Although the big climbs in France, Italy and Spain are on the hit lists for most avid cyclists, there is no need to go all the way to Europe to satisfy your urge to pedal uphill. We have comparable climbs right here in the United States!
The Owens Valley is a remarkable place in what feels like the middle of nowhere–east of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and west of the White Mountains, about 200 miles south of Reno and 270 miles north of Las Vegas. The valley floor is at about 4,000′ elevation with paved roads leading out of it that top out above 10,000′, surrounded by 14,000’+ peaks.
During late September 2010, High Performance Cycling Team co-managers Tom Meloy and David Longdon spent a week cycling “the best” of these roads, which can dish up more than 6,000′ of climbing on climbs up to 22 miles long.
These huge climbs start in a landscape dominated by sagebrush and expansive views and pass through the sub-alpine before finishing in rugged alpine country.
The big famous climbs in Europe are considered the benchmarks for comparison by most cyclists. But flying to Europe for a cycling trip is a relatively expensive and arduous adventure.
The massive climbs of the Eastern Sierras are comparable to the longest and hardest paved climbs in Europe. A simple road trip to this remote area provides a superb cycling vacation without the hassle of taking your bike apart and flying overseas. The cost is quite reasonable and you don’t have to endure a personal TSA pat down. Food and lodging are inexpensive in the small remote towns of the Eastern Sierras.
This presentation will feature photos and video of these climbs, as well as a discussion of how the Eastern Sierra climbs compare to the famous hard climbs of the Tour de France and Giro de Italia.
How hard are the Eastern Sierra climbs? Plenty hard! As a matter of fact, we feel that several of these climbs are harder than anything Europe can throw at you. Tom and David will show you why.
Cascade Presents:
Cycling the Monster Climbs of the Eastern Sierra
with David Longdon and Tom Meloy
Tuesday, Feb. 8, 7 p.m.
REI Seattle
Curious about riding with the High Performance Cycling group? Come to the season kick-off, on Saturday, Feb. 8 at Cycle U in West Seattle.
I’ve ridden up Sonora (west to east) and Tioga (east to west) passes and so am very interested in your presentation. Alas, I can’t make it to Seattle. Any chance you’ll be doing your presentation in Portland?
I’ve always wanted to try Monitor, Ebbets, and the road up to Horseshoe Meadows (out of Lone Pine) but haven’t done so. I’m curious if you ridden those.
Ah, Ebbets Pass! I remember back in 1971, in the original Tour of California, the Mexican national team sent the then-37-year-old Sabas Cervantes on the attack up the gravel Ebbets Pass climb. Nobody (including US team riders John Howard and Mike Neel, or Canadian climber Roger Sumner) could catch him! Mexicans won every stage thereafter, with the overall win going to Augustin Alcantara.
David: No plans to do a presentation in Portland. There is an outside chance I may informally do a presentation for the Vancouver Club at some point.
I haven’t done those other climbs–we focused on the ones we thought were the hardest and with lowest traffic. It sounds like you should give the Death Ride (http://www.deathride.com/) a go!