Stephen 1 Hill 0

Small things amuse small minds! After hearing about this steep little hill it kind of stuck in my mind. Ill clear up that its not actually a road and it never really was. Its more of a delapodated section of sealed bush path that has somehow survived the real-estate boom. After checking it out the other morning I was determined to have a crack and ended up going back that night as it was all I could think about all day. I took a few precautionary measures... I wore an old kit to avoid wrecking our nice new Kosdown kits we only got last week and a gloves to avoid gravel rash on the palms as I hung like Stalone in Cliffhanger when gravity over-powered the legs.

Throughout the day as word spread that this hill existed I was surprised to hear that there had been a decent amount of people attempt it and a few succeed. Although from what I could decipher there had been no successful attempts on a road bike. If you have done it I would like to hear because it makes the fuss and attempts by me a little less notable. My response will be if its not on Strava it doesn't count!!

I was prepared for a few attempts and even a little blood and abrasion. From what Id heard the worst was near the top where the loose gravle impedes traction. I rode out through the scrub clicked it up to the 28 and went for it. Any speed from a run up quickly gets washed off within meters.. deciding weather to sit or stand is the hard part, the trade off between traction, force production and balance... After a decent amount of grunting I was near the top and into the gravel. Out of the saddle I kept pushing weaving my way through the clean(er) parts..

Done.. Victory is mine and I was at the top.

To be honest I was a little disappointed. There was such a big build up and uncertainty if it could actually be done that I felt let down because I got it first attempt. So the bar is set.. get on your bike and check this hill out. Have a crack and tell the tale. Its not only the hill itself that makes this exciting its the history of it and the weird feeling of uncertainty you get as you push your way through the scrub to come upon it. I by no means have the fastest ascent. I did 38 seconds. The Strava KOM is about 20 seconds (alas done on a mountain bike with an iPhone Strava app). Ill be back with a mountain bike to try to knock that off one day soon.

The next step is to see who can ride down it it!!! See you on the road.

The Real Wall..... Est 1951.

There is some extensive history to the climb

I'd heard tales of a hill so steep you couldn't ride down it. Well that just didn't make sense because what you can go up and can certainly come down. Hidden deep within the hills of Templestowe is an old hill climb circuit once used to race not bikes but cars up. According to the board pictured above the official race was run annually from 1951 to 1969. The circuit was 969 meters long with a section through the middle claimed to be the steepest sealed hill in Victoria. This 100 meter long section named 'The Wall' is just that. It climbs 1 meter every 2.5 meters. Now ive always been confused as to how you mathematically determine gradient in percentage, but by my figures 1 in 2.5 is 40%.....

This morning I had a recovery spin after racing Hawthorn Crits the night before. I thought it a good opportunity to roll out and find this hill. I didnt know exactly where it was but I had a good idea... 'All the way to the end of Blackburn rd' were about the only directions I had... Good enough for me. After a little bush bashing.. Yes there is a short gravel walking path to get through to the start I found the board.

The sealed section is rather neglected and over grown these days. The bitumen is falling apart but the section through the 'Wall' is still actually OK. Now Im a self proclaimed light weight hill climber and I dont usually see what all the fuss is about when I hear everyone talking about how steep a climb is. Well.... This is different for a number of reasons. Firstly its steeper than anything Ive ever seen before and secondly and probably the biggest factor in a failed attempt to the top is.. there is no run up, Its basically a standing start.

This is just near the base. The photo really doesn't do it justice.

I lined my camera up vertically with a tree to make sure I wasn't exaggerating the Incline.. Yep it is suitably named 'The Wall'

I had a half hearted attempt to get to the top and only made it about 5 meters up until I had to un-clip and walk the rest. Coming back down is nearly impossible. I walked it and even that was hard. There is a section on Strava for it so it obviously is ridable but I'm betting it wasn't done on a road bike.

So the challenge is set. Who will be the first to the top on a road bike? I had a 39-26 and that didn't even come close to getting me there. Ive got a 29 I'll try. I think the problem will be keeping the front wheel on the ground though!!

Pushing Science Aside

Ive decided to test my hand at writing about something other than the science behind sport. Ill save that for my HPTech blog. Besides having a lack of interesting ideas regarding cycling physiology/technology that makes us the athletes we are (or wish to be) I think here is a good opportunity to open a little about my observation of daily life. Although it will probably always end up coming back to something cycling related Ill give it a go.