jbull13

I'm new to Sacramento, where can I find some decent climbs? I have riden the American River Bike trail several times, are there any climbs that I can access from a point on the trail? I live in Natomas so my area is pretty flat, but I am wiling to put in 30-40 miles to get to a good climb, there has got to be something within 40 miles of Natomas.

Thanks for any help.

Red Rider

Come west to Vacaville. We've got the climbs you're looking for!

Cardiac Hill, anyone?

To answer your question: I know of no hills in Sacramento. Sorry.

BigSean

Look at routeslip.com and you can figure out or search some routes. I would think if you head east you will be climbing

Dchiefransom

Can you ride up toward Auburn?

dauphin

I'm in Auburn...plenty of climbing here....I ride from here to Folsom to Old Sacramento...

USCswimming

There is definitely some nice hill climbs but nothing super close to where you are. I live out in Folsom and there is tons of climbing out this way. It really depends on what your really looking for? Are you looking for some 5-6% or 8-15% climbs? You can find both out this way. One of my favorite rides is the Folsom Lake loop as it has 5500 ft over 55 to 60 miles. If you want more, than you can do what I call the Georgetown loop which has 9,000 ft over 60 miles with room to add another 1,000-2,000 feet. The Georgetown ride includes marshall grade/Prospector(a very nice 10%+ grade over 2 miles). If you would like some specific maps of these rides, don't hesitate to email me at kent@johnsonorthodonticlab.com. I ride with a garmin so I can get you specific routes, elevation etc etc.

jbull13

I'm looking for both, the 5-6% long climbs and the 8+% climbs. I have been riding to folsom on the ARBT but I have been turning around near Lake Natoma. I would be wiling to drive to Folsom to ride those loops that you mentioned. I will email you as I would love to have a map of the loop.

I just got a garmin myself, I love it.

Thanks

caloso

Hi, jbull13. I have to echo the other comments: you have to get out past Folsom to do any climbing. I've done the Folsom loop, you'll probably get 100 miles if you ride it from your house and back.

Or you can do what I sometimes do. Before work I hit the downtown parking garages. I'll go up and down until it gets too crowded or the security guard chases me out and then move on to the next one.

bigskymacadam

that's an awesome way to do some hill training. (although his garmin probably won't get a signal in there )

caloso

Yeah, you have to get creative. I'll usually ride my fixie to increase the work. The other thing I've done is to put the twins in the trailer and push a big gear into a headwind. Fun for all.

dauphin

my luck they would give me a ticket

Rushfan

Check this website out. Richard has done a great job describing rides in our area, some of which sound like what you're looking for.

https://home.att.net/~rfzipf/BikeRides.htm

Swampy1970

Cardiac.... where exactly is that? Mix Canyon just off Pleasants Valley road will give you all the hills you need for 35 to 45 minutes of pain. Great views from the top and a forearm trashing descent for a reward. Some sections are in the 20% range and you'll end up at the very top of the 2000ft ridge thats to the East of Vacaville as you drive from SF to Sac, where the little radio towers are.

There's a dog in the house halfway down that is just "asking" for the ultimate cyclists revenge! He never seems to be up for a chase when you're on the way up - but on the way down you better be ready for sharp corners at warp speed. Don't worry though, he don't bite.

After that there's a nice ride around Berryessa if you like....

Red Rider

Cardiac Hill is that long, long pull up from the Markley Cove store...or the long pull from the other direction. Either way, it's part of the Lake Loop.

I ride Cantelow repeaters but I have yet to tackle Mix Cyn. I hear it's quite humbling. You're right, though, the views from the top are worth the effort.

Rushfan

The one time I rode Mix I got 2/3 of the way up and rounded a bend. It was so steep I laughed and fell over, killing my momentum...

flaco

Mix Canyon is a really hard climb because it just keeps getting steeper. You could do an out and back from Sac and it would be just about 100 miles. Or park in Davis, or Winters if you want to get right to it.

Auburn is a great starting point for all sorts of climbing. There is Iowa Hill Road outside of Colfax, which is just brutal, 13% or more for two miles, and then more at an easier grade.

caloso

Does anybody know the pitch of Mix Canyon and Cardiac Hill?

flaco

Mix gains 2300 feet in about 4.3 miles, so that makes it about 10% on average, but that's deceptive because most of the climbing is in the second half. There are sections above 20% right near the top. Cardiac, I don't know the average, but no part of it is above 8% or so.

caloso

!Ay Chihuahua!

Rushfan

The Davis Wiki reports Cardiac as 6% and 1.7 miles long, with Mix 5 miles long and 9% average, topping out at 23%. Both sound about right.

https://daviswiki.org/Bicycle_Rides#h...c1b57e2f8246bd

jbull13

Thanks for all the info, sounds like a lot of good (painful) climbing. I would like to try Mix Canyon sometime soon. One question, I currently hava a straight block cogset (21 tooth is my largest cog) with a standard double chainring up front. Is mix possible with that gearing or do I need to use a cogset with larger cogs? I tend to push big gears at low rpms (I know, I know... I should be spinning) so I am used to grinding.

caloso

23% with a 39x21? I surely couldn't do it. Not without a tow-rope.

Swampy1970

It all depends on your power and weight.

WHEN I used to race I weighed 145lbs and used to go up (as they say in England) 1 in 4 (or 25%) hills in 39x23 without resorting to the 50 rpm "grind of death" On a sobering though, Chris Boardman of Olympic, World Hour Record and Tour de France prologue fame used to race the local clubs Hill Climb (the 1 in 3 or the 33% Ramsbottom Rake) on a 42x19 fixed gear. Ouch.

Aye, them were t' days when men were men and a bike under 20lbs was the relm of only those who rode The Tour.

Now I'm pudgy and weak in comparison. I love my triple chainset, carbon bits and bobs and a bike that weight 5lbs less than the steel stead that I used to ride much much faster. LOL

jbull13

I guess there is one way to find out, I'll ride up until I can ride no more. If I don't make it to the top I know I need bigger cogs.

By the way, I'm 170-175lbs...so I have gearing and weight working against me (in addition to the grade and gravity).

Swampy1970

All the best on your endevours in 39 (or 42) x 21. LOL

The first half is not hugely difficult, but there's a short steep section at around 1.5 to 2 miles that'll test your sense of humour, but just dig in and keep the gear rolling as it eases off quite a lot shortly after.

The easy way to think about Mix Canyon when you're not a Lance Armstrong, Pantani or Robert Millar is this... When you're surrounded by the shade of the trees life is good. When you get to the fun part, quite cruely the shade dissapears and you're left to fry on the 20% never ending grade... and when you get to the top and your legs, back and arms are screaming in pain, there's no respite on the way down. Those 25% twisty sections give the forearms a second working over of the day.

Anyone any idea how steep Cantelow is (from Pleasants Valley)?