I'm not shure if this is what the O.P had in mind but... Each year on or about my birthday I ride with a few friends to the observatory at the top of the Calar Alto. In the past it has been the blue ribbon climb during the Vuelta with an average ascent of 7% although it certainly feels steeper. The pros sometimes make the climb twice and often after about 150K of racing! :shock:
We've been doing this ride for about 7 or 8 years in late May or June hoping that the snow has cleared but before it gets too hot. Some years we've had to abandon and settle for a snow ball fight about 400m from the summit. We climb from about 450m to almost 2200m over a distance of 35Kms.
Looking back down at the start in Sorbas, [oh, OK waiting for me].
Looking back at the eco house.
Almost half way to the turn.
My road bike these days.
Wild goat.
At the turn and above the clouds now.
Above the tree line but still a way to go, this road had some famous names painted on it, I looked for Pantini' but it's too faded to find now.
We took a shorter [steeper] way down but stopped for lunch at a campsite bar. Well it is my birthday! The descent is perhaps the best I can remember ever, with steep turns with drops to the side and straights through sheer cuttings and the smell of pines. I made an interesting discovery, three bottles of Estrella can make you a fearless descending demon.
I had planned to stop and take more pictures including the disused silver mine, but maybe next year.
We've been doing this ride for about 7 or 8 years in late May or June hoping that the snow has cleared but before it gets too hot. Some years we've had to abandon and settle for a snow ball fight about 400m from the summit. We climb from about 450m to almost 2200m over a distance of 35Kms.
Looking back down at the start in Sorbas, [oh, OK waiting for me].
Looking back at the eco house.
Almost half way to the turn.
My road bike these days.
Wild goat.
At the turn and above the clouds now.
Above the tree line but still a way to go, this road had some famous names painted on it, I looked for Pantini' but it's too faded to find now.
We took a shorter [steeper] way down but stopped for lunch at a campsite bar. Well it is my birthday! The descent is perhaps the best I can remember ever, with steep turns with drops to the side and straights through sheer cuttings and the smell of pines. I made an interesting discovery, three bottles of Estrella can make you a fearless descending demon.
I had planned to stop and take more pictures including the disused silver mine, but maybe next year.
