Cypress or Seymour - which is the harder climb?

[klamyfeat]

Anyone know which is the more difficult; Cypress or Seymour mountain?

Seymour has more switchbacks but Cypress seems longer.

[NaBlade]

Seymour: 8.2 miles, 3000 ft elevation diff, avg gradient 7%
Cypress: 9.4 miles, 2500 ft elevation diff, avg gradient 5%

I have no idea which is more difficult but I would guess the steeper Seymour would be. I am planning to take on these two mountains next spring and Cypress is the first on the list.

[unixd0od]

Seymour is steeper for roughly 2/3rd's of the climb then evens out a bit. Cypress is more consistent. Personally I find seymour a harder climb than cypress.

[klamyfeat]

I find Cypress levels out quite a bit at the top too but the climb still kills me.

[Thrasher]

Seymour is harder - steeper to start and longer overall. Some sections ease off though.

Cypress is very consistent.

We're lucky to have them both!

[ridesmall]

Seymour for sure. Way steeper on the first half or so, and you know it.
Cypress is harder if you do Seymour first...

[BCRoad]

Seymour: 8.2 miles, 3000 ft elevation diff, avg gradient 7%
Cypress: 9.4 miles, 2500 ft elevation diff, avg gradient 5%
Does anyone know how these would be rated in the TdF climb categories?

[Rippin]

To those that have rode up Cypress, what was your time from base to peak? I'm dreadfully slow but I'm interested in knowing how bad I am :cry:

[urbanwhitetrash]

I just did Cypress on Sunday morning, from my door (Burnaby Heights) to the lodge was 1hour 45mins, now granted this was my first attempt at the hill. I didn't think to look at my time when I hit the works yard, I will next time for sure.

As for the climb, pretty consistent, nothing gnarly, but definitely hit it in the morning and take a shell for the ride down. Temperature is nice for climbing and the wind isn't too much of a factor.

Looking forward to trying Seymour next.

[Luco_D]

are you mountain biking or road biking?

Seymour has some nice logging roads you can use, but the mountain biking trails on Cypress are almost all downhill only

[lhbernhardt]

Seymour is definitely the harder climb. It gets steep just after the park gate. It reminds me of Alpe d'Huez without the 21 switchbacks; it's quite steep at the beginning, moderates after the first switchback, then stays steep all the way to the final switchbacks, not letting up until you're in the parking lot (although the road levels at the swtichbacks). If the climb were at the end of a 120km stage which included two 1st category or better climbs, it would definitely be rated HC. A good time is anything under 45-50 minutes.

Cypress is a much easier climb. It starts off gradually at the works yard, then kicks up a bit at the sweeping left turn after the initial long "switchback" around the works yard. It levels off quite a bit at each switchback, and the climb ends when you cross under the powerlines. Most of the races up the hill end at the cross-country ski area. The downhill area is further up the road, but it's pretty flat at that point. A good time is anything under 40-45 minutes. I would think it might be rated Category 1 just because of its length, but no higher, even if it occurred at the end of the stage.

I say that Cypress is easier because I used to do on-bike strength training from the works yard to the first lookout in 53x13 back in my racing days. I wouldn't attempt that on Seymour...

Luis