Robert A

Anyone done this ride? The 100 miler has close to 9,000 ft of climbing. The 100 metric is about 7,000.
How is the Gibraltar Road climb, and how good is ride support throughout?

My only basis of comparison is the Solvang Century, which is around 6,500 feet spread over 100 miles. Thus, I'm more inclined to do the metric.

RedBullFiXX

Looks interesting

diphthong

the gibraltar rd climb is a beast and going to be harder than the entire solvang century. once you summit gibraltar, the road turns into east camino cielo and is arguably the most scenic road in socal.
watch your speed on the painted cave and old san marcos descents.

CarloM

Holy mother of all that is good, that Gibraltar ascent...

jimincalif

I've never done Gibralter, have friends who have. Looking at it on Strava, 6.5 miles, average 7.75%. That's a tough one!

MinnMan

Some years ago when I was staying in S.B., I went half way up Gibraltar just to reconnoiter and turned around b/c I didn't really have the time that day. The next day I returned, but did the climb in reverse (going up Painted Cave). It's hella hard, that's for sure. The roads were also really shabby at that time, but I've heard that Gibraltar was repaved recently?

CarloM

I'm still weak on climbs (just got into cycling late May this year) so I have a ways to go for strength and conditioning. I know there's a 3000' stretch of 7% climb on one of my normal routes (so that's like 2/3 of a mile) and that one winds me. I can't imagine doing 9X that at my current conditioning level. Time to get stronger.

Nachoman

I love that Gibraltar Painted Cave loop. And it's a *****, for sure.

Tycho Brahe 

ooga-booga and I have discussed in person the beauty that is east camino cielo. Beautiful ridge road with ocean views on one side and the valley on the other.

Gibraltar is indeed a beast. At least if you do it during a supported ride there will be water. I did it without and it is tough. Baldy lifts is much harder, but no go payoff at the end, unlike Gibraltar.

diphthong

thinking i gotta do this again soon as it has been too long (like 2.5 years). you game tues, oct 8th or wed, oct 9th?

https://www.strava.com/routes/21911240

...or variation(s)?

Robert A

What do you know about the 100KM Gibraltar Route? You still climb Gibralter, but lose east camino cielo.

diphthong

^as mentioned previously, gibraltar did get repaved about three years ago so it is good. when you are ascending at
6 mph, road quality is not as important tho. east camino cielo (ecc) is big time chip seal but i do not think you will notice
because the views will distract the hell out of you. i really only suffer gibraltar to ride ecc. personally...
no way i am dealing with gibraltar (and i like stupid hard/long climbs) without including the payoff of ecc. ascended
gibraltar once without riding the spine of ecc. it was like pizza without any toppings. pointless and only regrets.

if you head up from santa barbara from la semi-frequently, then you could blow off ecc w/the event ride and ride it another time.
park near the summit of hwy 154 and stagecoach rd and ride the undulating road east along ecc past gibraltar and
keep going along the ridge till the pavement runs out. turn around and head back. helluva ride, plenty of exercise and better than
anything you saw on gibraltar.

east camino cielo (ecc) and glendora mountain rd/glendora ridge rd (gmr/grr) are imho the best two scenic mountain roads in socal.
the more you experience them, the better.

dunno if you've got experience tackling long/hard climbs. if you don't, there are more than a few that i can recommend in la county
for comparable experiences.

Robert A

I ride Santa Monica Mountains frequently -- typically 1000-2000' climbs - Topanga, Latigo, Mandeville, etc. Not a problem to put down 3000' in a morning ride.

Would love some suggestions where to train nearby. GMR is a little far.

Nachoman

goenrdoug

Come farther into the Santa Monicas and you can do Latigo, Las Flores, Encinal, Stunt, Piuma, Mullholland (currently closed to cars!), Decker, Deer Creek, Yerba (currently being REPAVED!) and so on. All beautiful climbs and mostly traffic free.

Gibraltar is a hell of a climb. The average gradient is somewhat deceptive as it ramps up at the end and really punches you in the gut. Placement in the middle of a century will test your ability to pace yourself both before and during a long climb. Sounds like a good time.

Personally, I've done it twice. The first time was part of an organized ride, L'Etape with the TOC and Jensie and Fast Freddie Rodriguez were involved. We started in Westlake, went up Westlake blvd and down Mullholland to the beach and then all the way to SB and the top of Gibraltar. At the end of 80 miles, I can tell you, it was a death march to the top that day for me...

Here I am, (second in line), on PCH, stupidly hammering away, saving no energy for the gigantic mountain I was to climb later in the day...

diphthong

wut. hell must have frozen over.

goenrdoug

Yep. It's already re-paved from the top of Little Sycamore to around circle-x from what I understand. They're also doing Cothrain.

P.S. Don't tell the motorcyclists.

diphthong

it takes the pros about 30 minutes to ascend gibraltar. for mere mortals (riding a century with the big climb in the middle and still needing something left in the tank to
negotiate east camino cielo), plan on climbing for an hour and ten minutes or so. there will probably be a rest stop/support at the big switchback halfway up the climb
and one at the top of gibraltar.


the sammos are solid, but as goenrdoug said, the harder climbs like deer creek, decker, corral canyon, fernwood and las flores will do a better job of approximating the effort needed for gibraltar.
ascending piuma and stunt back to back might be your best bet since they're close to each other, have a decent length and (while not as steep as the previously mentioned climbs) will test the legs.
if you can climb las flores/rambla pacifico/schueren up to the scenic lookout on saddle peak rd, you can pretty much climb anything. gibraltar would be a treat after that.

sounds like you may be west side la. mt. wilson via ca hwy 2 is your closest longer climb. repeats on the north side of griffith park up to the saddle east of the hollywood sign would work.
also some of the streets to the west of the hollywood sign have some serious grade. gibraltar has some ramps/get out of the saddle moments on it so acclimating the legs to some steep grade
work will help.

Robert A

How is ride support on the SB100?

diphthong

great news and i won't tell team ninja. promise.

Tycho Brahe 

This! If you want to replicate Gibraltar, you need to do the climbs on the above roads starting from the PCH. Decker and Deer Creek stand out to me.

Tycho Brahe 

Sounds good, however, as you can tell by my Strava runs, I am without a bike. Depending on the damage (derailleur), I hopefully will get it back on Thursday. I will try to keep one of those days open.

goenrdoug

I'd say Corral is on par with Gibraltar, personally. If you're not ready for Corral, then start with Latigo -- all the length but with a bit of a breather at the 2/3rds point.

Robert A

Would love a Strava route for any of these.

diphthong

piuma/stunt:

https://www.strava.com/routes/21925516


las flores/hume/rambla pacifico/schueren

https://www.strava.com/routes/21925473


deer creek

https://www.strava.com/routes/21927095


corral canyon

https://www.strava.com/routes/21927023


decker/ca hwy 23

https://www.strava.com/routes/219269


topanga cyn/ca hwy 27 + bonus trax

https://www.strava.com/routes/21926998


mt. wilson/ca hwy 2

https://www.strava.com/routes/21925544

to conquer gibraltar, you need a good mix of stamina, mental fortitude, "grinder" legs and out of the saddle legs.
the best thing about gibraltar is, except for a lower stretch, it does a good job of hiding the pain with all the wiggles and bends in the road.
keeps you guessing. much to be said about the mentality of "if i can just make it to the next curve/bend..."
most of our coastal climbs in the sammos and palos verdes peninsula area are 3 miles max. gibraltar is twice that. corral canyon is an exception.
you finish any combo of three above listed rides/climbs, gibraltar is yours for the taking.

you do the las flores route and everything else automatically becomes easier. forever.