Is This The Best Climb For Cycling In America? | Mount Lemmon
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.ค. 2024
- Mount Lemmon is the highest point in the Santa Catalina mountains, reaching an altitude greater than that of the Stelvio. It is the ideal climb to explore and take in the phenomenal Tucson landscape. Follow Hank and Ollie in Arizona as they take on this 34km climb and give you all the information you need to tackle Mount Lemmon too!
In association with @VisitTucson 👉 gcn.eu/Visittucson
See Ollie and Hank's ride here 👉 / strava
00:00 Intro
00:44 Quick-fire facts
01:33 Why should you ride Mount Lemmon?
03:10 How to get to Mount Lemmon
04:43 Cycling equipment
05:19 How to ride the climb
05:49 When to ride Mount Lemmon
08:35 Cafe stops
11:40 Mount Lemmon summit
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Have you ever climbed Mt. Lemmon? 🇺🇸
Let us know in the comments below!
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⛰ Have you ever climbed Mt. Lemmon? 🇺🇸
Let us know in the comments below👇
No i havent
Almost. It was in a pre-GPS era. I turned into a wrong way and ended up in... Sabino Canyon.
I wish I had another opportunity.
PS
I know you are great climbers, but Mt. Lemmon under 15 minutes?! Wow!
only on Rouvy last year.
Yep, I've done it, and I'm from Scotland.
I'm planning on leaving it till after I die.
Aloha from Maui Hawaii. I think you guys need to come here to check out the "SEA TO SKY" ride to the summit of Haleakala, which is 10,023 feet. Starting from sea level, climbing to the summit, and descending back to sea level is around 60 miles. The views are amazing, the route is safe, and well traveled, with varying temperatures. Reaching the summit grants you the gifts of breath taking views of the Island, and 4 other island. This is a must ride, for those that refer to climbing as a way of life.
We think you're right! Our triathlon buddies at GTN did it... it's about time we show them how it's done 👉th-cam.com/video/2nf9rLImy7s/w-d-xo.html
Yup, as I commented above, Mt Haleakala is incredible, 10,000 feet and unlike anything else on earth. The crazy plants and volcanic fiends are otherworldly. Not to mention Mauna Kea which is voted the world’s number one climb, 13,700 feet in 42 miles.
Big Island beats that one with the ride from sea level (Hilo or Kona) to the summit of Maunakea at 13,8083 ft ASL
@@gcnyeah, Maui is a completely different island than the one featured in the gcn-triathlon video you referenced.
I think GCN should do a video in the state of Hawaii just to teach the Brits a bit of geography.
FWIW Mt. Lemmon is currently (Jan 13, 2024) blanketed with snow and is not really a “winter” ride unless you are prepared for freezing conditions!
Good point! ... Ski's maybe? ⛷
But almost all winter the roads are bare and dry. It is just chilly at the near the top. So it is good all year, but in the summer you start early
i live here and can say it is a safe road up and there is a good number of riders every day. Head out early though the sun sets earlier than you might think here and the ride down is no joke.
When you mention "ride down is no joke", what are the actual concerns? Cars, road quality, rocks, ...? That would help me to know as I am planning on riding Mount Lemmon in a couple of months. Thanks.
Can't wait for your experience on Pikes Peak in Colorado.....only 14,400' at the top!!! Go for it boys!!
Oooo that sounds tempting, the team are back on Uk soil now so maybe one for next time 🇬🇧
@@gcn You want to do that one in July or August. Too much snow the rest of the year.
Good format, especially with the loss of GCN+. This shoes off the ride, pointed out some helpful tips, and was nice and compact. I do miss the long form videos though.
Thanks for the kind words! Have you started watching more of out TH-cam content after we had to close GCN+? We would love to hear some idea, what should we be making?
I've climbed Lemmon, Palomar, Diablo and since I live in Hawaii, I've got Haleakala, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. I would say our climbs are much more demanding than Lemmon, but one cannot diminish any of them with respect to the others.
Always respect the climbs!
Exactly, as demanding doesn't necessarily equate to best.
🍋Mt. Lemmon is awesome, and Arizona is great if you want some epic mountainbike variety, too.
We'll let our mates at GMBN know about Arizona!
I have done this climb a few times and It is epic. I even got hypothermia coming down as there was snow at the top and I was underdressed. Lesson learned for future ascents to always pack a jacket for the descent done ;)
Think like an onion... layer are key 🧅
I learned that the hard way 🤣@@gcn
Loving all the attention Tucson is getting in these videos. It’s a great place to live for year round riding. Never too far from the loop or some awesome mtb trails.
Plenty of illegals to help carry your bike if both tires go flat
I live in Tucson and have ridden Mt. Lemmon many times. It is a wonderful climb and quite the challenge. There is also many Mt. Biking trails up on the mountain as well. Mt. Lemmon is definitely a treasure on the Southwest and Tucson. There used to be a Mt. Lemmon Time Trial race, MP 0 to MP 17ish, Palisades Ranger station. Thanks to Hank and Ollie for highlighting some of Tucson's and Patagonia's awesome riding. Love living here!
Echoing the comments about Mt. Blue Sky (formerly Mt. Evans). It is the highest paved road in North America topping out at 14,140 ft. (4,310 m), making it a nice bucket list item. The ride has about 6.6k of gain over 27 mi. if you start in the town of Idaho Springs. If you’re altitude acclimated, it’s a pretty pleasant climb, although you’ll definitely struggle to output high power. Easily accessible in the summer months, just west of Denver.
That is insane 💀
It sounds like we need to send some presenters back out to the USA for climbing!
Dress warmly and start early though to miss the ubiquitous afternoon rain storms.
I am waiting for CDOT to either repave that road or put down gravel before ever doing that climb again lol
@@jimi_sendrixis it too cracky and potholed to descend on?
Thank you for highlighting our beautiful Mt Lemmon. It is the southernmost spot in the US for winter skiing and snowboarding in the bright sunshine. While in the valley we enjoy sunning by the pool in the 70+ degree winter days. Our summer respite from the unbearable months of 100+ degrees in the valley. We treasure it.
I like American road sign asking drivers to Share the road. Good reminder to everyone behind the wheel
Do they put it to practice? Maybe.
@@worldender_tvSometimes
@@worldender_tv not really, which is why I ride the the "Chuck Huckleberry Loop" bike path in Tucson. Ironically, the path namesake Chuck Huckleberry got crippled by a car while riding on the road a year or so ago and had to retire.
I never understood those signs. They imply that the bikes should be the ones taking the advice when it’s clearly the opposite. At least that’s how drivers usually treat them.
I drove up Mt Lemmon once, and I remember thinking how amazing it would be on a bike, going down.
Rode it yesterday, last 1.5 miles was gated off but slid under to make it to the top. Lots of snow, an epic climb. Don’t underestimate, bring plenty of water and carbs. 65 miles round trip from the cafe/parking lot.
as a Jr i went to Tucson to train... i will never forget the first time i climbed Mt. Lemmon. Such an amazing climb and and even better decent!
I've been waiting for this ever since the El Tour de Tucson video dropped. Cheers, boys!
Tucson has some great riding including Mt. Lemmon. Done Lemmon several times along with places like Gates Pass, Pistol Hill etc. So much fun and great cycling culture in the region. Gravel rides too.
So true! Tucson has some amazing riding, we were super lucky to get the chance to ride out there. Did you catch Ollie and Conor try and hang during this epic race 👉 th-cam.com/video/H9YostVYD40/w-d-xo.html
I'll be riding Mt. Lemmon April 20th this year! -Tortuga
Lael Wilcox has some epic challenges on Lemmon. One year she rode it every day for a week. The next, she rode 5 times in a row. Then the following year, rode it10 times in 4 days. I don't know what her latest challenges on Lemmon have been.
She is badass beyond everything
Lael is so impressive on the bike 🙌 A bit hitter for sure 👌
I mean, if you got the time.
I been of Lemmon multiple times but no cookie yet. Still got work to do! It is a fantastic climb! Nice job!
Tucson also has a roughly 100 mile paved bike path that circles the greater community! I want to retire there!!
Idyllic isn’t it!
I live an Tucson AZ and have cycled up Mount Lemmon hundreds of times.
Mt. Lemon is the only place you can ride up and enjoy 12 different climate zones!!
Absolutely do not try to ride this in the sumer during the day!!
This is probably my favorite episode. Thank you GCN!!
Hahahah 12 different climate zones is crazy 😂
Just did this one for the first time. Took the family and bikes down to Tucson for a week of biking and it was awesome!! Little bit of everything.
Hank & Ollie have not stopped talking about their time in Tucson!
Mt. Evans via Idaho Springs or even from the base of the park climb...you guys are still climbing those baby Euro mountains. You guys should try the Triple Bypass in CO this summer.
I have climbed Mount Lermmon twice top to bottom since moving to Tucson four years ago. However, I have ridden the lower part of the ride once or twice per month for the last two years. I like the fact that I can climb for 8, 16, 24 or 32 km (5, 10, 15, 20 mi) and still be going up. It is great training for climbing. Also the decent is fantastic. I rarely brake on the way down now and that has taught me descending skills I never thought I'd have. I live a short ride away from Le Buzz and have a view at Mt Lemmon from the window of my snug.
If I could mention, every year one of our local cycling clubs, the Greater Arizona Bicycling Association (GABA) has their Mt Lemmon Hill Climb in May. It is a fully supported ride. There are training rides on Mt Lemmon starting at Le Buzz every Friday during the eight weeks leading up to the Ride. GABA also has a leader lead ride on Mt Lemmon called "One Hour on Mt Lemmon" which occurs once or twice per month, usually on Friday as well.
Final notes. Check ahead on water. Right now the taps are turned off due to a water shortage. We do get a bit of snow on the summit and it can be quite cold up there, even when the weather is beautiful down below, so bring a jacket and leg warmers, possibly some chest insulation for the descent. Also watch out for slippery spots due to melting snow on upper parts of the descent.
Lastly, enjoy your time in Tucson when you come here and have a great time on Mt. Lemmon, as well as the other great rides here.
Thanks Ollie and Hank for doing this video. I was hoping you did make one while you were here. I miss GCN+ and Mt. Lemmon would have been a good video for it. Thanks for bringing us quality cycling videos via TH-cam.
Tuscan really is a wonderful biking Mecca. Along with Mt. Lemmon is The Chuck Huckleberry loop with well over +130 miles of paved riding on dedicated exercise roads. It’s a fun place for cyclist to hull up in for a week or two during the winter.
My weekly riding path. Constantly taking and relinquishing Local Legend status on about 23 segments, which is the advantage of retirement. I highly recommend it! 😊
Amazing climb for sure!
Top of mount Lemmon is 30 degrees Colder at the top than the start at the bottom of the mountain. So even during the summer is it very cool going up the mountain on a bike.
You guys have to try Mount Evans in Colorado. It goes from around 6,500 feet to 14,000 feet
Never ridden that on my bike, but the rock climbing up there is amazing, too!
🧗
If you're looking for rides in the US, consider making a video for Skyline Drive and/or Blue Ridge Parkway with Mount Mitchell.
Love skyline drive, but the car drivers are menacing
Went to college in Tucson and climbed Lemmon all the time. I miss the pies at the top - so worth it!!
I’ve hiked over Mt Lemmon on the AZT. It’s a beauty. I might have to try riding it in the future.
You guys will have to come to western Canada and show case Mt Revelstoke to Meadows in the sky in British Columbia and Kanaskis road through the Highwood pass an hour from Calgary Alberta.
I'm from Cali, and you guys have ridden in more places than I have in the 13 years I've been riding. Don't get me wrong, I'm riding for health and I'm happy with my local trails but it's nice to see foreigners take advantage of the places closer to me. I never thought of leaving the state to ride a bike but now it's an option. Haha! Guess what I'm discussing with my friends later today. Haha!
did someone say RoadTrip?!
@@gcndid Ollie average 25mph climbing the Lemon?🍋
@@gcn lets do a GCN group ride, I'll fly from Georgia lol
Lots of places in CA too. You ever bike in Tahoe? Yosemite?
@@gcn ...(sigh)...seems so. In fact, we're going out tomorrow on a different local trail BUT this time we're taking our bikes and mount them on a car to go somewhere 20 to 30 miles from our place. First time our group's ever going to take a convoy of us to a different spot. Haha! The adventure never stops 'rrround hurrr! Haha!
Thanks for all the videos and the work your team does to put them together.
Our pleasure Tim! We love making videos for our community, what would you guys like to see more of? We are always looking for the best ways to improve 🙌
I’ve done the climb several times. In the spring there is the annual Pie Ride sponsored by a local cycling club. Make it to the top and you get a big slice of pie. Many people choose lemon. 😅
I've climbed Mt Lemon but I'd go with Loveland Pass Colorado
Looks like a bucketlist ride. Loveland pass or Mount Evans Colorado or in the Northwest, Mount Hood would be a fun climb or ride the Columbia gorge past the amazing waterfalls into the three sisters range. If you're feeling interested in recent history, You can now ride what's left of Mount Saint Helens.
Is the road up Mount Evan's rideable on a road bike these days? When I lived there in the eighties, it was pretty torn up.
@chuckmccracken4136 last time I was up there it's pretty clean.
Ride Mt Hood once or twice a year when snow melts.
@@ybh9776 It is so beautiful up there
Oooof it sounds like a dream! Can we come with you next time 😂
Great start for this format. Keep it up, especially the hints where you can get water/food on the way are very useful.
Love the style of the video with how to get there, gearing, time of year and cafe stop advice.
Hopefully see that in more videos like this one.
Yes, the descent is a blast and worthy of some time on the video. Also, in winter it is often under snow at the summit.
Adding it to my wishlist for Winter.
Yeah, used to go to Tucson every year. Would pass the Mt. Lemmon road entrance in Northern Tucson area where I used to go for business. And thought, maybe I will try that. Would do the Tuesday group ride...but I'm not a climber...and nope...never did it. There is nobody at the top with some lemonade if you make it. Like a local climb we have around where I live called Ice Cream hill. Guess what, nobody with ice cream at the top of that either. Beautiful city and area. Generally a younger college mix of people and businesses, and culture. Tons of bike lanes. The roads can be rough and seems they have done some repaving in areas though which are long overdue. Glad to see Tucson getting some love and respect with cyclist in the US with GCN...great stuff.
I used to be a test driver for Volkswagen/Audi/Bentley. There's a test facility in Maricopa, AZ. On my last day, my supervisor gave me the keys to one of the Bentleys, and said "don't bother reporting anything, the car is fine. Take it up Mount Lemmon and enjoy your last day." It was a hell of a send off to drive that car up Mount Lemmon. I've always wanted to ride up that mountain. The American Southwest has amazing cycling opportunities.
Living in Tucson has afforded me the chance to ride up from both sides. Front side on an IBIS road and the back side on an old GT HT. I bonked hard coming up the front but made it finally. Couldn’t make it all the way coming up the back side. Someday maybe I’ll try the epic up and over loop. My only apprehension is that coming from the back side puts you on a state highway from Oracle to Tucson and that road has gone bonkers for traffic.
Loved the video…hope you enjoyed Tucson. BTW, I love your indoor training videos! Cheers!
I am not at all a climber but I did quite enjoy riding up Lemmon. The riding around Tucson is amazing in general although I've never visited in the middle of summer
Don't need to be a climber to enjoy a long climb 🏔 Something special about the views and mental freshness of a long climb 👌
I absolutely love these videos. My wallet hates them though. Booked myself to Tuscany Arizona post the last gravel ride video.
Climb suggestion: Leh to Khardungla Pass (the highest motorable road in the world). It's an absolutely stunning climb.
I climbed Mount Lemmon many times when I lived in Tucson. The weather is so hot in the desert the trick is to climb to the top during the cool morning so you can enjoy the breezy downhill all the way back. I like climbs like this where you can get into a rhythm and find your zone without steep pitches. Another great climb not far away is Mount Graham.
Just there last weekend. We love our sky island here in the southwest.
Fabulous views, looked like great cookies , once again, living my cycling life through GCN, thanks guys x
You can live through both 🙌 Ride in the morning GCN in the afternoon 😂
I cycle any time 😘@@gcn
You guys are living the dream! Keep the series coming....
We get to go some pretty great places on our bikes 🙌 Where should we send the team next?
i love this long ride videos
Great video! Thinking on adding it to the bucket list.
Thank you for this very inspiring series!
Thank you for a great video! This place is on my list for sure.
I would love to ride this climb. It looks amazing...
Definitely going to have to hit this climb some day. I hope you guys are stopping in Colorado to do either Mount Blue Sky (formerly Mount Evans) or Pikes Peak. Both are brutal climbs that will have you re-thinking why you took up cycling, but the scenery makes it well worth it!
i live in colorado and this is the first time i have heard they renamed mt evans
How about climbing Grand Mesa near Grand Junction? I did the math and it seems pretty equivalent to this Mt Lemmon climb
What you didn't mention is that as you climb from the start (in the Sonora desert climate), the higher you go, the more climate zones you pass through. From cacti at the beginning to Aspen groves at the top. The higher you go, the more vegetation there is because in the desert, mountains act like islands in the atmosphere, causing water to precipitate out. I.e., the higher the elevation, the greater the amount of annual rainfall, so barren at the bottom, and trees at the top...just the opposite of what you'd expect (think Mount Ventoux). Mt Lemmon is truly bucket-list worthy. And there's a ton of great cycling in the Tucson area besides Mt Lemmon, so it's well worth going there.
The day I rode it I just rode the segment… there was a freak weather system that made it unseasonably cold. So cold, I didn’t even ride down (my wife rescued me). Can’t wait to try this one again!!
Let us know how you get on when you ride it again!
I’ve gone mountain biking on Mount Lemmon. Absolutely stunning views up there.
This is a bucket list ride for me in New York.
But I'd be remiss if I didn't mention here that you need to cover mount washington in New Hampshire! It's only open to cyclists twice a year, and is absolutely brutal!
I definitely want to do this ride some day. For better or worse, most of my cycling friends are mtn bikers and can't understand why I love road riding just as much as riding a double-black DH track. .
Done it twice. Knew the guy that did the Haleakala climb KOM from local racing. he raced here but now lives in California. You should interview him.
Thanks for sharing. Loved it👍
I love this series of the buck list rides. Keep them coming.
Would you take on this ride?
Not too far away is Kitt Peak, another awesome climb up to all of the observatories. 12.1 miles (19.5 Km), average gradient is 5.6% but some sections up to 9-10%. I have climbed Mt. Lemmon, it is quite a challenge!
We've got unfinished business in the USA!
Yes I have and it is a bucket list ride!!!
Used to live in Tucson. Mt Lemmon is also famous for its great rock climbing, rock is granite, not sand stone. Cheers
Super-tuckin' Hank! And Super-droppin' Ollie! That cookie had an effect.
I’d like to suggest the Tour of the California Alps, AKA the Markleeville Death Ride. 20,000 feet of climbing over 5 mountain passes. It’s a real suffer feast. And keeping with the death theme another ride you might try is Mt. Diablo near the San Francisco Bay Area.
Did a west coast road trip this past summer hiking and biking all around you guys need to ride in no particular order
1. Hurricane Ridge Road-Olympic Nat Park
2. Going to the Sun Road-Glacier Nat Park
3.Loveland Pass-CO
4.Independence Pass-CO
5.Trail Ridge Road-Rocky Mtn National Park
Bonus (Around Lake Tahoe)
There are so many unexplored parts of the world we need to visit!
I’ve wanted to ride that, but didn’t have a chance to get out there after doing the tour de Tucson like you guys did. There are some incredible climbs in my neck of the woods one state to the north. The tour of Utah highlighted several like mt Nebo, Empire Pass, Powder Mountain, and my personal favorite, the alpine loop. Kolob canyon in southern Utah is still on my bucket list.
We really want to explore the USA some more! 🇺🇸
Wolf Creek Pass that the RAAM goes over.
Try climbing that and then get ready for the awesome downhill ride!
Haleakala 10,000ft in 35 miles at 5.5%…sea to sky atop a volcano…can’t even beat that in the movies…and if you pay attention you can see, feel and hear Hawaiian gods along the route…be pono
Aloha Kakahiaka, Haleakala is my number one (even if Mauna Kea is way harder) Haleakala you get the view, Mt Lemon's summit is more dense all the views are on the way up. Haleakala's summit is outstanding
Everything is big in America! I orderd five pancakes, just about got through 2 and a half washed down with plenty of coffee. Great vid lads. Time for a trip to the US of A
Great video and I'd love to try this climb someday.
It melt... in my mount. lol two cool dudes back in the US. That is my next summer trip with my 15 old girl. 48 here that keeps clibing.
Dress smart in winter. We climbed out of 60s temps only to hit snow showers by 15 miles. Froze coming down.
You GCN folks are always welcome to visit the States. I love to hear your take on things here. One thing though. A conversion to degrees F, and miles is nice. Not a big deal, but it would be appreciated. Anyway, keep up the good work. Y’all come back now, hear?
This place is my backyard. Way back in the day,late '70's. Twice I had the grueling pleasure of riding along with a powerhouse of a little French lady who would spend the day doing 3-5 "laps on this( myself-1) -Jennie Longo
Always an enjoyable watch chaps (almost tempted to put the Rose down and saddle the swift...almost..)
Nice to see you guys on the right side of the road 😀👍
I've done it. I took my time so it was doable, even though I'm not all that strong a rider. No problem with 50-34 and 11-28. An incredibly beautiful ride. I stopped a few times to look at the view. As you go along it's a bit like going from Los Angeles to Seattle in onecride. But don't try it in summer! And at the very top it often snows in winter. There are a lot of other great rides around Tucson too. A really great part of the US. I found the descent back to town rather terrifying because I live in a fairly flat place.
I rode the Mt. Lemmon climb last March but as I approached the summit there was snow and lots of snow melt. Sadly I didn’t finish but it was enough. Aero bikes are no good for climbing I was told lol. But amazing views helped me along. I would do it again! Nice jog guys. Bring back GCN+
hey there - you guys need to come out to Denver Colorado to do the Triple Bypass - a 118 mile ride from Evergreen (west of Denver) over 3 huge mountain passes to Avon, CO (west of Vail). Top altitude I believe is 12,000 feet, closed roads, just a wild ride. Its in July.
Love the U.S. content. Welcome to the states!
You went to the Observatory, that is a real deal climb. Most people just go the Palisades and then go down to the Cookie Shack. When we go to the Observatory from Le Buzz we go straight there and then go down to Cookie Shack. I can't imagine eating at the Cookie Shack and thenb climbing back up to the Observatory on a full stomach.
Agreed! I usually go straight up to the observatory, then go down for pizza and some cookie. I bring saddle bags tho for layers and stick the remaining cookie and the fudge from the general store in them. That fudge is soooo good.
Love that climb
That looked fun. It's close to missouri, hmmm maybe. Thanks for the vid.
Love to see you guys head to Hawaii for some riding. Oahu, Maui and Hawaii all have great riding. Plus Maui and Hawaii each have epic climbs up Volcanoes.
Next time, try the Triple Bypass in Colorado, that is the hard one.
My favorite terrain for a long climb is the high desert like this. Yes it can get hot in the summer but you can start early and the low humidity makes it tolerable. If there are Ponderosa pines around, count me in. I’ve never done this ride and I am very jealous of Hank and Ollie.
It’s starts in the lowland Sonoran desert with saguaro cactus, climbs into a more high desert zone then to a temperate climate zone and associated flora as and finally into a mixed conifer stand as you approach the summit. The road winds back and forth across the ridge on the way up with stunning east and west views and as they described, much of the giant rock formations look like something from Wiley coyote cartoons or the movie cars
Nice video format with clear sections. Looks like a gorgeous but killer ride...31 miles uphill 🫣
31 miles in nothing for Ollie... try 100km 👉 th-cam.com/video/dpa9FZHOdwY/w-d-xo.html 🤯
Great vid guys! Lemmon is a great climb! Road seams made the descent not as fun last time I was there. You guys should consider doing cycle to the sun race on Maui. Sea to 10k feet and absolutely gorgeous.
Which GCN presenter(s) would you like to see ride the Cycle To The Sun race?
Hurricane ridge is a sea to sky of sorts. A very beautiful climb in a national park with incredible finish.
Looks like a brilliant ride. But I have to say, some of the best riding I’ve done is the PCH, Pacific Coast Highway in California, specifically Big Sur. While you’re at it, check out the Tour of the Unknown Coast, California’s toughest century. 100 miles with 10,000 feet of elevation. It’s brutal.