Top 10 Toughest Climbs in California
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I don't understand. This is what we do, talk about rides we have done and compare them. If I was going to do a climb from that list for the first time I could ask Vireo about it and I would trust his opinion and it would help me know what to expect.
I love Dawson Saddle, too.
I love Dawson Saddle, too.
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I'm definitely jealous. I live in Kansas - enough said. But wait...I probably can't make it up those climbs anyways... Cool list, and Vireo, I still tell people about you and your crazy fixie ride on the Furnace Creek.
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#81
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Below is a list of some of the top cycling climb bike rides that are listed in the book Best Cycling Climbs In The US. The book lists the 100 toughest USA road bike climbs from 1 to 100.
1. Mt Washington, NH
2. Haleakala, HI
3. Onion Valley, CA-- DONE 06/10/10
4. Horseshoe Meadows, CA-- DONE 06/10/10!!
5. Mt. Equinox, VT
6. White MTN, CA-- DONE 06/25/10 but at least 3x before
7. Mt. Baldy, CA-- DONE MANY TIMES!!
8. Mt Graham, AZ
9. Mt. Lemmon, AZ
10. Palomar Mountain, CA - DONE 06/06/10!!
1. Mt Washington, NH
2. Haleakala, HI
3. Onion Valley, CA-- DONE 06/10/10
4. Horseshoe Meadows, CA-- DONE 06/10/10!!
5. Mt. Equinox, VT
6. White MTN, CA-- DONE 06/25/10 but at least 3x before
7. Mt. Baldy, CA-- DONE MANY TIMES!!
8. Mt Graham, AZ
9. Mt. Lemmon, AZ
10. Palomar Mountain, CA - DONE 06/06/10!!
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I love the book and all, it's a good guide (especially if you're from CA), but honestly any 'most difficult' list is pretty worthless. I mean, come on, after a certain level of fitness and a gearing change, you can get up any paved road in the world.
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Agreed. Pretty much just should say "longest and steepest"
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Regarding Colorado you would think Mt Evans would bear a mention, not because it is difficult but it is technically the highest paved road in North America and summits at 14,130'. There just aren't that many 14ers that you can ride up on a road bike.
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Check out and compare profiles here.
https://www.climbbybike.com/
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Has anyone done Haleakala?
The Climbybike postings make this sound longish but not steep. And average grade is...well, average.
Why is this ranked so high on lists?
Is there an annual "event" / race to the top?
Vaughter's record: was this during a race or....what??
The Climbybike postings make this sound longish but not steep. And average grade is...well, average.
Why is this ranked so high on lists?
Is there an annual "event" / race to the top?
Vaughter's record: was this during a race or....what??
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There are some threads on Haleakala.
It's not steep but it's the steepest climb of that length and I believe the most gain at 10,000 feet.
I believe that there is a race to the top... "Cycle to the Sun" or somesuch.
It's not steep but it's the steepest climb of that length and I believe the most gain at 10,000 feet.
I believe that there is a race to the top... "Cycle to the Sun" or somesuch.
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Hmm - Im just going to have to add this to my 'favorite posts' list... Save up some vacay and take a few trips around here... hehe. I've been doing Mt laguna every weekend and I thought it was 'tough' so I have a ways to go. Good times!
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I believe that there is a race to the top... "Cycle to the Sun" or somesuch.
Nice.
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There are some threads on Haleakala.
It's not steep but it's the steepest climb of that length and I believe the most gain at 10,000 feet.
I believe that there is a race to the top... "Cycle to the Sun" or somesuch.
It's not steep but it's the steepest climb of that length and I believe the most gain at 10,000 feet.
I believe that there is a race to the top... "Cycle to the Sun" or somesuch.
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ala-I-failed-(
I think if I went back now I would be able to complete it, having done the Death Ride/Auburn Centuries. And if I brought my bike. Good luck if you do it!
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Any climb is difficult if you ride fast enough. One climb being more difficult than another is more a function of gearing than anything else.
#92
Spin Meister
One climb I'd like to do would take me from Frazier Park (about 4650ft in elevation), which is a little community between Los Angeles and Bakersfield, off Interstate-5, to the end of the paved road on Mt. Pinos. With the right tires, I'd continue to the top of the peak, 8845ft in elevation. The roads that circumnavigate the mountain are challenging, too.
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I have done two of the toughest top 10 in that national list the one in Vermont Equinox Mt and Mt Lemmon in AZ. Add Palomar to that as well.
Mt Washington is insane. The only way to climb it I think is to join that race (it is only open 1 or 2 times a year) and it fills up pretty quickly. I've been a spectator in that race.
Speaking of Vermont. The six gap ride in my opinion is till a tough one to beat and I currently live in New Mexico and occasionally ride in Colorado.
Mt Washington is insane. The only way to climb it I think is to join that race (it is only open 1 or 2 times a year) and it fills up pretty quickly. I've been a spectator in that race.
Speaking of Vermont. The six gap ride in my opinion is till a tough one to beat and I currently live in New Mexico and occasionally ride in Colorado.
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Don't know about the answer to this question, but Vaughters was a hell of a climber back in the day and even held the record for Mt. Ventoux for a few years--accomplished during the Dauphine.
You'd never know it now, but as a teenage phenom in the amateur Colo road race scene, Vaughters was about the skinniest racer you've ever seen and a natural climber. At around 6' I imagine he weighed about 125lbs soaking wet--and he could time trial too!
You'd never know it now, but as a teenage phenom in the amateur Colo road race scene, Vaughters was about the skinniest racer you've ever seen and a natural climber. At around 6' I imagine he weighed about 125lbs soaking wet--and he could time trial too!
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Toughest is subjective. I still feel like roads like Alba (12% for 3 miles) are tougher than mountain passes. Marin Ave at 20% for 1 mile was more difficult for me (just to, you know, finish without stopping) than any of the DR passes.
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One climb I'd like to do would take me from Frazier Park (about 4650ft in elevation), which is a little community between Los Angeles and Bakersfield, off Interstate-5, to the end of the paved road on Mt. Pinos. With the right tires, I'd continue to the top of the peak, 8845ft in elevation. The roads that circumnavigate the mountain are challenging, too.
Check it out.
I think Colorado has some climbs that are HC. We rode from Vail up to Copper Mtn Via Leadville that was up there also Grand Mesa and Wolf Creek pass.
There are loads of climbs out there. As someone else mentioned its how you go up them as well that makes them really hard.
One climb i love and would put up there is Gibraltar in Santa Barbra.
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Barcroft Lab above the White Mountain/Patriarch Grove area is over 12,000'.
It's a hardpack sand/gravel ride of about 5 miles beyond the paved road end. I did it on my roadie with 700x23's and got about 2 miles up. It kicks up near the station so I would think you need a CX rig to pull this off.
Their summit lab is 14,000+ but I don't know what that trail looks like.
https://www.wmrs.edu/
It's a hardpack sand/gravel ride of about 5 miles beyond the paved road end. I did it on my roadie with 700x23's and got about 2 miles up. It kicks up near the station so I would think you need a CX rig to pull this off.
Their summit lab is 14,000+ but I don't know what that trail looks like.
https://www.wmrs.edu/
#100
Spin Meister
Barcroft Lab above the White Mountain/Patriarch Grove area is over 12,000'.
It's a hardpack sand/gravel ride of about 5 miles beyond the paved road end. I did it on my roadie with 700x23's and got about 2 miles up. It kicks up near the station so I would think you need a CX rig to pull this off.
Their summit lab is 14,000+ but I don't know what that trail looks like.
https://www.wmrs.edu/
It's a hardpack sand/gravel ride of about 5 miles beyond the paved road end. I did it on my roadie with 700x23's and got about 2 miles up. It kicks up near the station so I would think you need a CX rig to pull this off.
Their summit lab is 14,000+ but I don't know what that trail looks like.
https://www.wmrs.edu/
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