A conversation with the hill demon.

[ColinJ]

How long do you think, before this day comes? I've been cycling for over 40 years and it aint arrived yet

It came for me in less than a year!

I'd heard of a killer local hill called Mytholm Steeps which has a lot of 15% and 20% but the killer is a stretch at about 25% ...

... with a tight LH bend at the top. I had to have a go at that!

I managed to get all the way up to that bend in a 42/28 gear but then a cretinous driver decided to overtake me just as I got to the top, thus forcing me to stay on the 35+% apex of the bend. I came to a dead stop and toppled over still clipped on to my pedals, watched by a load of kids with faces pressed against the car windows, howling with laughter.

I went clipless shortly after that ...

 

[Shut Up Legs]

There's a few of those on the sides of Mt Dandenong, which is a 2100ft mountain less than 10mi from where I live (naturally, I ride there every chance I get ). Two of the roads leading up the mountain have 30% grades - I've done each of them once, on my tourer with a triple crankset. Not sure I'd want to attempt them on my new road bike, though.