Cyclist James Raison has filmed himself riding Adelaide’s Dirty Dozen steepest hills around eastern suburbs
IF you thought the freeway was steep, you won’t believe what this hill-loving cyclist’s taken on: He’s filmed himself riding up hills even cars have trouble with. But has he missed the toughest?
IT is a question sure to get cyclists fired up. Which hill is the hardest to climb in Adelaide?
While some might say Norton Summit Rd or Belair Rd are tough enough, hill-loving cyclist James Raison has taken it a step further, posting videos on YouTube of rides around Adelaide up to three times as steep.
TELL US BELOW: What’s the toughest hill you’ve taken on in Adelaide?
“These are the sort of hills most normal people, even cyclists, find quite difficult,” Mr Raison says.
“Among people that are good at climbing, you’re still finding these really, really punishing.”
Mr Raison, 28, of Brompton, is posting videos of the climbs to promote the 2015 Adelaide Dirty Dozen ride, to take place in September, as well as to convince interstate and overseas riders that there are hills in South Australia to rival those in places such as the French Alps.
Most of the hardest rides are in the eastern foothills, in suburbs such as Mt Osmond, Skye and Teringie.
Mr Raison’s greatest challenge was climbing up Coachhouse Drive and Woodland Way in Teringie.
The route’s average gradient is 10 per cent, about twice that of the South-Eastern Freeway.
“It’s just so steep and 2.4km long,” Mr Raison says.
“That’s a really long climb for how steep it is.”
The steepest ride is Gill Tce, in Glen Osmond, where the gradient is 15 per cent.
Each video includes a graphic showing the gradient of the hill and a map of his progress.
Mr Raison used a Garmin Virb camera to record the climbs and later added music and commentary.
His Cervelo bike is specially modified to focus on hill-climbing.
He had to stay seated during the rides to keep the vision steady.
TELL US BELOW: What’s the toughest hill you’ve taken on in Adelaide?