I have been told that mount Baw Baw in Victoria is the hardest thing to climb in Australia, and was yesterday riding up a little hill called 'Saddleback mountain' which I always remember as brokeback mountain hill for reasons I can't remember.. it is pretty steep. I also did Mac pass in aero bars (so I would lable it possibly the nicest climb though I got stiff from the aero bars), which wasn't that bad, and I went down one that I will probably go up next week which felt pretty killer called Jambaroo mountain Rd (I think).
SO what's the hardest?
Bulli pass? Brokeback?
(In saying that, I went up the back way of broke back, and it was possibly just as steep or steeper, but had nice bits, unlike what I remember of the way up from Kiama).
Can any one find any percentages?
Toughest hill in Sydney (NSW)
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mikesbytes
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If your looking for a local killer, try Wallace st, Marrickville. Don't be fooled by how short it is
The last 1km dog leg section up to the lookout on the Saddleback Mountain climb near Jamberoo is a shocker (Brokeback Mountain according to Tim).
The lower bit of the Cottage Point hill (just off the Akuna Bay / West Head loop). This is made harder by the fact that a Jacaranda drops petals all over the road and you end up sliding and spinning trying to get traction.
Awaba St, Mosman
Further a field
The CRB section at the top of Mt Hotham climb
Haven't done Fitz's but by all accounts there are a couple of nasty bits
The lower bit of the Cottage Point hill (just off the Akuna Bay / West Head loop). This is made harder by the fact that a Jacaranda drops petals all over the road and you end up sliding and spinning trying to get traction.
Awaba St, Mosman
Further a field
The CRB section at the top of Mt Hotham climb
Haven't done Fitz's but by all accounts there are a couple of nasty bits
Yeah I actually skipped the look out bit :S I was running late for meeting James. Last time I gave up on that bit after making it ten meters! Pat (the track sprinter) went up it, that time, but I was smashed from the rest of it! I will try it next week, maybe it is more doable after doing the fixie centure this year..
We have done Hotham on our way to Melbourne with panniers, and its not meant to be as bad as the other Victorian one. There was a bit in that where I did nothing but look at the ground! the advantage to touring is that you have a smaller gear on your bike, so though you are weighted down, you stand more a chance of not track standing! yesterday I was wheelying up Brokeback, but still on race gearing!
Awaba is hard because you have to stop for traffic halfway up at the round about!!! I think Broke back is about three awaba's or so going up the back way.
Can any one find a chart of all the percentages?
We have done Hotham on our way to Melbourne with panniers, and its not meant to be as bad as the other Victorian one. There was a bit in that where I did nothing but look at the ground! the advantage to touring is that you have a smaller gear on your bike, so though you are weighted down, you stand more a chance of not track standing! yesterday I was wheelying up Brokeback, but still on race gearing!
Awaba is hard because you have to stop for traffic halfway up at the round about!!! I think Broke back is about three awaba's or so going up the back way.
Can any one find a chart of all the percentages?
Shared path on the eastern side of Balmain Cove complex, Rozelle. Very very steep. First time I tried it I thought I was going to back flip from my bike.
Agreed. Uncyclable no matter how granny your gears are.Shared path on the eastern side of Balmain Cove complex, Rozelle. Very very steep ....
BTW, anyone tried cycling down this? The turn close to the bottom would be trickey.
Tim, none of those are in Sydney?
Dundas St Coogee gets my vote. http://app.strava.com/segments/671240
Fairly short, but kicks to 23% in some parts.
Dundas St Coogee gets my vote. http://app.strava.com/segments/671240
Fairly short, but kicks to 23% in some parts.
I made it on my CT set up (34-25). It was scary all the way up as the narrow path leaves no space for bailout. That's what kept me going. Have not tried riding down that path as I don't fancy wearing down my brake pads unnecessarily. I guess it should be ok on a mountain bike.Agreed. Uncyclable no matter how granny your gears are.
BTW, anyone tried cycling down this? The turn close to the bottom would be trickey.
Would think you'd need some heavy panniers to hold down the back wheel. May flip over if you touch the front brakes (or for that matter back brakes) too hard.
For going up or going down? Need to seriously shift your bum back when going down. Going up, the front wheel felt so tight and was about to lose contact. My front thighs were already touching the horizontal bar and can't shift my body any further forward.Would think you'd need some heavy panniers to hold down the back wheel. May flip over if you touch the front brakes (or for that matter back brakes) too hard.
Have a look here: http://maps.google.com.au/maps?hl=en&sa ... CHYQ_BIwAA
It is a narrow bike path running up from Balmain Cove and alongside the 'Sydney Secondary College', and joining up to Terry St at the top of the climb.
Hey Mike, why dont you organise an Adventure ride which includes this climb?
It is a narrow bike path running up from Balmain Cove and alongside the 'Sydney Secondary College', and joining up to Terry St at the top of the climb.
Hey Mike, why dont you organise an Adventure ride which includes this climb?
-33.85895, 151.16937Does anyone have a map/google view of this handy?
It's the path on the western boundary of Sydney Secondary College. You can access it directly via Bay Run circuit.
You don't need to organize a special ride to ride this one. It's too accessible for most in the Inner West. Otherwise we can try to do a ITT on that climb but watch out for resident complaints.Hey Mike, why dont you organise an Adventure ride which includes this climb?
I made it half way up to the lookout at Saddleback Mountain until I had to put the foot down. I couldnt get started again as the road was so steep and narrow and I couldnt get the second foot in the cleat before stalling.
When I was riding (trying) up a bushwalker went straight by me I was going that slowly
When I was riding (trying) up a bushwalker went straight by me I was going that slowly
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mikesbytes
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Sounds like a good one for the Retro riders to doHey Mike, why dont you organise an Adventure ride which includes this climb?
totally agree richard & tim - saddleback from the jamberoo side is just brutal. the top section up to the lookout is the steepest proper hill (i.e. not up a drive way or path or something) i know. i had the last section as well over 20% (quite a bit steeper than awaba) and not short either. on my garmin it said from the turn off up to the cattle grate at the lookout carpark i never got over 4km/hr going up it. but that was when i used to do some road ks, now theres no chance id even be able to start up it anymore. yesterday i almost had to get off and walk going over the harbour bridge bike path...
Is the saddle back climb near jamberoo? If so perhaps we could have a go at it after the Johnny warren. A few performance enhancing beers might make it interesting.
That could be a walking course for those retro bikes...Sounds like a good one for the Retro riders to do
Sounds like a good one for the Retro riders to do.
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JoTheBuilder
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I consider it an achievement to get up the Harbour bridge bike path from Kent St on my fixie...
you totally should!! I have to become sure that the front way is heaps harder than the back way though, because from Jambaroo, it is simple to get to the back way.Is the saddle back climb near jamberoo? If so perhaps we could have a go at it after the Johnny warren. A few performance enhancing beers might make it interesting.
Any ideas about stats from any one yet? I have realised that these threads come up in searches, and I would like to put some stats into the original post.
How about Milson's Point side?I consider it an achievement to get up the Harbour bridge bike path from Kent St on my fixie...
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GregPankhurst
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Don't know the road, but here's the segment page from strava: http://app.strava.com/segments/627927Any ideas about stats from any one yet? I have realised that these threads come up in searches, and I would like to put some stats into the original post.
Admittedly the gradients from strava can bit a bit patchy , but FWIW the last 1km looks like hell -mainly high teen percentages with the odd jump into the low 20s
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JoTheBuilder
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Oh that's the easy side... To walk.How about Milson's Point side?
LOL! I know that one well too. The one on the west side of Jenolan Caves. Not only was it steep with a coarse surface. the regular "road bumps/gutters" and hairpins made the descent virtually unmanageable, needing the brakes pretty much all the way. I had two very very hot rims!The toughest climb I've found is NSW is out of Jenolan Caves, on the Oberon side.
The descent is scary too.
As for the climb out, it was doable on a low gear. A very solid sustained workout, all without any road distance for warm ups.
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mikesbytes
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Done that one in 1982 and 1990, both times with panniers. It's a nice ride, I recommend itThe toughest climb I've found is NSW is out of Jenolan Caves, on the Oberon side.
The descent is scary too.
This ride looks like a bit of a challenge, but it is in in Victoria
http://www.bicyclenetwork.com.au/genera ... des/94624/
http://www.bicyclenetwork.com.au/genera ... des/94624/
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