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!!