Originally Posted by deep_sky

I climbed Montebello for the first time yesterday, for those in the know of the bay area climbs. The elevation profile I viewed the night before might be technically right, but it is damn near a lie. Mostly double digit grades for the first two miles (was a stretch of 15+ for about 200 yards or so), a nice flat section (by flat i mean between 1-3%) for about a mile, then some 8% goods for a mile, and then back up to the double digits for a bit then variable (8-10%) to the top. Took me 1.5 hours, 2000' of climbing and a bit over 5 miles total. Without a doubt the hardest climb I have ever done. I got to the top, got off my bike, and just laid down on the ground a bit before inhaling half of my second water bottle. Thank goodness my friend Christine was there, encouraging me on when I wanted to quit.
It will be some time before I subject myself to that again