Northern California - Which climb is stupider?

Which one is the most stupid climb? By stupid, it's not the climb that's stupid ... but the climber for climbing it.

Where is the button for "all of the above"?

Any climb I am climbing.

Mix Canyon has chunks of all those climbs in its stool.

Bam, that just happened!

Seriously 23% after miles and miles of 15-18% http://ridewithgps.com/routes/61561

And the beat goes on (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53hiHAkK6KA)

My vote is for Welch Creek -- a stinky-steep climb, with absolutely no payback on the descent. :p

Out of those, I've only ridden Welch Creek and I will never ride it again, unless I can get a SAG to the bottom or the road is closed. One close encounter with a vehicle was enough for me.:eek:

Veronica

Question for you guys (and gals) who can do these ridiculous climbs: is something like Sierra Road really easy for you? I just can't imagine these crazy 15% climbs....

Mix Canyon has chunks of all those climbs in its stool.

Bam, that just happened!


Have you ever ridden up Marin?

I came off the fence and voted for Marin.

Welch Creek is a close 2nd for me. I remember thinking "will this ever end" a few times as I got close to the top of Welch and wondered if I could keep turning the cranks. Then I recalled the top 3 blocks of Marin at 200bpm.

*LO is correct in highlighting that Mix should be in the mix. Need to do that, seems like it would be Welch's older brother, not sure how the stats compare.

I came off the fence and voted for Marin.

Welch Creek is a close 2nd for me. I remember thinking "will this ever end" a few times as I got close to the top of Welch and wondered if I could keep turning the cranks. Then I recalled the top 3 blocks of Marin at 200bpm.

*LO is correct in highlighting that Mix should be in the mix. Need to do that, seems like it would be Welch's older brother, not sure how the stats compare.

I recall you falling over on Marin while trying to tack back and forth.

Not so much falling as briefly inspecting the trunk lid of a parked civic. Getting started again was no mean feat.

Exhibit A

http://i321.photobucket.com/albums/nn384/RDW5980/2009_08_29_BHDeathRide/TheCivic.jpg


Still I did manage to avoid that one on my pre-ride, including the HR controlling detours on Keeler and Hilldale. Pain, pure pain.

http://i321.photobucket.com/albums/nn384/RDW5980/2009_08_23ElT_Marin/MarinProfile.jpg

http://i321.photobucket.com/albums/nn384/RDW5980/2009_08_23ElT_Marin/MarinProfile.jpg

That really IS stupid.

I'd like to try this Marin again now that I'm lighter. I made it up the first time, but did have to detour onto the side street 1 time. Kinda feels like cheating.

Marin is uber-stupid because there are at least two more reasonable alternatives to get to the exact same place. As for descending, I don't even drive down Marin.


BTW, Oakville Grade is pretty dumb, too, but it pales compared to Marin.

/me adds 4 more roads I will never climb unless I am in my car driving it

never having ridden Marin personally i picked b-on-b. i like the other direction (montevina - dirt - descend bohlman) so much better, for me going up the bohlman side really is just stupid.

Question for you guys (and gals) who can do these ridiculous climbs: is something like Sierra Road really easy for you? I just can't imagine these crazy 15% climbs....

Try 33%... but it's in SoCal:
http://www.pbase.com/davewyman/fargo2010

I've done 15+%, on a recumbent, on fresh chipseal, just outside of Molalla, Oregon. Spat gravel from the rear wheel on every pedal stroke.

Clearly I voted for Marin, but Bohlman doesn't compare in steepness to either Marin or Dalewood. Dalewood, and to a greater degree Marin, are so steep that I was literally afraid to stop for fear of falling over/sliding down the road. Near the top of Marin there is a little 1 inch seam that nearly caused me to fall when it slowed my pace from 2.3 mph to maybe 1.5 mph for a second.

I have never ridden any of these, so i can't vote. But Marin looks really ridiculous, i have no idea how a 30+% grade would be like.