I know, I know, it doesn't look like much. Just try it.
Inspired by Andy Schleck efforts yesterday, I went for a hilly ride around the Hout Bay area. A friend of mine had told me about a certain climb, called Blue Valley Ave, on the left as you come down the Nek towards Hout Bay. He reckoned it was unclimbable (is that a word?) on a road bike, maaaaybe possible on a mountain bike. So I set off to see what he was talking about. Holy mother of God, I think it’s mental. I don’t know the stats when it comes to steepness of gradient, total ascent etc, but what I can tell you is that it’s roughly a kilometre of pure pain. The road ends in a deadend, in someone’s driveway to be exact, but near the top, the gradient goes off the charts. The road really ramps up near the top – I had resorted to riding zigzags across the road – and on a zig, with about 50m to do, I started to doing a wheelie and just managed to put my foot down. Just past Olinia Road. I sort of think it’s possible and maybe with a triple you could do it. I definitely it’s possible on a mountain bike, but I challenge anyone on a road ride in the Hout Bay area to give this a go! And maybe take a spare chain.
The top after having to walk the last 50m.
Check out the location here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=-34.021773,18.38517&spn=0.015313,0.033023&z=16
Do it. I dare you. And let me know how it goes.
