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View Poll Results: Which climb ranks higher in the stupid category?
Dalewood
0
0%
Welch Creek
3
30.00%
Bohlman/On Orbit
3
30.00%
Marin
4
40.00%
Voters: 10. You may not vote on this poll

Which climb is stupider?

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Old 04-24-10, 10:33 PM
  #1  
spingineer
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Which climb is stupider?

Which one is the most stupid climb? By stupid, it's not the climb that's stupid ... but the climber for climbing it.
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Old 04-24-10, 10:53 PM
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Where is the button for "all of the above"?
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Old 04-24-10, 11:07 PM
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Any climb I am climbing.
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Old 04-24-10, 11:54 PM
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Mix Canyon has chunks of all those climbs in its stool.

Bam, that just happened!

Seriously 23% after miles and miles of 15-18% https://ridewithgps.com/routes/61561

And the beat goes on
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Old 04-25-10, 11:49 AM
  #5  
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My vote is for Welch Creek -- a stinky-steep climb, with absolutely no payback on the descent.
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Old 04-25-10, 12:28 PM
  #6  
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Out of those, I've only ridden Welch Creek and I will never ride it again, unless I can get a SAG to the bottom or the road is closed. One close encounter with a vehicle was enough for me.

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Old 04-25-10, 06:28 PM
  #7  
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Question for you guys (and gals) who can do these ridiculous climbs: is something like Sierra Road really easy for you? I just can't imagine these crazy 15% climbs....
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Old 04-25-10, 06:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Lanceoldstrong
Mix Canyon has chunks of all those climbs in its stool.

Bam, that just happened!
Have you ever ridden up Marin?
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Old 04-25-10, 06:45 PM
  #9  
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I came off the fence and voted for Marin.

Welch Creek is a close 2nd for me. I remember thinking "will this ever end" a few times as I got close to the top of Welch and wondered if I could keep turning the cranks. Then I recalled the top 3 blocks of Marin at 200bpm.

*LO is correct in highlighting that Mix should be in the mix. Need to do that, seems like it would be Welch's older brother, not sure how the stats compare.
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Old 04-25-10, 07:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Beaker
I came off the fence and voted for Marin.

Welch Creek is a close 2nd for me. I remember thinking "will this ever end" a few times as I got close to the top of Welch and wondered if I could keep turning the cranks. Then I recalled the top 3 blocks of Marin at 200bpm.

*LO is correct in highlighting that Mix should be in the mix. Need to do that, seems like it would be Welch's older brother, not sure how the stats compare.
I recall you falling over on Marin while trying to tack back and forth.
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Old 04-25-10, 07:49 PM
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Not so much falling as briefly inspecting the trunk lid of a parked civic. Getting started again was no mean feat.

Exhibit A




Still I did manage to avoid that one on my pre-ride, including the HR controlling detours on Keeler and Hilldale. Pain, pure pain.

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Old 04-25-10, 07:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Beaker

That really IS stupid.
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Old 04-25-10, 08:08 PM
  #13  
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I'd like to try this Marin again now that I'm lighter. I made it up the first time, but did have to detour onto the side street 1 time. Kinda feels like cheating.
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Old 04-25-10, 09:24 PM
  #14  
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Marin is uber-stupid because there are at least two more reasonable alternatives to get to the exact same place. As for descending, I don't even drive down Marin.


BTW, Oakville Grade is pretty dumb, too, but it pales compared to Marin.
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Old 04-25-10, 09:56 PM
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/me adds 4 more roads I will never climb unless I am in my car driving it
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Old 04-25-10, 11:33 PM
  #16  
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never having ridden Marin personally i picked b-on-b. i like the other direction (montevina - dirt - descend bohlman) so much better, for me going up the bohlman side really is just stupid.
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Old 04-25-10, 11:47 PM
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Originally Posted by pchopper
Question for you guys (and gals) who can do these ridiculous climbs: is something like Sierra Road really easy for you? I just can't imagine these crazy 15% climbs....
Try 33%... but it's in SoCal:
https://www.pbase.com/davewyman/fargo2010

I've done 15+%, on a recumbent, on fresh chipseal, just outside of Molalla, Oregon. Spat gravel from the rear wheel on every pedal stroke.
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Old 04-26-10, 09:43 AM
  #18  
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Clearly I voted for Marin, but Bohlman doesn't compare in steepness to either Marin or Dalewood. Dalewood, and to a greater degree Marin, are so steep that I was literally afraid to stop for fear of falling over/sliding down the road. Near the top of Marin there is a little 1 inch seam that nearly caused me to fall when it slowed my pace from 2.3 mph to maybe 1.5 mph for a second.
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Old 04-26-10, 12:48 PM
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I have never ridden any of these, so i can't vote. But Marin looks really ridiculous, i have no idea how a 30+% grade would be like.
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