San Diego's Toughest Road Climbs: Little Blocks of Horror

“You're off to Great Places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting,

So... get on your way!”

    - Dr Seuss, Oh, The Places You'll Go.

But if riding up a proper mountain can't be on your cycling agenda today, San Diego is the hiding place of many gnarly short climbs that pack a lot of punch into just a single street block, too. Here are, according to me (and my 30x28 granny gear), ten toughest blocks of paved road to cycle up in the County of San Diego. I'm afraid I'm omitting the likes of Poe St north of Evergreen Dr on Pt Loma (the steepest paved 'block' in the city limit at 28.6%), Laurel St at State St (22.5%), B St at 20th (22.5%), the steep block of 46th at Home Ave or Upas St wall west of Florida (20%). They are indeed steep, but I'm sure you will find them comparable quite less achy to go up than the ones on the list.

[Right click & open fotos in new tab to view in full size] 

10. Bandini St at San Diego Ave in Mission Hills:
Matthew Alice cited the city traffic engineer in pegging this terrible block of cracky pavement at 24.9% grade, though I see no qualms in rounding it out to 25% since the last 5 ft of it is so awful (it seems the concrete road is sliding down the little cliff and the top bit before the level off at California Ave is morphing into an overhang, jacking the gradient up a painful notch). The block is just short enough, however, that Bandini remains my preferred climb up to Mission Hills from the north. The 25% grade bottom ramp is intensely painful, but there is enough rest in the short level off and the mild uphill tick that follow before another short-ish 12% grade stretch around the S-curve with nice view of the bay and the magnificent Villa Felice before the road levels off to connect to Sunset Blvd in Mission Hills proper that I prefer its 3 minutes of pain than the 5-6 minutes grind the other still quite steep routes like Juan St or Presidio Dr or Pringle St have to offer.

9. Torrance St at Keatings St in Mission Hills:

Officially the steepest through block of street in the city at 26% grade, this hidden monster of Mission Hills is what I would call an unnecessary climb since it really isn't on any direct route between Old Town/Five Point and Mission Hills. You have to veer out of the way to climb it. The steepest 3/4 of the block is concrete, and it is about the only thing you could see from the bottom (so if your first encounter with it comes from the Keatings St approach, be warned that the top of the concrete wall you can see actually is not the top of the climb).



 
8. Loring St at Foothills Blvd in Pacific Beach (south base of Mt Soledad):

 Loring St in Pacific Beach is a naughty road whose fragmented body crosses the southern base of Mt Soledad in a series of transmission-busting ramps, the worst of which rises up from the busy intersection of Foothills Blvd just west of Beryl. Averaging 21% grade for a long block, this is the steepest single ramp on La Jolla's little hill by the sea (yes, quite a bit worse than the much more (in)famous Linda Rosa Wall). It is not a well frequented climbs for local cyclists, though, being sort of isolated between Cardeno Dr and Soledad Rd with the trafficky Foothills Blvd at the bottom. The few times I've gone up it were to add a bit of spice at the bottom of the Castlehill and Cardeno Drs climb.


7. Illion St at Gardena in Bay Park:
Illion St in Bay Park is where the little knoll on the east side of the valley that houses I-5 sticks its tongue at cyclists, hikers and drivers alike. The four-way stop intersection at the bottom of it ensures that you can't get a running start, and its gnarly concrete primary ramp has a way of hiding from view the slightly less gory tarmac top half of this long block of unmitigated nastiness. It was only fitting that the first time I went up it the Church of St Mary Magdalene at the top of the climb was being visited by a AAA Road Claims agent. The view on top is quite fantastic (there is a huge parking lot with panoramic view of Mission Bay). I'd go back down the hill on either Orten or Milton, if I were you. They are much better at allowing you to come to a stop without risking an over-the-handlebar somersault at the bottom.
 
6. Lucinda St in Pt Loma (La Playa):
Pt Loma is full of nasty walls masquerading as roads. From the fun-filled level ground of Ocean Beach you can see them striping the spine of the peninsula block after block after block, all looking terribly sinister to just about anyone on foot or bike. The most evil wall of the lot is on the other side of Pt Loma; however, moderately hidden between the shores of La Playa and the Wooded Area where expensive mansions overlook a postcard-perfect view of the San Diego Bay resides the long and horrible block of cracky concrete wall by the lovely name of Lucinda St.

Local resident may lovingly call the block Lucy, but to weary cyclists, Lucifer is a more fitting a moniker for the 23% grade monster! I'm only counting the bottom block between Harbor View Pl and Garden State, though Lucinda continues to climb for another block to Bangor St. The view isn't as good from the real top of it as it is from just a bit below Garden State level off, however. A perfect excuse to take a little breather there, especially on a bright and clear day. I don't advice trying to go down this thing. You are much safer doing that on Harbor View Pl next door.


5. Raptor Rd in Poway:

Raptor Rd from Sycamore Canyon Rd.

This little gem of a dead end rural lane is a northern offshoot from Sycamore Canyon Rd a bit south of Scripps Poway Pkwy and leads to scenic Paragon Mesa Rd that dead ends in a cul-de-sac with a marvelous view of the surrounding mountains. It is a private road, though the gate is always open. I'm afraid the little dip at the bottom from Sycamore Canyon Rd doesn't facilitate any sling-shot maneuver due to a liberal amount of sand on the road surface. The 'ramp' averages around 16% with max grade of 32% near the top, where the road levels off for a bit before climbing again (but at a much more reasonable incline than its opening salvo).

4. Apple St on Dictionary Hill (Spring Valley):

An apple a day keeps the doctors away, or so the saying goes, but a serving of Apple St over the eastern shoulder of Dictionary Hill by bicycle is more likely to make you wish to see a doctor than not!

Formerly known as 'Lookout Mountain' or 'Gravity Hill', Dictionary Hill is what you would call a steepie-rich environment whose road planner had a certain distaste for curves and cut straight roads up and down cliffs, many of which look only safe to descend down on a parachute rather than on anything with wheels. Apple St is perhaps the most visible of the hyper-vertical thoroughfare in the area.

The climb from the west is steeper than from the east, but not by much. The whole ascent from Capistrano Ave to the crest is 3 blocks long, but the killer last block from Luther Ave on up is a killer all on its own at 21% average with max grade of 28%. The worst thing about it, though, is that it takes its time leveling off at the top.

3. Grand Ave on Dictionary Hill: 

There is no shortage of legs-chewing blocks on Dictionary Hill, but the longest and sadly not the shallowest single block climb there is on Grand Ave from the dip just below Date St to the top where pavement fades into a dirt track across the western shoulder of the 'mountain'. It is a long long block at 22% grade that I only ride up when I have need of severe punishment... perhaps after another one of those chocolate cake binge or after having failed to adequately pet the neighbor's cat and hurting her feeling. If only the local nuns knows how much that hill stings they'd just send their repentant sinners over to ride up that block on a bike rather than just handing them a rosary and an allotted number of repeats of the Hail Mary.


The slope does gentle out after Eucalyptus St intersection, but only slowly... and I'm afraid the view is underwhelming from the top of the pavement. I did say it's a punishment hill, right?




2. San Bernardino Ave on Dictionary Hill:

San Bernardino Ave at Apple St.

After the first steep hump.

At 0.2 mile long this monster is a bit long for this list, but I'm putting it here because you can't really logically break it into smaller climbs and it's a bit short for the 'toughest mile long climbs' list.

It is an exhausting business just getting to the base of San Bernardino Ave on Dictionary Hill. You see.. the thing sits on top of our previous entry, Apple St!

The real monster!

Most people would, after having spent most of their quads' glycogen preserve grinding to the top of Apple St, just pretend to not notice the 20+ % grade short block going further up the hillside of Apple. After all, it looks quite (ahem!) insignificant - a perfect facade hiding a truly hideous monster sleeping on the other side... 

After that steep hump the road dives into a steep dip before bouncing straight up the rest of Dictionary Hill proper for 2 1/2 torturous blocks at inhumane average gradient of 21% (the two level off intersections at Date and Eucalyptus Sts included in the calculation, which puts max somewhere in the high 30%).

From the top of San Bernardino Ave.

The road dead ends at the top with a little wooden gate barring a dirt trail to the top of the hill. I'm afraid I haven't gone on to investigate beyond that yet. I'm usually so out of it by the time I get to the top that the thought of having to climb over that first steep hump at the bottom of this thing to get back to Apple St in order to get off this accursed hill after my descent is almost enough to make me cry!



1. Maria Ave north of Chestnut St on Dictionary Hill:

First ramp on Maria Ave from Chestnut.

I'm hating myself already...

When roaming around Dictionary Hill on a bicycle, Maria is definitely not 'the most wonderful sound I've ever heard'. The 32% grade block of Maria Ave north of Chestnut is officially the steepest block of paved 'road' in San Diego. And though it is quite shorter than the long ramps on Grand Ave and San Bernardino Ave, it is the only block on this hill that I didn't manage  to cycle all the way up on my first try. (I've since ridden up it a few times, though only after having humbly added the 28 cog to my rear cassette).

A view from the top.

To add some salt into this injurious block, it even turns into a steep set of staircase at the top! There are a few houses on this scenic little monster, and so the whole block is not a uniform 32% grade climb, but has a couple of less horrible bits (so cars can come out of the driveways) mixed in with a couple of really ghoulie ones (not counting the gnarly opening slant ramp since you'd be past that thing before it really hurts you). I'm afraid years of scraping the bottom out of local cars have etched ruts and cracks and left quite a bit of debris on the pavement and makes line-choosing a critical part of making it up Maria Ave's queen block on a bicycle (that, and having low enough gear, of course!).

Be aware that you'll probably not be able to coast back down this thing (it's far safer to go down Ramona Ave's 28.3 % grade block next door instead, what with all the cracks and ruts and slippery dirt on the pavement).

Other steepy-related posts:

San Diego's Steepest Sub-Mile Climbs 

San Diego City's Rite of  Passage Climbs

San Diego North County's Rite of Passage Climbs 

San Diego North County's Steepest Sub-Mile Climbs

Everest-friendly Climbs in San Diego County 

Guest Posting: Mammary Chronicles: Bearing Breast Tour (Sept 13th, 2014)

THE MAMMARY CHRONICLES: BEARING BREASTS TOUR
A NIGHT OF POETRY AND PROSE and MUSIC DEDICATED TO THE CELEBRATION & PRESERVATION of BREASTS and THE WOMEN who have SURVIVED them.

RAUNDI MOORE-KONDO
& The Yes Mom, DEANNE BROWN
with special guest ANGELA MOORE

 
A Fundraiser for the Breast Cancer Fund- opportunity drawing tickets will be sold for great prizes and a portion of the bar sales will be donated by Bluefoot Bar and Lounge.

Presented by The Wheel Women of San Diego and the Bluefoot Bar and Lounge.
Happy Hour mixer starts at 5 p.m.
Show from 7-8 p.m.

Deanne Brown and Raundi Moore-Kondo weren't born conjoined twins but have long considered having themselves surgically attached at the hip. Until then, they share a dream; a world free of breast cancer and full of rad poetry.

Please RSVP at the WWSD's event page. 

The Wheel Women of San Diego is an all-women cycling club with the goals of encouraging women to engage in outdoor activities (particularly cycling) and to raise fund for the Breast Cancer Fund.

Over the Rainbow Crest on Road Bike (2 of 2)

Part 1: Pala Mission - Rainbow.

It took two hours to go just 7.5 miles!

I had never struggled so much and taken so long to go just 7 1/2 miles on a bicycle! By the time I emerged onto Rainbow Crest Rd from the Gomez Creek Rd's monster mile of agony it was a few minutes past 10 am. The sun was starting to melt the sunscreen into my eyes and the ice that I had put in my 'insulated' water bottles before the ride had lost its battle with the outside heat. But, but, that's only a small price to pay for setting foot on a rainbow, isn't it?

Looking back east on Rainbow Crest Rd just after the top of Gomez Creek Rd climb.

Heading WNW on the narrow tarmac lane of Rainbow Crest Rd from the top of Gomez Creek Rd toward Rainbow I was reminded yet again at how not-level/flat traversing a mountain ridge often is. True, the climbing is much more gentle now, but the occasional steep ramps interrupted whatever rhythm I had gotten myself into were all the more aggravating for it.

The well trimmed hedge lining Rainbow Crest Rd as it winds NW toward Rainbow proper.

There are plenty of view to compensate, though. The beautiful valley on the right (NE) side of the road, was strikingly bucolic in charming in a ‘remote Alpine village’ sort of way; acres of avocado and citrus orchards presided over by cute wooden or stone chalets along the moderately tamed mountain ledges. The air smelled of roses and other refreshing blooms in the roadside gardens.

NNW on Rainbow Crest Rd overlooking Rice Canyon.

The road finally turns north after a while and the exposed crest offers a broad view of the valley that houses Interstate 15. The roadside hedge thickens and I descended onto the charming three-way intersection where Rainbow Peaks, Rainbow Crest and Rainbow Heights Rds meet (I wonder if the locals just call them by the second words, omitting the ‘Rainbow’ bit altogether?). The question was, which of these ends in a pot of gold?

The junction of Rainbow Heights & Rainbow Crest Rds.

Rainbow Heights at Rainbow Peaks, Rainbow and Arouba Rds.

After spending a few minutes in the lovely roadside shade refreshing myself while looking around in vain for a stray leprechaun to interrogate I decided that the day was still young enough for a side excursion before heading back down to earth. A right turn it was, and then another slight right down the gentle curves of Rainbow Rd for the dead-ender by the name of Mt Olympus Valley Rd.

Mt Olympus Valley Rd branching east from Rainbow Rd.

I had chanced on it Google-Earthing the route beforehand and found its street view rather fetching. I’m afraid in real life it is rather not spectacular enough for its short length, however. There is no proper street sign where it branches east from Rainbow Rd, but a white wooden ‘Mt Olympus Estates’ sign by Sunshine Properties marks the spot. Sling-shot down the steep little dip, then up a couple of curves around a couple of really big houses before the road dead ends in a cul-de-sac by a Valhalla of a country house with a huge duck pond and white picket fence… and that was it, unless, of course, you are on a 4-wheel drive off-road vehicle or a heavy duty full-suspension mountain bike that can go up a rutted dirt trail to the top of the nearby peak.

Looking west from Mt Olympus Valley Rd at Mt Olympus & Rainbow Peaks Trail.

On the other (west) side of the valley is Mt Olympus itself, of course. It’s a striking looking peak with sharp white cliffs… and is serviced by the paved Rainbow Peaks Rd, though it also houses a women’s correction facility whose guards aren’t keen on visitors, even harmless ones on two wheels.

Descending beautiful Rainbow Heights Rd.

Looking west from near the top of Rainbow Heights Rd. Antennae-topped mountain right center is Red Mountain.

Re-tracing back to the three ways corner and then down winding and steep (about 8% average) Rainbow Heights Rd was not for the novice cyclists. The descent is quite technical with sharp blind turns and lots of cracks and potholes to dodge without there being many turn out opportunities (if the surface is well paved that wouldn’t be such a problem since good bike handlers would easily drop down that road faster than cars, but with the potholes what little car traffic there is soon catches up with you and there is just no room to pass).

Heading south on delightfully curvy Ranger Rd in Fallbrook.

View of I-15 from Ranger Rd.

A little photo stop at the Old Bridge across the San Luis Rey River on the ride home.

I decided to bail when I got back to the valley floor... That is what sometimes happens when you go on solo exploration rides and there isn't anyone aside from yourself to keep on torturing needlessly. I had planned on heading south on Rice Canyon Rd and then attempt a traverse of Monserate Mountain by way of little known Stewart Crest Rd, but it was now too close to noon and the sun had burnt off what little clouds the morning had thrown up. Not keen on suffering another super steep hiking-a-bike up unfamiliar mountain (and this one with a good chance of running into fenced gates at the top), in >90F heat, I opted to head down Rainbow Valley Blvd for the Old 395 into Fallbrook instead.


The fastest way home would have been to keep going downhill on Old 395 until the bus stop at Hwy 76, of course, but I still had some chubby weight to burn and some pride to uphold, so I went uphill a bit more on E Mission Rd before taking a left onto the irredeemably twisted delight that is the downhill direction of Ranger Rd. The fun came to a stop at Reche Rd, which I took west until I could get on Mission Rd again to speed to the coast on Hwy 76 and then the much more tranquil San Luis Rey River Trail... and the straight forward coastal ride back to town on the PCH. It summed out to be a bit over 92 miles ride whose elevation gain per mile ratio would have been much more respectable had I toughed it out and came home via the inland route instead.

Oh well, there's always another day!

What a bloody week of San Diego Cycling!

This week has been pretty horrendous for San Diego cyclists in terms of 'accidents'.

Last Saturday, Aug 9th, the Southern California randonneur community lost a great friend and rider when Matthew O'Neill (formerly of Chula Vista, but has been living in Carpinteria while completing is PhD study at UC- Santa Barbara) was hit and killed by a car driven by a teenager while cycling on Foxen Canyon Rd in Santa Maria. Like other randos he was lit up like a Christmas tree and obeying traffic laws, but there isn't much a cyclist can do when drivers decide to not give him the safe space of at least 3 feet... Why is that so much to ask when the consequence is the loss of an upstanding and kind human being just a year shy of a doctorate degree with so much to live for?

On Tuesday morning one of my riding partners was riding at the tail end of a group through Valley Center when he was clipped by a close-passing car (that didn't even have the decency to stop) and ended up with two fractured vertebrae, a concussion and a slew of road rashes on his face and limps. He was lucky to not be more seriously injured and that there were other cyclists around to help, and is now home after spending two nights at Palomar Medical Center.

On the same day a bunch of cyclists from the San Diego Bicycle Club riding laps around Fiesta Island was hit by a drugged out driver speeding her car the wrong way on the one-way road. Eight were injured, one, Juan Carlos Vinolo, remains in critical condition. The driver appears to live in her car and is un-insured... so it isn't likely that she will be covering the medical bills of all the folks she injured. (You can help Vinolo pay for his likely to be astronomical medical bills at Gofundme, though!).

ALL taxpayers own the roads no matter if they are driving or cycling or even just walking. The road belongs to everyone. The driver's license and car-related fees just allow you to operate a car on the public road, because your car can easily cause damage or even kill other people... along with causing most of the pavement damages. Giving cyclists AT LEAST 3 feet of space when passing is not only common sensical and a decent thing to do, it is also the law (especially after September 16th).

A last word on the issue... Cyclists do not cease to be human beings when they get on the roads (that they help pay for and use and damage a lot less of it than drivers do), but some drivers cease to be human beings when they get behind the wheel of a car and instantly lose the sense of responsibility for the well being of others around them.

Hillbillies Steepies Ride: Dictionary Hill, Mt Helix & Grossmont

A few friends and I have been going on a ride or two during the work weeks this year. We are a loose cycling group called 'Hillbillies', which ought to tell you something about the nature of the rides. We like hills... a lot! (Though we go at pretty mellow pace and don't drop anyone)

Cosmos Coffee in La Mesa is a favorite fueling spot for local cyclists.

This week we revisited a little riding loop that has become something of a group favorite, a 19-25 miler (depending on which variation we opt for. Hillbillies are a bit attention deficit when it comes to riding routes and we like to shuffle the deck/climbs a bit to keep things fresh) up and down Dictionary Hill and Mt Helix. Three of us - DD, Dark Horse, and me - showed up right on time this morning at Cosmos Coffee in Old Town La Mesa, the day's meetup spot.

DD & Dark Horse making light of the Kenwood Dr climb.

Kenwood Dr is a pleasant little curvester.

The last two times we rode the exact same route heading east on Lemon St to begin the first climb up Garfield and Panorama, so today I tried to spice things up a bit and took us down Palm Ave... and then promptly missed the Fresno Ave turn off (I was thinking of looping up to Garfield St and Alpine Ave and keep climbing all the way around on Panorama Dr), and so we just took Spring St down to Campo Rd instead and didn't begin climbing until we made the right turn onto Kenwood Dr in Spring Valley.

The Dark Horse showing his KoM form on Crest Dr.

It's a stingy little warm up hill with little traffic and nice curves to keep you guessing what may lie up ahead. We then made a careful descent down across Bancroft Dr to hook up with Helix St and then left onto Lamar Dr for our second climb of the day. Lamar Dr itself is a nice climb, but the less well driven Vista & Crest Drs variation is even better for steepie-fettish like us! Short-ish ramps of up to 20% grade are followed by short mellow rest stretches, and our legs were feeling the burn by the time we turned right onto Montemar and crested the north side of Dictionary Hill.

The Dark Horse was built for the steep stuff, however, and he sprung very admirably lightly up the double digit ramps and soon disappeared from view as DD and I crept our way to the crest of the hill... where a family of peacocks is always crossing the road. Don't ask me why, but they always seem to wait around the side of the road until we came along huffing and puffing, and then they'd herd their chicks across to the other side of the street while shooting stinger looks as if we were causing them inconvenience!

DD soldiering her way up the 16% grade ramp on Lamar St.

The family of peacocks at the crest of Lamar Dr climb.

Helix St's curvy descent into La Presa on the south side of the mountain is a fine reward for all the suffering... especially since school is out and there is hardly any traffic on the road. Turning left onto Jamacha Rd we made a quick stopto adjust DD's squeaky rear brake before tackling Dictionary Hill's resident bad apple. I first climbed Apple St last year and, five ascents later, the thing doesn't seem any easier! The proper climb is 3 blocks long and averages 16%, though the final long block is solidly over 20% until very close to the top (max grade 28%). With the 30x26 granny gear I still have to put in 4 zigzags in order to make it without stopping. My partners were straighter shooters, though (having a bit smaller low gear helps!), and went straight up.

Sweetwater Reservoir... looking as depressingly low as all the other reservoirs in San Diego County!

Apple St just about does me in... every time!

We hung around the top for a bit enjoying the view west to Downtown San Diego and the depressing sight of the very dry-looking Sweetwater Reservoir before descending down the east side to Jamacha Blvd and back north up the mild slope of Sweetwater Springs Blvd - our only 'rest' bit of the ride before another shift down to the small gear ring as we take Casa de Oro Blvd/Challenge Blvd up the lower south slope of Mt Helix.

What is life without a little suffering, ay?

We meandered through the neighborhoods a bit and made liar out of one 'Not A Through Road' sign before popping up on Grand View at Resmar. In previous rides I had opted for the 'easy' climb of Mt Helix; turning right and going up Mt Helix Dr from Fuerte Dr. Since we had missed our first climb of today, however, we went left and got up La Mesa's resident beast by the beastliest route (Lavelle - Beaumont - Alto) instead.

Another turn up another steep ramp on Lavelle St on Mt Helix.

The Dark Horse enjoying the view from Mt Helix Dr's 2nd ring.

By the time we spun up to the top the clouds that had provided respite from the summer sun had all but burnt off and we were treated with a beautifully clear view of the San Diego Coastal Range. The Christian Youth Theater is putting on a run of Les Miserables at Mt Helix Nature Theater this month (July 17 - Aug 2). The stone amphitheater is quite transformed! I regret I can't attend the show this weekend, but I'm hoping to catch one next week.

It was miserable at the top, I tell you!

On the way down I looked at my watch and saw that it was still quite early, so I asked my partners in climb if they felt like adding another hill before rolling back to Cosmos. Like true Hillbillies, they said yes! And so we enjoyed the full descent of Alto Dr before abusing our small ring some more to climb up Mt Helix's sister peak, Grossmont.

Grossmont is quite overshadowed by Mt Helix, but it is quite a gem! Narrow lanes lined by boulders and old growths, with gorgeous houses blending into the landscape. The local folks are really nice, too. It's a close knit neighborhood up there where folks walk around knowing all the neighbors' names... along with their (usually off-leash) dogs. One local pooch came out to say hello as we crested the hill, though we weren't nearly as attention-commanding to him as his master's tennis ball. Once he spotted that bouncy little green thing we no longer even registered at all!

Top of Grossmont

From the top of Grossmont it was coasting almost all the way back to Cosmos Coffee. We gained 3390 ft of elevation in about 23.5 miles. Not bad for a short weekday ride!