Northern California - Where to find 13 percent grade in Marin County?!

Hi,
I am new to bike forums as I am fairly new to cycling. I am currently training for Wildflower triathlon and have got the swim/run down but need to practice time in the saddle. Does anyone know any 13 percent grades lasting about 2 miles in Marin County? Maybe that's getting specific, but I figured there has got to be at least one! The climb at the beginning of the bike is 13 percent and I need to get my confidence up! It could be something longer than a couple of miles, I am just trying to simulate the experience as best as I can! Thanks for any info and happy riding!

Welcome to Bike Forums! 13% is very steep. I can't think of any climb in the Bay Area, much less Marin, that is that steep for that long. Maybe Sierra Road down by San Jose?

Check out the Low Key Hill Climb series for a few other good ones (not in Marin):

Quimby looks like 13%, but it isn't quite 2 miles (1.5 or 1.25?): http://lowkey.djconnel.com/2008/week3/

This one (Jamison Creek Rd.) is two miles at 11%: http://lowkey.djconnel.com/2008/week6/

Good luck with the tri training and let us know if you find any monster hills for your training.

Here's some nice lists of climbs mostly on the peninsula, don't know anything like this for Marin.

http://www.westernwheelers.org/main/resources/BA_Climbs.html

http://www-graphics.stanford.edu/~lucasp/bike-grade.html

Looked up in the Complete Guide to Climbing (by Bike)

The NorCal climbs include:

Nacimiento Fergusson Road (west) in Monterey
Average Grade 6.9% (max 11%), Length 6.9 miles, Total elevation 2,506 ft

Bohlman Road / On Orbit Drive in Saratoga
Average Grade 12.8% (max 21%), length 2.3 miles, Total elevation 1,557 ft

Bohlman Road in Saratoga
Average Grade 12.0% (max 21%), length 2.6 miles, Total elevation 1,648 ft

Alba Road in Santa Cruz
Average Grade 10.2% (max 19%), length 3.8 miles, Total elevation 2,030 ft

Hicks Road / Mount Umunhum in San Jose
Average Grade 10.0% (max 18%), length 4.1 miles, Total elevation 2,160 ft

Marin Avenue in Berkeley
Average Grade for half mile 18.1% (max 28%)
Average Grade for mile 14.1% (max 28%)

13% for the entire 2 miles? Pretty monstrous climb! You'd be climbing something like 1,400 feet in that 2 miles, or close to half of Mt. Diablo! I can't imagine there's a climb like that in a triathlon - that would be a killer after a long swim.

Looking at the Wilflower course map, it looks like the Beach Hill climb you're worried about? It looks like it goes up 400 feet in about a mile. That's a 7.6% average grade - tough (steeper than Mt. Diablo, for example), but not 13%. There may be some 13% sections to worry about, but it's not 13% for the entire mile. % grade calculator can be found here: http://www.csgnetwork.com/inclinedeclinegradecalc.html
It won't be perfectly accurate - it looks for horizontal distance, while your cycling computer will measure along the diagonal, but it will be very close.

To answer your question - try Bo-Fax road, specifically the section from Alpine Dam up to Ridge Crest. Plenty steep enough, and long enough too to test your climbing. But it's not 13% for 2 miles.

JB

edit: here's a link to the infamous "Billy Goat List", with elevation and distances for each climb: http://home.att.net/~bikemaster/routes/bgoats.htm There are some inaccuracies (Mt. Diablo is about a 3,200 foot climb, at least from the south gate), and the subjective rankings are, well, subjective (Redwood Gulch is rated a 6, or as hard as they come, but Sierra Road is a 5?). Still a useful list, though.

Try the "Marshall Wall" heading east from the town of Marshall on the coast. I don't know about 13%, but it's a good climb.

http://www.mapmyride.com/view_route?r=456948293

The climb at the beginning of the bike is 13 percent...

I've done Wildflower (LC) before, and, unless the course has changed, I can assure you that it's not a 2-mile 13% climb right after the swim. The Nasty Grade, which is prob. 40 miles into the course, is probably something that might be of more concern.

I suggest hooking up with your local ex-Wildflower vets and asking them about it. How fun. I miss that event.

Looked up in the Complete Guide to Climbing (by Bike)

Marin Avenue in Berkeley
Average Grade for half mile 18.1% (max 28%)
Average Grade for mile 14.1% (max 28%)

Wow I didnt think there was anything that steep in California (28%). I am going to have to seek that one out one day.

Wow I didnt think there was anything that steep in California (28%). I am going to have to seek that one out one day.

It is a fairly busy street. I wouldn't recommend riding up except at a time with no traffic.

There are some even steeper streets in California (but they are shorter): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filbert_Street_(San_Francisco)

Wow I didnt think there was anything that steep in California (28%). I am going to have to seek that one out one day.

Here is the description from the book:


Marin Avenue may contain the most difficult half and full mile of climbing in the U.S. It is not the steepest in either category but throw in stop signs, traffic and leg numbing grade variability and you will see why it is more difficult than its statistics suggest. For the full mile, enjoy the first 1/10 mile as it is the only break you will get. Negotiate 'The Circle' and your real troubles begin as you slam into sustained 20% grade. The only forgiveness comes from the cross street sections which are flat. At Santa Barbara (cross street) the real fun begins as you hit the steepest half mile of the climb. After 8/10ths mile the grade finally eases and you finish the torture fittingly at a seminary at the top of the hill. Good luck with this one!

Directions: From I-80 in Berkeley, CA, take the Buchanan Street exit toward Albany. Head east on Buchanan for a half mile which becomes Marin Avenue. Follow Marin for 1.5 miles to begin the climb by continuing east.

It is a fairly busy street. I wouldn't recommend riding up except at a time with no traffic.

There are some even steeper streets in California (but they are shorter): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filbert_Street_(San_Francisco)

Fixed the link

Where would you be starting from in Marin County? 13% is going to be fairly unpleasant for a newer cyclist unless you are already in good shape. There are plenty of hills in Sausalito or you could ride from the main drag up to the top of the Marin Headlands & Hawk Hill. Jonathan's suggestion is good except you have to do a fair amount of climbing just to get to that point at Alpine Dam.

A bit north, but Pine Flat in Geyserville will make your kness scream (if you go all the way to top that is)
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/geyserville/664914375985

Here is a tour of the steepest hills in San Francisco. He claims that 2 of them are 31%. Four more are between 26% and 30%.

http://www.russianhillroulette.com/

If you ever wondered about how much stronger pro bike racers are than you and me, here is a photo of some Texan climbing Taylor Street in San Francisco (16% grade) in his big chainring:

http://www.kenpapai.com/racing/sf2002/lance0451.jpg

There is a .pdf file of the course available from the website.
http://www.tricalifornia.com/index.cfm/Wildflower2009-course_descriptions_long_course.htm

Find a few steep hills and go up them to see how they tax your system differently compared to lesser grades. Then build a training regimen that includes them in there. The steep hills in SF are great but not practical to form a longer ride since you would be stopping constantly for signs and red lights.

Ditto on Pine Flat - the top part.

Also Skaggs Springs Rd. out of Lake Sonoma has an excellent wall past Rancheria that has some of the longest sustained steep I have encountered in Marin or Sonoma. It's at least a mile of considerable double digit steepness. When it gets less steep in parts, you are grateful that a 9% seems easy.... Ft. Ross is also "nice".

The back side (Petaluma side) of Wilson Hill is pretty steep, but not as long as you are looking for.

Back side of Marshall Wall - the Hwy 1 side.

If you ever wondered about how much stronger pro bike racers are than you and me, here is a photo of some Texan climbing Taylor Street in San Francisco (16% grade) in his big chainring:

http://www.kenpapai.com/racing/sf2002/lance0451.jpg

Looks like Lance and the guy next him are both shifting. :thumb:

There is a .pdf file of the course available from the website.
http://www.tricalifornia.com/index.cfm/Wildflower2009-course_descriptions_long_course.htm

Find a few steep hills and go up them to see how they tax your system differently compared to lesser grades. Then build a training regimen that includes them in there. The steep hills in SF are great but not practical to form a longer ride since you would be stopping constantly for signs and red lights.

That's what I was looking at when I said it looks like a 400 ft. climb in about a mile. That is a pretty hilly course for a triathlon!

JB

Looks like Lance and the guy next him are both shifting. :thumb:

And the guy next to him is looking back because he swears he had a bigger cog on there.... :roflmao2:

I've done Wildflower (LC) before, and, unless the course has changed, I can assure you that it's not a 2-mile 13% climb right after the swim. The Nasty Grade, which is prob. 40 miles into the course, is probably something that might be of more concern.


That's good to hear! I am planning on doing the Wildflower MTB tri, but I was considering the long course either this year or next instead, and a 13%, two mile grade would have slightly discouraged me!

It is a fairly busy street. I wouldn't recommend riding up except at a time with no traffic.

Have you climbed Marin? I've climbed it once in my car and it was insane.

Have you climbed Marin? I've climbed it once in my car and it was insane.

I actually like to drive up Marin, it's quite fun. When the freeway is clogged by traffic and going through the tunnel means a 1 hour bumper to bumper ordeal, I opt for the nicer, though longer, bypass: Marin up to Grizzly and back to 24 on the other side of the tunnel.

I wouldn't dare riding it though.

I normally peel off 24 and use Claremont for that purpose and then down Fish Ranch or up Grizzly peak and down Lomas to Orinda.

I'm gonna give Marin a go this year -- I need for the mornings to be warmer first.

I plan to do a big climbing ride in Marin on Saturday on 3 of the biggest climbs.
I don't know if any of the grades are sustained 13%, but the climbs I plan to do are:
Mt. Vision, Limantour and Bo-Fax from Bolinas to the 7 sisters and back via Panoramic to Mill Valley.
Should be about 100 miles R/T from SF with over 6000 ft of climbing. I'll be leaving from the GG bridge at 8 AM and will be stopping at the Roastery in San Anselmo at 9AM.

Anyone here is free to join me for this tour of the big hills of Marin.

I've had trouble walking the steep section of Marin! I tried it once when I first moved to Berkeley but when I couldn't keep my front wheel on the ground, I stopped, and that was on a mountain bike.

I haven't seen him for a while, but there is this guy who I used to see, probably mid-thirties, who would run up it. I'd see him at Marin and Euclid, and then again at the top, as I rode the switchbacks and he went straight up. He also would carry small had weights and ran in wrestling or boxing shoes. That guy has my respect.

Have you climbed Marin? I've climbed it once in my car and it was insane.

I've gone down Marin, but I've never ridden up it. I don't think it would be a good idea.

I don't think it would be a good idea.

Now, I never said that it would be a good idea ;) I want to give the Berkeley Hills Death Ride route a proper attempt this year, so it'd be tough to avoid http://www.inl.org/bicycle/deathride.html

Like a moth to a flame....[sigh]

Now, I never said that it would be a good idea ;) I want to give the Berkeley Hills Death Ride route a proper attempt this year, so it'd be tough to avoid http://www.inl.org/bicycle/deathride.html

Like a moth to a flame....[sigh]

Just read the description of the Death Ride. I am regretting this even as I type, but I would be up for giving it a try. Maybe very very early on a Saturday morning before there is any traffic? And I have to tell you that I might ride my mountain bike just to have a triple. Or would that be cheating?

Looks like Lance and the guy next him are both shifting. :thumb:

I think that is Henk Vogels, but I am not sure

http://www.inl.org/bicycle/deathride.html

Like a moth to a flame....[sigh]

Looks like a group ride needs to be scheduled so I can get this off the to do list.

Just read the description of the Death Ride. I am regretting this even as I type, but I would be up for giving it a try. Maybe very very early on a Saturday morning before there is any traffic? And I have to tell you that I might ride my mountain bike just to have a triple. Or would that be cheating?

Justin, I vote that so long as we have a photo of you and me and two bicycles at the top of Marin, that completely proves we made it, right? :thumb:


Looks like a group ride needs to be scheduled so I can get this off the to do list.

I had a sneaking feeling this might happen! I vote for waiting for some slightly warmer mornings (and me getting a few more climbing miles in my legs this year) but absolutely.

Honestly, I have no concept of handling Marin - I've pretty much got all the others done individually. I think the road up to Euclid looks very doable, but after that, it's time for a grappling hook and a length of rope.

Thank you everyone for your responses. I have some great rides to check out in Marin now! Also, I am so happy to hear that the climb is not what I thought it was. Someone told me 13% and I was a little skeptical, good to know that it is more like 7! That I can manage!

The steepest longest climb in the Bay Area is Hicks-Umunhum near Los Gatos (http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/6954117). There may be steeper, or longer, none with its combination of long and steep. It is perhaps the 4th steepest 5 mile climb in the country, according to The Complete Climb to Climbing (by bike) (http://www.usacyclingclimbing.com/). To get all the way to the top, however, you have to pass the White Line of Death, which represents the point at which local property owners claim the rights to the road up to the summit. Descriptions of the climb (http://www.westernwheelers.org/main/resources/BA_Climbs.html#Umunhum) are usually just to the WLOD, and thus do not give it its full measure.

http://i33.tinypic.com/2wndcw3.jpg

Here in Solano County - we have a road called Mix Canyon. It's an average of approximately 15% for 4.7 miles with some 22% pitches with a total climb of about 2,300 feet in elevation. It was part of the Solano Bicycle Classic and a 7.7 mile hillclimb race back in 2003 - the first three miles was on a relatively flat road. Jonathon Vaughters won the stage in 33:27 with Chris Horner on his wheel getting the same time. I've done this hill - it's stupid steep. http://www.bike-zone.com/photos/2003/mar03/solano03/stage2/villarreal/Solano%20Classic%20Hill%20Climb%20008.jpg

Mix sounds like it would be "fun" to try one of these days - when I've got an excuse to make the journey north. The average grade must be ~10%ish for 2300ft and 4.7miles given what ritterview has posted about Umunhum - but that puts it on the same average as El Toyonal/Lomas that I ride round here, but about 2miles longer - oof!

Mix sounds like it would be "fun" to try one of these days - when I've got an excuse to make the journey north. The average grade must be ~10%ish for 2300ft and 4.7miles given what ritterview has posted about Umunhum - but that puts it on the same average as El Toyonal/Lomas that I ride round here, but about 2miles longer - oof!

Yeah - I don't know the exact amount of elevation gain - I used to have it on profile but can't seem to find it. It's a ***** of a climb and it's usually hot as well with not much tree cover as you get up to the top. Most of the elevation gain is in the last 3 miles of the climb.

Here in Solano County - we have a road called Mix Canyon.
Description of Mix Canyon from the Stanford site. Interestingly, it seems to exceed Bohlman/On Orbit's (http://lowkey.djconnel.com/2007/week3/) 4.11 miles, 2100 ft, 9.7%


* Mix Canyon Rd (3.95 miles, 2270 ft, 10.9%) (http://cycling.stanford.edu/)

Absolute hardest hill in Vacaville area. The quoted stats are for the paved section of the climb. The stats exceed those of Alba, but the climb is in fact disproportionately more difficult. The reason is that there are at least 2 short descents and 2 short flat sections (about 0.1 mi each) in the lower portion of the climb. Initial portion is in Weldon canyon, about 1.5 miles at average grade of 5%, ending at the Twin Fawn Trail trailhead. From then on, the average grade is 14.5%! Hard, hard, harder! There are markers every 0.1 miles to quantify the pain. For the most part, the road parallels a creek, is mostly in the shade and could be quite pretty in the spring. At 3.2 mi mark the road emerges from the canyon to the spine-tingling beauty of surrounding views and stunning pain of extreme switchbacks. Several switchbacks here exceed 20%. Rails with graffiti are reminiscent of the famed Alpine ascents. The paved road ends with a fork. Gated private paved road to the left leads to communication installations on top of Mt. Vaca, the highest point in Solano county. Dirt road to the right continues uphill and reaches the ridgeline (Blue Ridge, north-south running ridgeline north of I-80, also known as Rocky Ridge) very soon. Majestic views on all sides follow the road as it peregrinates the ridge for another 3.5 miles, finally terminating at the private gate. The viewshield is very large, especially on the clear day. From the ridge you can see lake Berryessa tucked peacefully amongst the mountains. The ridge follows the fault line and contains an epicenter of Vacaville-Dixon earthquake of 1892, 6.5 magnitude. It is more likely, though, that the shaking you'll feel once at the top is your trembling legs, nothing more. Speaking of shaking, the climb was used in 2003 to shake up the general classification of Solano Bicycle Classic, a pro stage race. Many professionals reported much pain! [Aerial Photo: Overview] [Photo: In the beginning] [Photo: Hairpin] [Photo: Steeeeep!]