I got the new issue at JFK Thursday on my way to Boston. I was not only shocked but amused that these guys (and girls) and Bicycle Magazine missed what is arguably the toughest climb in America.
In the Catskill Mountains of New York lies a road called Platte Clove Road, AKA Devils Kitchin. This is the same road that the Tour De Trump traversed in 2001 (?) where some pro men had to get off their bikes and walk.
The road is an old logging road that is paved. It is 1.8 mile long with over 1,900 feet of gain and extended grades of plus 20% maxing at nearly 24%.
Having raced Mt. Washington, White Face, etc. and having ridden Platte Clove Road many times it not only should have been on their list but on the cover of the magazine.
We also have a partially paved road in New York called Glade Hill Road (Sullivan County) where in around a mile the grade increases to greater than 30%.
Some of the rides in their list were probably fun, scenic and cool rides but many seemed to be way out of a “toughest” climb league.
Yea, I was surprised by some of the selections. Personally I think Bear Mtn in Harriman State Park, NY is one of the more beautiful climbs out there… If they were looking for just hella painful, there’s a road near school which is 900 feet gain in .9miles… Yay Repeats.!
If they were looking for just hella painful, there’s a road near school which is 900 feet gain in .9miles… Yay Repeats.!
What road is that? You ever done Fiddler’s Elbow?
Devils Kitchen…was 1990 I believe, might have been 1989, I forget. It is where Raul Alcala got “kooked in the keeshen”.
Another good climb is Mogollon in New Mexico, Casper Mountain in Casper Wyoming 3400 feet in 8miles and the little hill at the base of Casper Mountain 350 feet in 1KM
For the Marylander’s, Harp Hill is great hill to go for your fastest descent speed. Very easy to hit 50+. A harder climb that is close by is Coxey Brown road. About the same length but much steeper.
It’s close to the Rutgers Campus… maybe 13 miles out… I’m not sure of the name though. (I’m not from the central Jersaey area)
No I haven’t… but I do Have the issue and am going to make every poor bastard on the team ride both of the NJ roads listed.
What are the two NJ roads on the list?
If you want to make them suffer, try this one: http://www.routeslip.com/routes/4070 (might take a while to load). 52 miles, ~7,000’ climbing, no lights.
Tigerchik, you’ll be glad to know that Cadilac Mountain is a featured climb. One of the few on the list I’ve done. Living in Houston, you’ve got to get on a plane first to ride these hills.(there might be one near Austin but I can’t remember)
It’s close to the Rutgers Campus… maybe 13 miles out… I’m not sure of the name though. (I’m not from the central Jersaey area)
No I haven’t… but I do Have the issue and am going to make every poor bastard on the team ride both of the NJ roads listed.
Which road is that? I’m not too far away.
Any climbs from Utah or Colorado? If not then they probably don’t get out much. Nothing I ever saw on the East Coast came close.
Not in terms of difficultly or scenery.
There are some good ones in Wyoming as well. I’m not sure I believe these claims of 20% or 25% slopes. Most vehicles have problems climbing anything over 17%. I have a altimeter on my bike and I’ve never come across anything greater than about 18% or 19% in Utah.
Tigerchik, you’ll be glad to know that Cadilac Mountain is a featured climb. One of the few on the list I’ve done. Living in Houston, you’ve got to get on a plane first to ride these hills.(there might be one near Austin but I can’t remember)
I’m not Tigerchik, but as a Houston area resident, phewy on hills. Just give me a 20 mph coastal headwind and a 10 mile stretch of road and I’ll show you one heck of a virtual hill.
People build roads in odd places, so I’m sure there are roads that steep, but most of the time they are pretty short. Ironically, the steepest streets I have ever tried were in L.A. One of them I eyed for a couple of months before trying it on my old mtb with 38x34. I was doing about 50-60 rpm, but I had to sit on the very end of my seat and crouch down just to keep the front wheel on the ground. I can only guestimate it was about 30 percent for maybe 400 meters. It was a cement road poured in 1922.
Did you ever climb up Parowan Canyon past Brianhead to the top of Cedar Breaks in Southern Utah? I’ve climbed in Utah, Cali, Colo and the Alpes in France and Italy and that remains the toughest climb I’ve ever done. Little Cottonwood Canyon is also a pretty tough haul through the middle, but not so bad once you pass Snowbird.
