The 1 in 20
Length: 6.75km
Average gradient: 4.2%
Introduction
The 1 in 20 is Melbourne’s most popular cycling climb. Winding its way up Mountain Highway from The Basin to Sassafras this gentle climb provides a fantastic way for cyclists of all abilities to test themselves.
The climb gets its name from the average gradient with which it climbs up into the Dandenong Ranges National Park. Like so many of the roads running through the Dandenongs, this section of Mountain Highway is truly breathtaking with its wide variety of native flora and fauna.
The Start
The 1 in 20 climb begins at the 60km/h signs at the top end of the shops in the Basin. The start line is marked on the road in yellow paint.
The Finish
The climb finishes at the 50km/h speed signs just before the township of Sassafras. The finish is also marked on the road in yellow paint.
Riding the climb
Due to its reasonably gentle gradient, the 1 in 20 isn’t an overly challenging climb if you are just trying to reach the top. The real challenge here lies in posting a new best time.
From the get-go at the 60km/h signs the road tilts gently upward and maintains a fairly steady gradient of around 5% for the entirety of it’s 6.75km length. Yellow markers have been painted on the road every kilometre, giving you an indication of how much further you have to climb.
Coming just after the 4km-to-go marker, the climb settles into a false-flat for the best part of 1.5km. If you are looking to set a new PB up here you can’t afford to sit up and rest on this flat section and speeds approaching 40km/h have been recorded along here by A-grade riders.
After tilting upwards again for the last couple kilometres, the road emerges from the Dandenong Ranges National Park before one last left turn into the finish.
A time of under 14 minutes up here will put you among the very best to have ridden this climb, but any time under 20 minutes is also respectable.
Profile
This profile was created using Bike Route Toaster and you can find the full version of this profile by clicking here.
Location
The 1 in 20 climb starts in the suburb of The Basin, around 30km east of Melbourne’s CBD. The climb is best accessed by following Mountain Highway from Bayswater.
Times
To post details about your best climb up the 1 in 20, or to see how your best time compares with other members of Melbourne’s cycling community, head over to Cycle2Max.
It’s a Melbourne institution, if your even half serious about riding and you live in Melbourne you have to have a PB up the one-in-twenty.
Too true Dave, too true.
I heard that Cadel Evans did it a couple of years ago in 10 minutes.
If that’s true, it would be awesome. I wonder if we could get sort of official comment from Cadel about it?
can you explain the name 1 in 20?
It’s a reference to the gradient Chris. For every 20 metres that you ride, you climb 1 metre, giving an average gradient of 5%. It’s not quite 5% (a bit less) but it’s close enough.
Many thanks for the geographical location in Google maps. What is the meaning of 1 in 20? Can you please explain it to me?
As mentioned in the article, “1 in 20″ refers to the approximate gradient of the climb. i.e. for every 20 metres that you ride, you climb approximately 1 metre.
Did this for the first time on the weekend with my little brother, so good to finally say i have done it. Great scenery and you can just never rest on this!
Does anyone know what category this climb would be? if it is one…
Probably 3rd I would think Zach … but I could be wrong. It’s actually something I want to look into: classifying all of the climbs on the site.
Love the 1/20 and its great to see so many cyclists out here most days of the week night and day! Great photos too Matt its just a bit of a shame the council has decided to industrialise this beautiful climb with ugly barriers most of the way now.
The name 1 in 20 is false. The gradient is 4% which actually makes it a 1 in 25 climb, but this doesn’t sound as cool. Also, the gradient chart isn’t accurate, as there are no downhill sections along this climb. I think the Category 3 rating is a bit much. It has a good distance but at only 4% average, deserves nothing higher than a Category 4 rating.
What is your time Matt?
My best is 19m30s. Reckon I could go up there faster now and will give it a crack sometime soon. You’re around the high 15s right?