Stephen 1 Hill 0

Small things amuse small minds! After hearing about this steep little hill it kind of stuck in my mind. Ill clear up that its not actually a road and it never really was. Its more of a delapodated section of sealed bush path that has somehow survived the real-estate boom. After checking it out the other morning I was determined to have a crack and ended up going back that night as it was all I could think about all day. I took a few precautionary measures... I wore an old kit to avoid wrecking our nice new Kosdown kits we only got last week and a gloves to avoid gravel rash on the palms as I hung like Stalone in Cliffhanger when gravity over-powered the legs.

Throughout the day as word spread that this hill existed I was surprised to hear that there had been a decent amount of people attempt it and a few succeed. Although from what I could decipher there had been no successful attempts on a road bike. If you have done it I would like to hear because it makes the fuss and attempts by me a little less notable. My response will be if its not on Strava it doesn't count!!

I was prepared for a few attempts and even a little blood and abrasion. From what Id heard the worst was near the top where the loose gravle impedes traction. I rode out through the scrub clicked it up to the 28 and went for it. Any speed from a run up quickly gets washed off within meters.. deciding weather to sit or stand is the hard part, the trade off between traction, force production and balance... After a decent amount of grunting I was near the top and into the gravel. Out of the saddle I kept pushing weaving my way through the clean(er) parts..

Done.. Victory is mine and I was at the top.

To be honest I was a little disappointed. There was such a big build up and uncertainty if it could actually be done that I felt let down because I got it first attempt. So the bar is set.. get on your bike and check this hill out. Have a crack and tell the tale. Its not only the hill itself that makes this exciting its the history of it and the weird feeling of uncertainty you get as you push your way through the scrub to come upon it. I by no means have the fastest ascent. I did 38 seconds. The Strava KOM is about 20 seconds (alas done on a mountain bike with an iPhone Strava app). Ill be back with a mountain bike to try to knock that off one day soon.

The next step is to see who can ride down it it!!! See you on the road.