Two NJ climbs on Bicycling Magazine Top 100

[jud]

Bicycling Magazine in the March 2007 issue has an article called "The 100 Best Climbs in America." It has the usual suspects-- Mt. Washington, Mt. Evans, Whiteface Mtn., etc.-plus two NJ climbs: One is a surprise, one isn't. The non-surprise is Fiddlers Elbow in Harmony Township. That climb is generally regarded as the toughest climb in the state and is a staple of the CJBC's Hillier Than Thou race each September. The other climb that made the list, though, was Millbrook Road coming back toward Blairstown from Millbrook Village. This is a nasty climb, too, but not as steep or as well known as Fiddlers. They say it averages 16 percent over 0.75 miles. I'd say it reaches 16 in some places, but probably averages more like 12. I might have picked Iron Bridge Road or High Point over Millbrook. I would love to ride some of the climbs from the other states.

That stretch of Millbrook has been featured in the other direction, the descent down to Millbrook Village, in the last three Hillier Than Thou's. I've heard people say that they can approach, or even exceed, 60 mph. It might be the fastest descent in the state.

[bluegitane]

Regarding Jud's comments about good climbs in other states...
One of the good things about riding Brevets on the national, or even international stage is that you get to discover plenty of truly good climbs. For some reason, Brevet organizers usually tend to give you rather more climbing than typical Centuries organizers. Don't know why, but this is a fact.

The worst (or best, depending on how you look at it) climb I am aware of on US Brevets can be found on Davis Bike Club's superb Gold Rush Randonnee (a 1200k Brevet that takes place every 4 years - next edition, hopefully, in 2009; see my report of the 2005 edition on this site under Rides Reports). You hit Janesville grade upon leaving Susanville on the way back, and you suddenly realize why the organizer advised you to come with small gears. The climb is long (gutfeeling is about 3 miles at least altogether), never drops below the 12% mark, and hits probably very close to 20% two thirds up the way. It's pretty scary the other way too, you can reach ridiculous speed on the lower, straight section. I can claim with no risk of being challenged that this is by en large the toughest climb to be found on a 1200k Brevet, worldwide. Any of the legendary BMB hills is little training stuff in comparison.

Closer to us, Boston-Montreal-Boston is a real feast to the hill-lover. If you are looking for a tremendously rewarding day out, just ride the stage from Brattleboro to Ludlow and back. It's a bit under 200k and has no less than five large hills plus countless smaller ones. The toughest one being Mount Terrible inbound, just after leaving Ludlow. The beauty of this section is that you won't find gradient much worse than 10%, but you will find a lot of climbing. Altogether I would estimate the length of climbing to be perhaps 40 miles out of about 115 miles total.
If some of you want to ride this section, drop me an e-mail and I will arrange a cue sheet, given a decent advance warning (i.e. no less than two weeks).

If you feel like travelling for discovering great climbing, our friends of Audax UK run an 'Audax Altitude Award' scheme that highlights the hillier events on their Brevet calendar by giving them so-called AAA points. The scheme has gained over the years a very loyal fan-club (of which yours truly used to be part of when I was living over there), and more than a few AUKs set-up a target number of AAA points as part of their objectives for the season. Let me suggest a sample of some of the best events offering AAA points, many of which I have personally ridden, and survived, if somewhat sore for a little while afterwards:
Cotswold Corker Populaire, 1890m/108k, Cheltenham, February 10th. A winter classic!
Gospel Pass Brevet, 2280m/150k, Chepstow, February 24th. Another classic, with snow on the pass more than occasional. One of those rides that go somewhere.
Taith Mynydd a Mor, 3449m/200k, Llanelli, March 18th. Great tour of South Wales. I think translation means something like 'tour of mountain and sea'.
Dorset Coast, 2900m/207k, Wareham, April 1st. The best 200 in Southern England in my humble opinion. And yes, you will ride over roman roads. Just try to find one in America!
3D300, 4400M/315K, Dorchester, April 15th. The toughest 300k I have ridden to date (out of a dozen), and one of the most rewarding.
The Elenith, 4727m/305k, Kidderminster, April 21st. Another classic across the desert of mid-Wales!
Brian Chapman Memorial, 8450m/616k, Chepstow, May 19th. All of Wales in a week-end. Many swear this is the best 600 on Earth. Bad weather guaranteed, by the way.
Dales Grimpeur, 4596m/215k, Pateley Bridge, June 2nd. The toughest 200 I am aware of. Makes Tom's PA200 seem flat.
Down with the British, 3805m/201k, Cardiff, July 14th. An immensely rewarding and scenic tour of the mining towns and valleys.
Worcestershire and South Cotswold, 4240m/300k, Droitwich, July 21st. 'Few have finished', in the very words of the organizer! I have, so many of you can, too.
Kidderminster Killer, 3937m/202k, Astley, September 9th. The annual struggle (e.g. walk for many) up Asterton Bank in the Welsh Borders.
Dartmoor Devil, 2320m/106k, Bovey Tracey, October 28th. The ultimate end-of-season classic all over gorgeous Dartmoor.

And, not least, the Maniac 1000k is available as an AUK Permanent. 17000 metres of climbing for 1000k, going all over the Pennines. Cue sheet is an A4 simply listing the towns where you need proof of passage, with free route in-between - but the towns are cunningly placed so that you can't avoid the big climbs. I am aware of just two people having completed this absolute monster since its creation many years ago. There is a (deserved) signpost '30%' on Hardnott Pass, actually. Your chance to enter a very select club!

Contact with organizers available from the website of AUK, http://www.audax.uk.net

[msilver]

http://www.northeastcycling.com/gpx_loader.html

Only one climb in each of NJ and NY (High Point and Whiteface, respectively), but lots of climbs in New England, including some that are on the BMB route.

[Nate]

Not sure what criteria was used to determine "best" climbs, but I'll offer this regarding most difficult climbs in NJ. Yes, Fiddler's is definitely up there, yet, by concensus of a number of strong climbers I know who have done both, all agree that Breakneck, between Vernon and Highland Lakes passing Hidden Valley Ski area, is marginally more difficult.

As for Millbrook, I recall that climb as being 1.1 mi in your face the entire stretch. And yes, it's a damned fast descent where I've recorded my highest four speeds including 62 mph.

[PrinceOfHills]

I agree with Nate...if you've never done his Grimpeurs route you've never experienced a special climbing-fest.

I have to find the time to finish that article from Bicycling Magazine. I've had the pleasure of riding up some of the mountain pass climbs mentioned for Colorado on two cycling trips I made out there.

[Steve]

Fidlers Elbow... On the two times I did Hillier Than Thou, I walked up the spot right after the horse farm...

Reason? both times had to do with leg cramps about half way up the "wall"

I have a grade meter, and that spot has a grade of 25% I wanted it to be steeper as I looked, but both times it registered the exact same... LOL

This past weekend I did a ride with Mitch Lesack... We rode from his place over to Harmony, and the plan was to continue north and then cut over by way of the Belvidere Bridge and turn around at Wind Gap... Well, that did not happen... first of all, there were signs about a detour for the Belvidere Bridge, so I took us across Ridge Road, and we headed up Fidlers.. It was the third time I had done it, and I can say that this time, I was fatter and slower than I had been on either of the two other occasions I suffered up this climb. HOWEVER, I made it to the top, on my wheels!

Here is the anatomy of the climb. It starts out very unassuming till you bear to the right the first time...

from that first bend, it averages 14-16% till it does that little "S" turn.. at that point it is about 12 -14%... It is difficult to judge distance on that hill, cause it feels like forever! As you go past the horse farm, it is at its flattest right before the monsterous wall of 25% this brutal section can't be too much more than 100 yards, but every pedal stroke is suffering.. AND, my chain was making some obscene groaning and creaking sounds! My thought was what I was going to say to ML when I called her at 12:45 on a Sunday morning as I called her from the side of a ridge in the middle of nowhere.... So i pleaded to my chain... PLEASE DON'T BREAK!

Anyway, I have digressed enough... Once at the top of that, the rest of the climb is easy...

Iron Bridge has it's dificulty particularly after you cross the Iron Bridge I know it is 20%, but the distance is a bit fuzzy 1/3 to 1/2 of a mile or so of that... Millbrook Road, I seem to remember that one as being tough... I was reading 14% on my grade meter for what seemed like the whole way....

Judson, Remember Mine Hill Road on that 600K in 2005? 106 degrees, 95% humidity, not so much as a tree to be seen anywhere, and a 13% grade climb... I remember that one being a perfect grade too, no steep sections, no flat sections.... Then that climb up Mt Lebanon...

there are quite a few hills in the flat state of NJ! LOL

It is true that I am a walking atlas when it comes to roads I have ridden... However, roads always seem to be relative to those spots of trememdous suffering!


Steve