The Climbing Cyclist - The joy of riding uphill & a guide to Victoria's best climbs.

April 19, 2013April 22, 2013

Interview: Joel Nicholson, ahead of the Delirium 24-hour race

This weekend, Joel Nicholson flies to Western Australia for the Delirium 24-hour race which is held on a 3.7km circuit near Margaret River. I caught up with Joel in the lead-up to his trip to find out how he got into super-long-distance riding and what he's hoping to get out of Delirium this weekend. Read more

April 16, 2013April 16, 2013

Guest post: The 2013 Mt. Baw Baw Alpine Resort Classic

Getting to the top of Mt. Baw Baw by bike is a great effort. Managing to finish a hilly 105km-long race that finishes at the top of Mt. Baw Baw is an even better effort. In this guest post, Verita Stewart takes us along for the ride in Women's C-grade at last Sunday's Mt. Baw Baw Alpine Resort Classic. Read more

April 15, 2013April 15, 2013

Crux: the Triple Crucifix (a Hells 500 epic)

Every year the Hells 500 mob do a crazy ride that tests the limits of their endurance, physically and mentally, and this year's instalment was dubbed Crux. The route was a simple one: three laps of The Crucifix, a popular but challenging route in the Dandenongs. I was lucky enough to get an invite and here's how my day unfolded. Read more

April 14, 2013

The 2013 Amstel Gold Race: 34 climbs, 4,000m of climbing

I don't normally preview races on the pro calendar but I'm particularly looking forward to tonight's Amstel Gold Race, which features 34 climbs in 252km. In this post I give some information about all of the climbs and consider which ones might be decisive. Read more

April 10, 2013

7 Peaks Domestique Series prize winners

The rides are finished, the entries are in, and now it's time to draw the winner of the major prize in the 7 Peaks Domestique Series: a Mavic Cosmic Elite wheelset courtesy of our friends at Cycling Express. And the winner is ... Read more

April 6, 2013April 6, 2013

In pursuit of pain: preparing for a Hells 500 epic

There's something fundamentally strange about knowing you're about to put yourself through all kinds of physical and mental pain. And yet, here I am, the day before my first Hells 500 annual invitational epic, and I'm really looking forward to it. Read more

April 5, 2013April 5, 2013

Interview: Matt Clark, 2013 Mt. Buller road race winner

If you pay any attention at all to the Victorian racing scene you will have heard of climber Matt Clark. He's won the Mt. Buller road race and the Tour of Bright and in this interview, he tells us about some of his favourite training rides and how he became such a strong climber. Read more

April 3, 2013April 3, 2013

7 Peaks Domestique Series: are you in the prize draw?

The organised rides in the 7 Peaks Domestique Series are over and it's nearly time to draw the winner of the series' grand prize: a Mavic Cosmic Elite wheelset. You've got until midnight on Sunday to let us know which climbs you completed (if we haven't got you listed already) or you'll miss out! Read more

March 30, 2013March 30, 2013

The beauty of the one-way ride

If you're like me then the vast majority of your rides start and finish at the same place. Probably at home. But I realised yesterday, as I was riding from Reservoir to Trentham, that one-way rides feel very different to regular out-and-back-style rides and they can be a lot of fun. Read more

March 27, 2013March 27, 2013

Guest post: The best (and worst) Dandenongs descents

We all loving climbing. Or at least, most of us do. And sometimes it's easy to forget that a day in the hills should be about good descents too, not just good climbs. In this guest post, Steve Morris explains why he loves descending and picks 10 memorable Dandenongs drops. Read more

March 25, 2013

Housekeeping: a clearer view for The Climbing Cyclist

In the 4 years since The Climbing Cyclist began, the focus of the site has shifted somewhat, making the old homepage slightly outdated. I've now updated the homepage and I'm keen to get your thoughts. Does it work? And are there other improvements you'd like to see? Read more

March 23, 2013March 23, 2013

Doing Donna in the Dark

I want this winter to be one of adventure and exploration. Last year I did a handful of such rides but this year, I'd like to do even more, to explore and experience this great state of ours. And what better way to kick off a season of adventure riding than a climb of Mt. Donna Buang on a Friday night, after work, in the pitch-dark, and the rain? Read more

March 15, 2013March 23, 2013

Review: Azzurri Forza Ultegra Di2 Pro

One of the most enjoyable things about buying something new is the moment you open the box, start unpacking and going through the goodies that come with your new toy. And if you buy the Azzurri Forza Ultegra Di2 Pro through Cycling Express, you'll get to enjoy that wonderful unboxing moment. Read more