Bob Ross

I can find short & steep (under 2 miles, but over 10%) within about 20 miles of my door, but if I want a multi-mile climb I need to go well out of my time zone!

robbyville

Right out my door for good "robust" rollers, my shortest 13 mile loop has around 1400 feet of climbing, my normal 22 miler has over 2000 ft. Nice thing is I can go out a couple of miles if I want some steep sections over 20% and slightly longer. about 4 mile warm up to my first multi mile climb. I have a 55 mile loop that gets me just under 8000 ft of climbing but I don't do it often

The challenge for me is that if I want a nice easy spin day I have to drive to find it!

RaleighSport

About a mile to a serious climb, they used it an Amgen a few years back even.

Machka 

We've been out measuring and this road reaches 18% partway up ... it's the next road over from where we live. We haven't cycled it yet, but Rowan is talking about hill repeats.





The road just continues up and up and up ...

jdon

I am about 3km from the Niagara Escarpment where there is steep (up to 22%) but shorter climbs. The Canadian Nationals were held there a few years ago. Welcome to the Great Lakes.

iab

From Chicago it is about 3 hours of driving to get to 1000+ feet of climbing every 10 miles in the driftless area of Wisconsin. They aren't too keen on letting us fibs cross the cheddar curtain.

DevinL

About 8 miles for me.

a77impala

If I turn left out of my driveway I have a 700 foot climb in elevation in just over 2 miles. I live at 3200 feet climb to 3900. Turn right I drop 190 feet in 2 miles.

grinningfool

The name of the town where I live ends with "mont". The fun starts a half mile from my house.
There are no flat rides around here.

bykemike 

8 hour drive for me to get to Western NC. I make so many trips a year I am wearing out a car. I should move.

Don"t feel too sorry for me though, at least I can ride 365 days a year in Fl, mostly flat ,but oh well.

FLCYCLIST

Living in Florida, I would say the closest decent climbs would be north Georgia so about 11 hrs by car.

hamster

I just need to walk out of the gate and go about 200 feet to the nearest intersection, and I'm in the middle of a 200' climb averaging 7-9%. If I get to the top, there's a choice of two 400' descents, again averaging 7-9%. One of them has essentially no traffic and I use it occasionally for hill repeats.

If that's not decent enough, a 5 mile ride gets me to the foot of two 700' climbs averaging 6-7%; in just over an hour, I can make it to the foot of Mount Palomar (4500' at 7%); and, if I feel particularly masochistic, I know of two climbs within a 10 mile radius that average 15% for at least half a mile.

Northwestrider

About 40 to 50 feet.

canam73

What state is closest to Wisconsin that has decent climbing?

Because the biggest thing I can ride to on a day trip is around a 5 minute hill.

hamster

Strava is showing me a 700' mountain near Wausau, a few climbs in Blue Mounds, and a number of climbs in La Crosse. None higher than 1000' though. I think you win a prize for being the furthest from decent climbing. There is a bunch of big hills in SE Missouri (but mostly without paved roads to the top). The closest decent climbing would be either Boston Mountains in north Arkansas, or Black Hills in west South Dakota.

canam73

The Blue Mound climb is probably the toughest in the state. I think Rib Mountain at Wausau it is longer but not so steep. From the Mississippi to Madison their is some very hilly terrain, but it is all climbing in and out of the same valleys, typically maybe a mile at 8% but then you have to descend to do it again. Rides like the Dairyland Dare and HHH use this to get to ~10,000 feet per 100 miles. I do those rides (because it's all we've got), but it would be nice to have access to something sustained.

make mine steep

Sounds pretty ideal for a biking location.

Ever bike up to Crater Lake? Might be dangerous through traffic on the switches, but that should be one of the most scenic routes anywhere.
I am in the Hague, The Netherlands. It is a flat country. There are some long hills in South Limburg. That is more than 100 miles away. The steepest of these hits 20%. I have a hill in my city 4 miles from my door that is 20%, but it is only a short climb up an asphalted foot path by the sand dunes.
Off road there are many trails at about the same distance. Some are not climb-able (pure downhill), but many are good. Holland is rarely dry, so traction is sometimes a problem on the really steep trails. Bunny hops, jumps, and nose-chest skill-set required for some. Before I started MTBing it was a little depressing after living in the San Diego area. Like CT, the hills are in every direction there. Some are very steep streets. Maria is 32.5%. In Santee there is a switch-backed drive way that exceeds 40% going up Rattlesnake Mountain. Maria and all of Dictionary Hill is a piece of cake in comparison. I got spoiled living there, and was pretty depressed not having hills to climb. Then I discovered the mountain bike trails.
Under some bridges there are cobblestone walls (not meant for traffic), but they can be climbed. These are 45% and some are actually even steeper than that. A zig zag approach is do-able for me on some of these. Others I go up part way and dive bomb down.
Most streets in Holland have bike paths or bike lanes, but you have to go far away to find miles long climbs. Short, really steep, MTB trails in succession are about the only way. I do this a few times a week for a couple of hours.

banerjek

Not dangerous even though there is no shoulder. Grades are moderate and traffic is slow though it can get busy at times. The thaw freeze cycles and falling rocks create hazards you need to be mindful of on the descents. But it is an awesome ride. I've been there many times.

79pmooney

I have choices. No "big" climbs but 12 miles to a 1000' 4mile climb or 17 to a steeper climb of the same. Or 3 miles to 500' onto Skyline in the Portland West Hills. Or 6 blocks to a ~20% 150'(?) wall. (My 61 yo CP knees don't do that climb.) And there are some hard ones along both of the options I outlined first. Logie Road, Laurelwood Rd.

Good thing is I have "flat" routes also. Not pancake flat, but routes where all hills are easy on the fixies. PLanty close enough to flat.

Ben

79pmooney

The race I loved years ago was the Maine International, from the Maine-Quebec border to Waterville through Jackman, Bingham and Skowhegan No, not a flat ride! I'd guess 5000' in 105 miles.

Ben

BlazingPedals

I'd have to drive at least 500 miles for a 5-mile climb. There's a 3-mile climb, at a very low grade, which is only 40 miles from home. Big hills just aren't part of my world, and I don't miss them.

qualia8

Climbing starts at the end of the driveway. I can go nearly 800 ft vertical in the first mile, or drop 100 ft to level riding in the valley.

D1andonlyDman

50 feet. If I turn right out of my driveway, I'm climbing. If I turn left, I'm on a downhill.

TGT1

Let's start with a definition of decent;

More than a mile + more than 5%

Then it's 4 miles of warmup in one direction, six miles to the foot of the San Gabriels and a whole day's worth of climbing in the other direction.

LGHT

I'm a few blocks from the "Santiago Canyon Loop" it's a 32 mile well known ride in OC. Haven't been able to conquor it yet, but nice to ride a few blocks and be able to climb for 4500'.

Santiago Canyon Loop | Bicycling in California