Road is my favorite nemesis on my fixed gear.

It's great to see all the suggestions. I had no idea there were so many hard climbs in New Jersey. I made up this:

. [ table of steepness + size of NJ climbs (http://www.roberts-1.com/b/v/u/07a/index.htm#hill_climbs_in_New_Jersey_07jly) ] .

It includes most of the climbs mentioned on this forum -- except for ones where I couldn't figure out where there were. I ranked them roughly in order of the steepness grade of the steepest sustained section on each climb -- estimated steepness grade by measuring elevations and distances off some topo map software.

Some of the big + steepest ones included Fiddlers Elbow and High Point and some others out West. But a couple in the East made my top 10, with a very steep street in Maplewood.

Be glad for corrections and more suggestions.

My question: Does Route 23 north+west from Sussex to High Point actually include a sustained section at around 12% grade? (seems too steep for a major state road)

Ken

Ha.....I live in Cape May, the steepest climb within miles is the bridge crossing the Cape May Canal!

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1146471

Over 250 feet a mile.

That's not bad...I do hill repeats on a hill that gains around 275 feet in a mile or so, and the first half isn't real steep. It's the 300 to 400 foot gains in a mile that start to wear on ya :).

I do hill repeats on a hill that gains around 275 feet in a mile or so, and the first half isn't real steep. It's the 300 to 400 foot gains in a mile that start to wear on ya :).
Yes "feet gained per mile" is an easy way to calculate and talk about steepness. "Grade" is an equivalent concept -- the only advantage is that it gets away from any confusion about units of measurement. If you want to compare steepness with other regions or countries, "grade" is more useful.

275 feet gain per mile is equivalent steepness to 5.2% grade. For comparison the average steepness grade of the famous Alpe d'Huez climb in France is about 8% grade -- or 422 feet gain per mile. Which is the same as Skyline Drive in northern New Jersey - (but Alpe d'Huez is about four times longer).

Fiddlers Elbow in west NJ is much steeper than Alpe d'Huez. Fiddlers is more than 12% grade, more than 633 feet gain per mile. So if you thought 400 ft per mile was a lot, take your bike out to Fiddlers Elbow and see what you think. One section of Fiddlers gets to around 1000 feet gain per mile.
Hint: Most riders find themselves walking before they see the top. And now it's even tougher, since they repaved it with a coarse stone surface in this last year. Anyway I think 275 feet per mile or 5% grade is enough for an intense hill workout, because if I want to feel a hill steeper than that, I can pretty closely simulate it by shifting to a higher gear.

Ken

Yes "feet gained per mile" is an easy way to calculate and talk about steepness. "Grade" is an equivalent concept -- the only advantage is that it gets away from any confusion about units of measurement. If you want to compare steepness with other regions or countries, "grade" is more useful.

275 feet gain per mile is equivalent steepness to 5.2% grade. For comparison the average steepness grade of the famous Alpe d'Huez climb in France is about 8% grade -- or 422 feet gain per mile. Which is the same as Skyline Drive in northern New Jersey - (but Alpe d'Huez is about four times longer).

Fiddlers Elbow in west NJ is much steeper than Alpe d'Huez. Fiddlers is more than 12% grade, more than 633 feet gain per mile. So if you thought 400 ft per mile was a lot, take your bike out to Fiddlers Elbow and see what you think. One section of Fiddlers gets to around 1000 feet gain per mile.
Hint: Most riders find themselves walking before they see the top. And now it's even tougher, since they repaved it with a coarse stone surface in this last year. Anyway I think 275 feet per mile or 5% grade is enough for an intense hill workout, because if I want to feel a hill steeper than that, I can pretty closely simulate it by shifting to a higher gear.

Ken

And I've climbed a road that gained a few hundred feet in 1/4 mile (they close it from Oct. 15th to April 15th due to the grade and snow).....had to tack back and forth across the road to get up it.

Or, Housatonic Hills Road Race, you know you're climbing some steep grades when you hit an "easy section", and you look at your computer and it's reading 8%.

The Berkshires are a lot of fun too, particularly the secondary roads that go up walls.

does anyone know of any decent climbs in the brick/lakewood/pointpleasant/toms river area? i prefer not driving to go biking and i enjoy climbing but i can't find any long climbs(more than 100 meters) or anything overly steep. it gets really boring riding flats every single day.
the only thing i can think of is the parkway but i have a feeling that that ride would be rather short lived. haha

Thanks in advance, and thanks for the climbs already listed, i'll be sure to check out atleast some of them. :)

Kyle

"does anyone know of any decent climbs in the brick/lakewood/pointpleasant/toms river area? "

Atlantic highlands, the road that hugs the coast, although the shoulder of rt 36 is ok.

Yeah, Warrenville is nice! Continuing straight up Mt. Bethel after crossing Mountain Blvd/Wash Valley Rd. isn't a picnic either. Where I live now (Union County), the toughest climb I've found is Summit Road starting near Rte 22. Johnston Drive in Watchung is another tough, but short (~1 mi), climb. When I used to live in Hunterdon County, there were a lot of them in the vicinity of Lebanon, Tewksbury, and High Bridge. Stanton Mountain Road (not Stanton Road) near Round Valley. Cokesbury Road from Rte 22 up to Califon was a nice 6-miler or so, though it didn't have the steepness of Summit Rd.

"Warrenville is nice!" From NYC it seems to be near the Raritan NJT station. Is there a bike friendly way there from Newark?

Anyplace really good to eat?

thanks! i'll check that out. theres some decent grades near allaire park but like i said they only seem to last around 100 yards.
Thanks again,
kyle

I made up a google map of hill climb areas (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&ll=40.901058,-74.520264&spn=1.021379,1.864929&z=9&om=1&msid=104855209764401583780.00043698190931271ada7).
Which area of hills on the map has which specific climbs is shown below my list of 34 New Jersey climbs (http://www.roberts-1.com/b/v/u/07a/index.htm#hill_climbs_in_New_Jersey_07jly).

Today I tried the "North Watchung ridge" climbs: Started with Northfield Av up from Orange (not much fun with the traffic), then back east across the Watchung ridge on 510 (didn't like the visibility or lane design) to South Orange, then into the "residential" steeps of Maplewood, first the Collinwood-Sunset-Crestwood climb. Finally Maplewood Av to Mountain Av -- and to my surprise I actually made it to the top, and it did look plenty steep.

I also added some more to my list of NJ climbs (http://www.roberts-1.com/b/v/u/07a/index.htm#hill_climbs_in_New_Jersey_07jly) -- one was Warrenville Rd.
So my top five steepest are:

Fiddlers Elbow, near Belvidere
Mountain Av, Maplewood (steep section not long)
Warwick Tpk by Greenwood Lake
Quenby Mountain Rd near Hackettstown
Warrenville Rd, Dunellen
Ken

I think the road is Closter Dock, through Alpine, trying to get back on 9W, on the way back to the city.

"Warrenville is nice!" From NYC it seems to be near the Raritan NJT station.
I think it's actually closer to the Plainfield station. Anyway I think the better strategy is to choose whatever NJ Transit station gets the most frequent service around the time you want to go there.

If taking the trouble to travel to that area, I'd also try some of the other climbs in the Watchung south area on my list -- and ride the 7-mile Watchung Reservation loop [ see map of loop (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&ll=40.688969,-74.369202&spn=0.128081,0.233116&z=12&om=1&msid=104855209764401583780.000436ada9eebfd61f05e) ] - (sorta like Central Park but bigger hills and fewer walkers + runners, but no car-free periods). In which case the Westfield train station -- or possibly the Summit train station might get more frequent service.
but I don't much like the visibility and lane design on the Summit Rd climb going north up from Rt 22. So even though it's a good athletic challenge for me, I rarely choose to ride it.
Is there a bike friendly way there from Newark?
There's so many streets around there that there's probably some way to design a sorta bike-friendly route -- but it would be complicated. If you're taking the train as far as Newark, you might as well take it further to Westfield or Plainfield or Summit. (On the other hand I don't think it's all that difficult to ride from the GWB to Newark).

Ken

Actually I am in NYC I was going to take the PATH to Newark and then NJT to a stop like Milburn.

Or Start at Newark and bike to NJT Gladstone station.

Actually I am in NYC I was going to take the PATH to Newark and then NJT to a stop like Milburn.

Or Start at Newark and bike to NJT Gladstone station.

If you are in NYC it would be more efficient to take the NJT Midtown Direct right out of Penn Station - that is the same line that goes to Gladstone. Lots of nice rides once you get out to Gladstone: much better than the Warren/Plainfield area, which is more built up and congested. If you want hills, head west towards Califon and High Bridge. Check njbikemap.com for detailed roads.

I live pretty close to the Milburn stop, and things are still pretty well built up around that area. If you were to go to Chatham or Madison you would have access to some good roads heading out towards the Great Swamp. Not as many big hills untill you get to the west of Basking Ridge or so...

I made up a google map of hill climb areas (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&ll=40.901058,-74.520264&spn=1.021379,1.864929&z=9&om=1&msid=104855209764401583780.00043698190931271ada7).
Which area of hills on the map has which specific climbs is shown below my list of 34 New Jersey climbs (http://www.roberts-1.com/b/v/u/07a/index.htm#hill_climbs_in_New_Jersey_07jly).

Today I tried the "North Watchung ridge" climbs: Started with Northfield Av up from Orange (not much fun with the traffic), then back east across the Watchung ridge on 510 (didn't like the visibility or lane design) to South Orange, then into the "residential" steeps of Maplewood, first the Collinwood-Sunset-Crestwood climb. Finally Maplewood Av to Mountain Av -- and to my surprise I actually made it to the top, and it did look plenty steep......


Those streets are around where I live. You are a braver man than I for climbing the 's-curves' from west to east on Rt. 510 (aka S. Orange Ave.) - mainly because the cars will kill you on that one. I often see commuter going up that hill on a folder - that guy is nuts.

BTW, I regularly go down the other side because they converted it from two lanes to one lane with a huge shoulder. The west-east climb on Northfield is a bit safer from a car perspective, but I prefer creeping around some of the back streets. If you want a nice little climb, go west on Northfield past Pleasant Valley Way and take the first right into the reserve. This goes up to a nice 1.2 mi. loop where you can take a few laps before coming down again.

but I don't much like the visibility and lane design on the Summit Rd climb going north up from Rt 22. So even though it's a good athletic challenge for me, I rarely choose to ride it.

I know what you mean. About ¼ way up where the road bends to the right, there are also some low hanging branches that extend onto the road. It could definitely create a blind spot for a car coming up if it's too close to the side of the road, which I do think about every time I ride it. It's just that almost all of my rides starting from home require me to climb over Watchung to get to any worthwhile roads, and I get tired of taking New Providence Road to either Tracy Drive or Deer Path. Summit Rd provides a nice change of pace.

Instead of New Providence Road in Mountainside ride down to Scotch Plains and climb Glenside up to the reservation. Basically the same elevation gain but a sharper elevation. Also Diamond Hill Road is the gentle climb and Bonnie Burn the steeper one up to basically the same locations. Once up there, head towards the Watchung circle but turn left on Hill-Hollow to climb up to Johnson drive. Also from to the left further down is Valley Drive. One of the guys I ride with has a one hour morning workout called the triple double where he climbs Johnson Drive, Valley and Hill Hollow twice. Then he goes to work!!!

Thanks for the suggestions of Valley Drive and Hill Hollow Rd, because I think they tend to get less traffic than some of the other climbs around the Watchung south area. I added Valley Drive to my list of NJ climbs (http://www.roberts-1.com/b/v/u/07a/index.htm#hill_climbs_in_New_Jersey_07jly).

Unfortunately Bonnie Burn Rd as a way to Johnson Dr (also Diamond Hill Rd) gets lots of motor traffic because it goes between exits on both major highways 22 + 78.

Glenside going north up from Rt 22 is indeed steeper than New Prov, but has a questionable-visibility curve near the bottom, and a fair amount of vehicle traffic coming off Rt 22.

Warrenville Rd: Also I rode to the bottom of the Warrenville Rd and it looked like it was getting lots of traffic (it starts from an exit off Rt 22). I had already been riding five hours, so I didn't try climbing it.

Fiddlers Elbow: Saturday afternoon I met a rider making it to the top of the truly tough one still on his bike.

Ken

Ken

Bonnie Burn, Diamond Hill and Glenside are generally not good weekday roads but on Saturday or Sunday mornings these are fine although Diamond hill provides cars with the best visibility on the way up. Once up to the top there are lots of roads to "ridge hop" and get lots of hill work. None of these are sustained climbs but the 150 - 200 feet of elevation for each climb sure do add up fast.

H

Seems like they're doing construction on Summit Rd. I was feeling good on my 7 mile warmup to Mountainside, so I figured I'd take Summit Rd. over the reservation. Went a little ways up before it became apparent that the rough road wasn't going to end anytime soon. Turned back down, and proceeded back up via Tracy Drive. I'll have to make a point of trying Glenside next time. In the long run, a smoother Summit Rd. will make for a nicer climb.

Ended up getting a flat on Mountain Ave. on the way to Warren that put a hole in my sidewall, so instead of a 60-70 miler, I crawled back home having done only about half that.

Thanks for the report on Summit Rd . . . We can hope maybe it will somehow be friendlier after the construction.

I got to try out some other climbs:
Warrenville Rd up from 22 near Dunellen does get lots of traffic, but I also found it a good sustained-steep hill workout for me, so I did it three times -- making me feel like I'm ready for the French Alps over Labor Day. I might have wanted to do it a fourth time, but I'm pretty close to my limit on that hill, and I didn't want to be around so much traffic as I was got more tired on it -- so instead I went to a quieter road to finish thrashing my legs (and arms).

Valley Drive (not to be confused with Valley Rd) and Hill Hollow were indeed quiet roads thru pleasant suburban homes, and kind of interesting with curves and different steepnesses -- I would not have thought to try them until suggested on this forum - (too bad they're not longer).

I also climbed both ends of Johnston to get access to Valley + Hill Hollow from the top -- Johnston itself is pleasant residential. Access to its northeast end on Bonnie Burn up from near 22 was indeed heavy traffic, but the road was wide enough so I felt comfortable on it.

Ken

In Califon NJ, Rt 512 from Main Street then a right to Califon-Cokesbury. 512 + Califon-Cokesbury Rd. is around one mile but is but gets up to 45 degrees at some points

Hunterdon County leaving Lambertville is pretty bad. (The first few miles of this (http://www.bikeforums.net/www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Nov-tour-day-4).)

Hunterdon County leaving Lambertville is pretty bad. (The first few miles of this (http://www.bikeforums.net/www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Nov-tour-day-4).)
Looks like a short section of 7% grade on rt 518 east from Lambertville (also south down Woodens Lane), then like 180 vertical feet around 8% on further east on Pleasant Valley Rd (why it's called "Valley" while it goes over a sizable hill I don't know).


In Califon NJ, Rt 512 from Main Street then a right to Califon-Cokesbury.
From my topo software, looks like Main St south from Califon includes a short section of 11% grade steepness, while Rt 512 has only a much shorter section at 9-10% grade - (both of which count as "steep"). But going from Main St onto the continuation of that steepness on Califon-Cokesbury Rd requires crossing the traffic of Rt 518.

Ken

Ken,

Have you ever rode Black River Rd. north from Pottersville? For some reason, that hill always kicks my butt, even worse than the roads out of Califon mentioned above.

Ken,

Have you ever rode Black River Rd. north from Pottersville? For some reason, that hill always kicks my butt, even worse than the roads out of Califon mentioned above.

I doubt that would qualify, though it is a somewhat longer climb than most hills in the area. Very scenic as well!

My pick would be Middle Valley Road, though recently it appears they've layed some gravel down which has washed over the lower paved sections (or filled in potholes). I would NOT recommended descending this hill (did it and nearly lost it on the switchback). The section I map shows 315 elevation gain in .28 miles which calculates to a grade greater than 20% overall.

http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/nj/long%20valley/589659751

Some other hills I find challenging (not all that hard to challenge me, I sometimes end up walking even with my touring triple :o):

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=105811506773690801215.000452a28cdcec0f680eb&ll=40.834244,-74.667549&spn=0.003791,0.006652&z=17

My pick would be Middle Valley Road, though recently it appears they've layed some gravel down which has washed over the lower paved sections (or filled in potholes) . . . The section I map shows 315 elevation gain in .28 miles which calculates to a grade greater than 20% overall.
http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/nj/long%20valley/589659751
Yes that looks like a steep one. Thanks for sharing it.
I just added it to the top 10 of my list of steep NJ climbs (http://www.roberts-1.com/b/u/nj/hills/index.htm#calculations_for_the_hills).


I would NOT recommended descending this hill (did it and nearly lost it on the switchback).
So what roads do you use instead for a descent?


Some other hills I find challenging (not all that hard to challenge me, I sometimes end up walking even with my touring triple :o):
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=105811506773690801215.000452a28cdcec0f680eb&ll=40.834244,-74.667549&spn=0.003791,0.006652&z=17

I'll have to check those when I get some time.

Ken

So what roads do you use instead for a descent?

Depends. Where are you coming from? I ride there from Budd Lake, so I take Slicker into Califon if I want paved, or Hollow Brook to Trimmer if I want gravel road. Hollow Brook isn't nearly as steep, but you might not want to travel it with narrow tires, depending on your experience and confidence level. It is rather scenic, however, passing through the Teetertown Ravine.

I usually avoid using 513 because of the traffic speed and lack of shoulders. Instead, you can use the Columbia Trail, which crosses Middle Valley Road. Actually, there may be a small parking area at the intersection of the Columbia Trail and Middle Valley. Or, you can park in Califon (Railroad Ave parallel to the trail) or in Long Valley right off Schooley's Mountain Rd (24) and ride the trail. It's completely leveled, packed dirt that entire stretch (they just finished the Long Valley side).

Coming from the east, you could also take Beacon Hill, though I've never ridden it. I've driven it, and I know sections of it are pretty good hills as well. Looks like the climb between Turtleback and W. Valley Brook is fairly steep.

Up in Sussex county you can either start in Sparta at main st. and go up and over Glen Rd./Ridge Rd. to Jefferson, or do it the other way around. Its probably more challenging to do from Jefferson to Sparta. EIther way they just repaved a bunch of it and its smooth sailing.


Another good hill climb is to take rte 202 north through towaco and instead of turning left at the traffic light to follow 202 you stay straight on Jacksonville ave. and climb up to Jacksonville Chapel. Once you're there you can bomb downhill to Pompton Plains or turn left at Jacksonville Chapel and take the overpass over 287 and continue climbing til you get to Boonton Ave. in kinnellon.

Looks like a short section of 7% grade on rt 518 east from Lambertville (also south down Woodens Lane), then like 180 vertical feet around 8% on further east on Pleasant Valley Rd (why it's called "Valley" while it goes over a sizable hill I don't know). Ken

I usually ride to Lambertville from the Sourlands, ending up in Lambertville on Quarry St. It comes out at the intersection of 518, and just further south is S. Franklin St. Not a big hill by any means, but it looks intimidating as you climb up through the neighborhood past the cemetery, on the way to Goat Hill, which connects with Valley, then Pleasant Valley. You can ride all the way up Pleasant Valley from Rt. 29, but 29 is a destroyer of wheels, with lots of traffic at that point. While in Lambertville, you can visit Pure Energy cycles, or ride up 518 and visit Wheel Fine cycles. Both great shops, in their own way.

I found an interesting route of bikely.com caller: JERSEY HILL HELL

when you take rt 202 from morristown to jockey hollow, about 2 miles on your right is a small road that takes you to the old 24. it is about 1 mile of probably the toughest climb you can find.

when you take rt 202 from morristown to jockey hollow, about 2 miles on your right is a small road that takes you to the old 24. it is about 1 mile of probably the toughest climb you can find.

Are you talking about Bailey Hollow Rd.? It is steep, but not super long. What I don't like about it is the rough pavement on some of the curves. Sucks to hit some of that stuff as you are trying to stay vertical with a car bearing down on your rear!

Here's a few:

Edgewater Avenue: I think it's about 0.5 miles, but the grade up that is stupid.
If you want extra suffering, keep riding straight (there's a right hand turn

Gorge Road: That one's pretty tough; very steep for a little bit, then sort of steep afterwards.

Anything going to 9W: The devil himself made those climbs.

Palisades Park: One really mean climb towards Alpine Approach.

Interesting to hear about some hills in a different part of the state.


Edgewater Avenue: I think it's about 0.5 miles, but the grade up that is stupid. If you want extra suffering, keep riding straight (there's a right hand turn
A quick calculation suggests that Edgewater (near the Hudson River in Cliffside Park) has a section about 175 vertical feet around 12% steepness grade. Decently steep, not very big.
by "riding straight" I'm guessing is meant Cecilia Av -- which makes it steeper longer, looks like the steep section is around 180 vertical feet at almost 13% grade.

I'll add that one to my list of steep NJ climbs (http://www.roberts-1.com/b/u/nj/hills/index.htm#calculations_for_the_hills).


Gorge Road: That one's pretty tough; very steep for a little bit, then sort of steep afterwards.My quick calculation suggests Gorge Rd (near the Hudson River and Edgewater Rd) includes around 70 vertical at about 14% grade -- which is indeed "very steep", but kinda short.


Anything going to 9W: The devil himself made those climbs.Sounds like some more short steep ones. But I think you need to travel further west and north to see the devil's later works.


Palisades Park: One really mean climb towards Alpine Approach.Yes the Alpine Approach is much longer than the others, so I find it a good training climb -- but actually it's not as steep as the others.

Ken

im partial to warrenville rd off of route 22. anyone give it a go? short distance, nice grade :)

Yep, very nice. I used to live near the restaurant called "The Office" on 22 (where the road cross to go up to Martinsville). One street down is a road (toward Warrenville), goes up the same hill. I think it is worse, as in they closed it when it snowed. You can also go across the road and sort of work your way up the mountain inside a development. Great for intervals.

Nothing like the murderous hills we have here. Since we don't have snow and the Ticos don't like to waste road material - the closest distance between two points is straight up the mountain - and everyone has 4 wheel drive anyway, right?! :eek: