The Complete Guide to Climbing (by Bike)
Introduction
Road bike cycling is one of the most popular sports in the world and the biggest challenge within the sport, and its most intriguing aspect, is hill climbing. Major professional cycling tours such as the Tour de France are usually won and lost in the mountains. Cycling greats such as Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Lance Armstrong, while very complete all-around riders, became legends in the sport in large part from their climbing exploits. The mountains add an almost mythic quality to races as the riders are seen overcoming obstacles that extend beyond the actual asphalt, rock and dirt upon which they climb. Even average cyclists feel the allure of attempting difficult climbs and achieve tremendous satisfaction from a successful summit....
Climbing
....The performances of great early climbers such as Alfredo Binda, Fausto Coppi and Charley Gaul continued to increase the popularity of the major tours. These events made climbs such as the Tourmalet and L’Alpe d’Huez in France and Stelvio in Italy as well known to cycling fans as the Daytona Speedway or Yankee Stadium are to U.S. racing and baseball fans respectively. The mountains allowed bike races to become truly great as the event rose beyond the personal concerns of the cyclists to reflect life as a whole. Today hill climbing is more popular than ever and within multi-stage races those with hilltop finishes are usually the most anticipated and best attended stages of the race. Racing fans know that hills offer the best opportunity to view the drama within the peloton as it struggles through the most difficult and important element in any race. Climbing adds the mythic quality of overcoming obstacles that continues to be associated with the major cycling tours and which has produced many memorable moments. Ascending difficult hills is about struggle and perseverance and it is these aspects that have made conquering the mountains the heart and soul of cycling.
About This Guidebook
Europe is generally considered to be the epicenter of climbing by bike and that reputation is well-deserved. Full of very steep roads often laid down before regular auto traffic was used on them, Europe does contain many difficult hill climbs along with having the distinction of being home to most of the major cycling tours. Because of this many climbs there are well known; not only to professional riders but also to the legions of amateur cyclists on the continent. As there are few major stage races in the United States, many of the best climbs are relatively unknown. However, the U.S. has a wide variety of climbs comparable to the most difficult used in the major European Tours. Whiteface Mountain in New York for example is almost identical in length and grade (steepness) to the famous French climb of L’Alpe d’Huez, one that is often a stage finish in the Tour de France and considered among the toughest used in that race. Others such as Whitney Portal in California and Mount Equinox in Vermont are even more difficult. Owens Valley in California may have more beyond category (the most difficult classification) climbs within its walls than any location on earth. Nearby Death Valley has multiple category 1 (the second most difficult classification) climbs by itself. There are many climbs with over 5,000 feet of vertical elevation gain, and others that top out in the rarified air above 10,000 feet, including the highest paved road outside of the Andes and Himalayan Mountains. The U.S. also has a select group of climbs that are among the most difficult in the world including Onion Valley Road in California, several Hawaiian giants, unique in that they gain up to and beyond 10,000 vertical feet of continuous climbing, and the incomparable Mount Washington in New Hampshire, which may be the toughest of them all...
Back Cover
Avid cyclists know that hill climbing is the crux of the sport. Getting up cycling’s brutal slopes is often what separates average from elite riders. However, accurate information on this cycling sub-specialty has been lacking, particularly the location and profiling of the great American climbs, which rival the major European professional tours’ best. This situation has now been rectified as this guidebook provides cycling peak-baggers with everything they need to know; from how best to prepare to get to the top of the mountain to the most difficult climbs in the U.S. From the incredibly steep roadways of New England, to the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains of the Southeast and the high altitude assaults of the mountain west, the most difficult climbs are all included in these pages. Information within the guide includes:
• Climbing training tips
• Accounts of memorable climbing performances
• Easy to read directions with maps
• Descriptions and accurate climb information including total elevation, length and average/maximum grade
• Appendices with climb rankings and other information
• Climb profiles
Select United States Climbs
Burke Mountain, Vermont
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Total elevation - 1,770 ft Length - 2.5 miles
Average Grade - 13.4% (24%) Rating - 2.47 (cat 1)
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Burke Mountain is a very tough climb along unrelenting grade in northern Vermont. Within the first mile (one of the steepest in the U.S.) there is extended 20% grade and the hill is steep all the way to the top. Often the average grade of this hill is overestimated which is understandable due to the extremely steep sections. At the parking area (mile 2.4) keep left and go around the gate to get to the very top of the pavement and another short section of 20% grade (closed in winter - East Burke Sports - 802 626-3215).
Directions - From the small town of East Burke, VT head east on route 114 for a short distance and turn right on Mountain Rd. Travel Mountain Rd for just over two miles and Campground Rd takes off from the left where the climb begins.
Facilities - East Burke, VT Airport - Burlington, VT
Mount Evans, Colorado
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Total elevation - 6,590 ft Length - 27.8 miles
Average Grade - 4.5% (10%) Rating - 3.88 (hors)
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The road on Mount Evans is the highest paved road in the northwestern hemisphere and the most difficult and spectacular climb in Colorado. Never very steep, the altitude will work on you all the way up. After 13.2 miles and just past Echo Lake you turn right to pass through an entrance station ($3 per bike as of 2007) for the push to the summit. The road gets very narrow at this point as you head above the treeline. There are several small descents before you reach Summit Lake Park at mile 21.5. From here the road heads up through switchbacks with amazing views. At the top (14,130 ft) you will find an overlook and restrooms. You must hike the final bit to reach the very top of the mountain. Be careful on the descent as there are no guardrails in places and it is often very windy. Due to its altitude this road has a short window for use, usually opening by early June and closing sometime in September. It also carries a lot of traffic on good weather days so you will likely have company on your ascent so start early in the day. The toll booth is not manned after the road is closed in the Fall. This is a must do ride for serious hill climbers (closed in winter - Arapaho National Forest 303 567-3000).
Directions - From I-70 in Idaho Springs, CO take exit 240 for route 103. Head south on 103 and you immediately come to the Clear Creek Ranger Station on the right. The climb begins here.
Facilities - Denver, CO Airport - Denver, CO
143 North, Utah
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Total elevation - 4,339 ft Length - 13.9 miles
Average Grade - 5.9% (12%) Rating - 3.07 (hors/cat 1)
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This climb is a contender for the most difficult in southern Utah. The first nine miles are along a slowly increasing grade then there is a steep section through hairpin turns. At mile 11 you pass through the town of Brian Head, UT. Leaving town the grade increases again before easing just before the signed summit (10,420 ft). This is high altitude climbing.
Directions - From I-15 in Parowan, UT head south on Route 143 through town. The climb begins at the edge of Parowan at the corner of 143 and City View Drive.
Facilities - Cedar City, UT Airport - Las Vegas, NV