RR: RRR: Gibralter Road

[ericfoltz]

So here I am out on the road with two bikes (MTB & Road) a GPS, cameras and a bunch of guidebooks.

I'm in Santa Barbara and look at the "Complete Guide to Climbing by Bike" and see a description for Gibralter Road. I've driven this road a few times on my way to climbing at Gibralter Rock and figure "What the heck".

The climb is rated as Category 1 and hits the list at #70 of the hardest climbs in America. Having the arrogance of a mountian biker, I think "How hard can it be?"

The start goes out immediately at 8-11% grade. I was glad I did a little warmup on Mountain Rd. before starting.



Three miles and 1100' later and I'm starting to see that this thing is a beast. This is looking back towards the start.


Gibralter Rock is a well-known Rock Climbing area. Halfway and I'm thinking it will ease up soon. Unfortunately, it gets steeper the farther you go and the pavement turns into a potholed nightmare.



Finally it eases up a little and then you look ahead and see this. The final kick is a sustained 14-15% grade for the last mile.


The view is almost worth the pain. Santa Barbara spread out below with Santa Cruz Island in the distance.


Overall a great ride. For the MTBers, this thing is harder than Harding. Much harder! Easily the hardest climb I've done on the road so far. Unrelenting, sustained, steep, rough road. Great day on the bike.

Final Tally: 17 miles, 3300' of climbing.

Route: http://www.geoladders.com/show_route...=7&route=17415

[dirtmistress]

Good job!! Postal has trained on that road. I've never done it. No desire. If I'm going to climb 15% grades, it has to be a road in better condition or else it has to be in Europe.

[Zippo]

wicked. i know that road really well, and yep it's brutal, especially on a singlespeed. next time make a loop out of it and ride across camino cielo and drop down romero.

[kanga]

That's one stiff climb there. I've done it on my MTB to ride Tunnel.... definitely a worthy accomplishment to get up there on a road bike. And if it's clear, the views are enough distraction to keep your mind off how much you're suffering!

[tbowren]

Please tell me you have a third chain ring on that road bike?

If you have a standard double, well, thats just crazy!!!

[Nagaredama]

Nice climb.

You should ridden down Cold Springs or Tunnel after wards.

[Pain Freak]

I wonder how this compares to Mt Baldy rd. MT Baldy climbs almost 5,000 feet in less miles. I've done this a number of times and haven't found anything as tough as it is. Next time I go up to do Tunnel, I'll bring the road bike to give it a go.

[Sewellymon]

Baldy is tougher (least it is once you pass the village). Longer, more elev gain.

But Gibraltar is sweet. Super aesthetic environs. I am in the same boat as Eric- driven up the road 20 times to hit the craggin (Gibraltar rock has a nice selection of easy and hard sandstone routes...). Only started road riding it last year. Was actually going to do it today (I ride it when I visit my Daddy in SB), but I’ve got a cold, so stayin home.

But the pot-holed section IS a buzz kill. Going up is no biggie. Going down sucks quite hard. This ride is actually well suited for doing on a ‘cross bike.

[ericfoltz]

Originally Posted by tbowren

Please tell me you have a third chain ring on that road bike?

If you have a standard double, well, thats just crazy!!!

I'm running a compact crankset 34/50 front, 11-25 rear. This was one of the toughest climbs I've done.

I thought about doing it on my MTB but figured it's a road climb, do it on road bike.

Mt. Baldy is listed as #10 on the list of hardest climbs in America.

[KeepsWhatHappens]

That road is alot more fun in a car (like my S4.)

[brendagilbert]

Keep up the good fun Eric! We all miss you! Love your RR and the photos are magnificent..... do something special for your birthday tomorrow and pass it along!

[Abui]

The Echelon Bike Club of SB used to do a Gibralter climb TT. They stopped doing it the year before I showed up for the flat land TT's. ()

FYI here's a link to some results. (I tried copy&paste but formatting was not preserved)