Video & pics of my new "Temple of Pain" sufferfest steep climb

This has to be the hardest, longest steep climb I've ever done!

This climb was similar to last week's Mosquito Road climb in that it climbs out of the American River canyon, but this one is steeper on one side.

This is Iowa Hill Road near Colfax in Placer County. I measured constant grades in the teens and twenties, with 23% being the highest accurate max.

I changed the colors on the DashWare GPS telemetry gauges in the video so they are more visible. I also added a distance gauge. The other gauges are heart rate, speed, percent grade, and altitude.

Garmin Connect data: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/101476852

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfFz6LUgDNE

Nice steep switchback on the first descent to the river:
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6143/...46c6ac1ca8.jpg
Iowa Hill Road steep switchback by kittyz202, on Flickr

I rode through this town. There is no electricity, so people have to use generators for power.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6150/...c98b42e475.jpg
road bike at Iowa Hill town limit sign by kittyz202, on Flickr

View from just outside the town limit sign:
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6149/...70ba561ab5.jpg
view from Iowa Hill by kittyz202, on Flickr

There is a century ride with an optional time trial that starts at the river and finishes at the top of the steep part of the climb towards the town of Iowa Hill. Here's the finish line.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6013/...730c0ffaec.jpg
Iowa Hill Road TT finish line by kittyz202, on Flickr

Steep!
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6009/...12f778ea8a.jpg
Iowa Hill Road 15% grade sign by kittyz202, on Flickr

View from the top of that steep climb:
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6138/...6de1bf4b4c.jpg
view from top of steep part of Iowa Hill Road climb by kittyz202, on Flickr

View from the bridge at the bottom of the two climbs:
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6007/...2efe7de703.jpg
view from bridge at bottom of Iowa Hill Road climb by kittyz202, on Flickr

Other side:
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6150/...57c9fc5da2.jpg
view from bridge at bottom of Iowa Hill Road climb 2 by kittyz202, on Flickr
After finishing the climb. I took my time up the last short steep climb up Canyon Way to my truck, picking and eating blackberries along the way.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6122/...4fd2006a38.jpg
road bike and Iowa Hill Road street sign by kittyz202, on Flickr

What beautiful country side to bike in. You picked a good handle to go by because you sure love to climb. I could not do that on a bike. Heck I'd be scared to drive a car up and down some of those hills, or I should say mountains.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bike Writer

What beautiful country side to bike in. You picked a good handle to go by because you sure love to climb. I could not do that on a bike. Heck I'd be scared to drive a car up and down some of those hills, or I should say mountains.

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Yeah, driving on the narrow part of that road would be hairy. While descending I was on the brakes so much I was concerned about the rims heating up enough to blow the tire off the rim, so I stopped three times to let the rims cool down. The rear was hot to the touch and the tire was slightly warm closest to the rim.

I got one of the switchback pictures while waiting for the rims to cool down.