I've been wondering for a while what the longest continuous climb near (say, within 10 miles of) Pittsburgh is. The rivers are at maybe 700 ft, and the highest point is maybe 1400 ft, so assuming a "climb" is at least a continuous grade of 3%, then that means there could be a climb of about 23,000 ft or 4.4 miles if it went from 700 to 1400. I haven't found anything close to that long. So I'm curious if anyone knows of a reasonably bike-friendly road (say speed limit < 40 mph with some kind of shoulder) where there's a continuous (no ups and downs) climb of more than 450 feet or so. The closest I have found is maybe Glass Run/Joseph in Hays which is 450 feet over 2.5 miles... the issue is that it seems like all of the climbs top out at like 1100 or 1200 rather than 1300 or 1400.
Thorn Run Road from Coraopolis to Moon Township has got to be in the realm of 700ft --> 1200ft. It's a pretty spectacular road to drive or ride DOWNHILL at least.
Coxcomb Hill Road going from New Kensington towards Oakmont has to be in the same neck of the woods as well.
Logan's Ferry or East St out of Tarentum are the two of the longest ones I know. Basically a mile is about as long a sustained climb as you will find around here.
I think your math is slightly off too. The Bud Harris Oval is ~775 ft. The highest point in the county is 1400 ft but that's way south. I think Mt Lebo is the highest at around 1200ft.
I suppose W Liberty out of the tunnels is about the longest climb, now that I think about it. 3.5 miles.
Looks like thom run only goes from about 720 to 1140 . Coxcomb is a 550 ft climb! But it's bumpy, up and down - not a continuous climb. Both look cool to try though.
Steubenville Pike from Thornburg up to Robinson is fairly steep and long at 2+ miles.
Also, Sandy Creek/Coal Hollow Road from ARB up to Frankstown is about 2 miles.
West Liberty Ave from the tubes to St Bernards (highest point in Mt. Lebo) is 420 feet over 3.5 miles. Just feels like more after a long day at work...
Kittanning Pike out of Sharpsburg is about a mile w/ 400' climb. Not the longest, but still notable with a stretch at 9-11% grade.
There was a climb on last Saturday's populaire that felt 2 miles long and was steep. Ask Dan or someone else who did it or planned it, cause I have no idea where it was.
+1 for Logan's Ferry. That's an absolutely classic climb close to the city.
Guy's Run Road (Harmarville) probably fits the bill, too, and is closer to town than many other options (aside from Kittaning Pike).
Anything in the North Hills?
@stef: You mean Sun Mine Rd? I think that's about a mile and a half.
Marshall Rd, up from California Ave, is a solid 400' climb in a mile or so. Can be trafficky, though...not nearly as nice as some of the other options already mentioned.
I opened this thread to find out where not to go, haha.
I think Valencia Rd was way way worse than Sun Mine on the 100k. That seemed like miles and miles of mostly up hill, mostly steep.
@ajbooth Interesting. Probably doesn't help you have to do Mt Washington in some form before it too.
Campmeeting Road in Leetsdale? I haven't biked it, but walked it a bunch of times.
My favorite climb within city limits:
I've done a handful of these, but some of them only downhill... will have to go back and try them the other way around.
"I think your math is slightly off too. The Bud Harris Oval is ~775 ft. The highest point in the county is 1400 ft but that's way south. I think Mt Lebo is the highest at around 1200ft."
That was intentional - the rivers are at 709 feet, and the highest point in allegheny county is 1399 feet, so I was saying if you could climb from the river to the highest point directly on a road, you'd be able to climb almost 700 feet. But obviously that's not possible. It looks like Logan's ferry gets very close to the supposed high point so I will have to try that...
Check out this thread from a year or so ago:
http://bike-pgh.org/bbpress/topic/recommendations-on-local-long-climbs#post-36878
If you take Wildwood rd from ARB in Verona, then turn left on 2nd, then an immediate right onto Shannon, take it to the end, that's 2 miles of uphill. I did it by accident once. Well, I did the first half mile by accident, and walked the rest. It definitely peters out at the end into stuff that may be downhill, or maybe it's just so much easier it just feels like it. You could top out a few blocks west of there, just before 380. I don't know the height difference, but it's basically river to top of Penn Hills.
The Coal Hollow rd mentioned - it's mostly flat until Sandy creek, at least I thought it was. It gets worse at the end, though, making it mean. You could also ride that intersection inbound on Verona Rd, to Frankstown (but west, rather than to Frankstown south... I love Pittsburgh), and it's 1.6 miles and a steadier climb.
Why not just do laps on Mt. Washington? It's not my cup of tea, but the rewarding view from the top almost makes it worth it. None of these other climbs have anything to compare.
Oh, like bj said, Guys Run from Freeport to Fox Chapel rd (maybe a little farther, I recall that hill lasting way longer than I thought polite) is about 3 miles of "up". Really easy to get to, too, just out ARB or Freeport or a mix of the two. The scenery is more attractive there, too.
It is always worth going out east to check
out the laurel ridge or chestnut ridge.
They are only 30, 40 miles away and provide
3-4 miles of climbing.
Riddle run off of freeport is good.
Woods run off of beaver up to the top of
riverview is actually a long good climb.
has 1 light at brighton
hoffman out of millvale is good.
middle
saxonburg
Yeah, forgot about Hoffman. That's a good North Hills option.
I'm too lazy to map it, but Marzoff Road, off Little Pine Creek in Etna, is a decent little climb, too. Probably under a mile, though, to the tippy top.
@Chris Mayhew, you are right...up and over Mt. Washington before climbing West Liberty adds to the length of the day. But I'm still on a bike, not in a car, so I'll take it. By the time I get home, my work cares are forgotten.
I measured again last night, and from Route 51 to the corner of Beadling and Washington Roads is actually 4 miles, and 510 feet of climbing. Not many people realize that Mt Lebanon is higher than the top of Mt Washington...until they ride it!
@ajbooth
IIRC, the interesectio0n of Washfington Rd and Bower ill is about the ighest point. If Beadling & Washington is 510 ft about Saw mill run, then Washington and bower hill would be 2.6 miles and about 525 ft.
That is about a 3.8% grade. Pretty nice climb.
I used to do Sycamore and West Liberty to Dormont everyday. I got strong like ox.
Now I just ride 4 miles up Saxonburg Blvd and get bored like ox.
@Mick
You are correct, Bower Hill and Washington is the highest point. I think the net altitude gain is 420 feet from Saw Mill Run. My 510 feet comes from total ascent on the Garmin, so rollers count, and there are several between Dormont and Mt Lebo.
