Murr and I did an epic 90 plus road ride over too many monnster climbs today.
At mile 70 we turned up the Glen Quaich road from Kenmore headed for Dunkeld a further 20 miles away.
Murr managed all but the steepest section where a car met him. He was on a 39 x 25. It's a chainsnapper of a climb.
I was close to the bonk and pushed a couple of sections, once past the lochan I got a second wind and began to enjoy it again.
Has anyone cleared the whole climb?
Yeah - did it last summer. I was staying in Aberfeldy with my wife and nipped out before breakfast - did it climbing up from Kenmore and then back to Aberfeldy. It was absolutely stunning as it was misty low down but near the top of the climb I broke through the cloud. Forgot to take any water which meant my throat was a little dry after panting up the climb! Managed in 39 x 25 too, but it was a hard. I'd say only Honister and Hardknott are harder, of the UK road climbs I've done.
Any other super steep road climbs I should find detours around?
Is that [url= http://app.strava.com/segments/615848 ]this[/url] one? We've got steeper in Surrey! Looks a good climb though!
Is that this one?
That's it.
Several times with luggage and also as part of a 200km Audax.
The descent can cause problems too - I've had a wheel explode at the bottom from over-heating brakes (had to leave the bike in Aberfeldy tourist office and catch the train home, medivac'ing the bike home the following weekend).
The climb out of Glen Lochay (east of Killin) to Glen Lyon is enjoyable too!
Have done that one a few times, it was a real eye opener the first time we found it! Coming up from Amulree is possibly steeper, but much shorter.
I think the climb from Polloch to Strontian beats it though, certainly the most relentlessly steep climb I've ridden in Scotland.
njee we've got steeper climbs in Scotland 😀
at mile 70! that's keen. nice day for it tho.
i usually do it the other way round from amulree. i do also like that glen lochay climb. that circuit thru glen lyon is a bit of a favourite
at mile 70! that's keen. nice day for it tho.
Aye, we started in Dunkeld, headed for Amulree, then turned off for Aberfeldy. That's almost all a mellow climb before you drop into Aberfeldy. We crossed Wade's bridge and rode up to Coshieville, Fortingall and up Glen Lyon, over Ben Lawers to Killin, spun down the south side of Loch Tay (much hillier than it appears on the map) then hit the Glen Quaich climb.
It was a great day, blowy but dry, barely made it over 8C in the sun. Good training ride for Glen Tilt next weekend.
Maybe so njee but are there any climbs in Surrey that average 8.2% gaining 1387 feet in the process? 😉
It's a toughie - the first couple of miles especially as it levels off a bit higher up.
that's a great route! tho i would've continued on up the glen and come up and over into glen lochay rather than up ben lawers. road isn't in as good shape but it's muhc prettier and even more traffic free. i will look at it on the map and sulk until i'm fit enough to get back out and put some decent distance into my legs.
p.s> i've emailed you about something else