Featured Hill climbs

Practice Climbing

You don’t necessarily have to train on big mountains to gain climbing fitness, but it does help to practice riding big climbs. There are several reasons. First, you can’t coast going up a steep hill. Not even a few seconds.

This may not seem like a big deal, but if you are accustomed to coasting for a moment while you reach down for that water bottle, surprise – you’ll fall over if you try this on Mount Washington. This British Global Cycling Network video explains a lot:

It may not be as easy as you think. Throw in fatigue and 50mph wind, and you have a real challenge on your hands. Since you can’t coast, you can’t rest either.

You’ll be slurping that sports drink into your lungs if you don’t practice drinking when your heart is pounding out of your throat. Another reason to practice long, steep climbs is to learn what cadence you climb most efficiently at. This may be slower than your optimal or preferred cadence on flat terrain.

There are various reasons for this. One being that because you are going so slow, you have very little momentum. The force of gravity actually slows you down between pedal downstrokes. Thus your speed accelerates appreciably with each pedal stroke. This is quite different from cruising at 25 mph where your speed is very nearly constant over each pedal stroke.

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Okemo Mtn, VT – Okemo Mountain in Ludlow, VT is another popular climb among cyclists. The paved summit road winds through the ski area en route to the summit. It is a state road, but not a park, so no entrance fee is required for those interested in training here. The Race for Grace is different from most other Hillclimb events in that the race does not start at the base of the climb.

It starts in Jackson Gore village and follows flat or slightly downhill Rt 103 for nearly two miles before picking up the steep summit road. This means racers need all the gears on their bike, as most will be traveling over 20mph to reach the base of the climb. The climb throws some really steep punches, but nothing like the first 2 miles of Ascutney.

Okemo offers occasional breathers. The finish line is just shy of the end of the pavement. There is minimal parking area at the summit, so most riders will be expected to ride their bikes back down. The pavement is decent for climbing, but great care must be taken on the descent. Like any New England road, old man winter eventually has its way with asphalt.

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Mount Kearsarge

The Mount Kearsarge Hill Climb is a very scenic 8-mile track that climbs up to the summit parking lot of Mount Kearsarge in Warner, New Hampshire. The climb includes a 3.5-mile section towards the end that comes with an almost 9% average grade and rises almost 1,740 ft.

The first section of the Mount Kearsarge Hill Climb is 4.5 miles long and includes some level, uphill, but also some downhill sections which allow for some deep breathing. The ride also includes a 1-mile section with a 12%-plus gradient.

The Mount Kearsarge Hill Climb is actually the only U.S. hill climb that provides free coffee for all bicycle riders provided by Schoodac’s Coffee House of Warner; mid-climb Men’s and Women’s primes that value at $100; Cycling Mallorca prize vouchers and more valuable prizes for all category winners; and a hearty and healthy chili lunch after the race.

At the day of the race, registration & number pick-up are open at 7:30 am and the road to the summit parking closes at 9:15 am. The Mount Kearsarge Hill Climb starts at 9:30 am. No vehicles or riders are permitted on the course track until all riders have finished. Helmets for the participants are mandatory.

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