SteveE

and rode up the infamous Bohlman Road in Saratoga, CA.

This is a local killer climb of 2,050 ft. in 4.3 miles. The average grade is 8.9% but the lower section, after an easy first quarter mile, pitches up to a sustained 11-12% for the next 2.5 miles or so. Some of the switchbacks are 22-24% on the inside of the turns. Needless to say, I took the outside of these turns where the grade was only 16-18%. After that there is a mix of ups and downs until you reach the end of the pavement. Supposedly there is a way to go down a mile of dirt road to pick up a paved road that takes you down to the Lexington Reservoir where you can catch a bike path into Los Gatos.

I evidently missed the turn and wandered around on some fire roads before I reached a chain-link fence where I could see paved road on the other side. Fortunately, there was a well-worn track to my left and I was able to walk the bike around the fence and get back on the road. I did not see another cyclist (in either direction) on either the climb or during my wanderings in the wilderness.

I wimped out and decided not to do the optional On-Orbit Rd. section that is even steeper with a stretch of 3/10ths of a mile at 18-20%!

SanDiegoSteve

Nice.

Used to ride the hills around Saratoga a lot. Miss it up there.

BigFloppyLlama

Looks fun. You'll have to plan the B ride around this one of these days so we can have a bunch of fun struggling to the top.

sorebutt

Cool!! good for you!
I still straggle going up Old La Honda road.. which takes me just under 30 min.. and I can almost go up Page Mill without stopping to rest.. ..

SteveE

Yeah sure! And when we get to the top there will probably be a vote to select a new rider leader!

bikenutr2000

Thank God New Jersey is flat!

ruirui

damn... that looks very steep... i'll probably die just trying to get up the hill. but if you go downwards.. it looks to be fun...