Mike's Bike Blog

I heard some talk around Austin that Ladera Norte was a more difficult climb than Jester. Seeing is believing is my opinion and with the great climbing post from Fatty I headed over to ladera norte during lunch to try my hand at what it has to offer

. Click for larger image

At first glance it appears to be longer than Jester and there are the tall tell signs that there's a serious gradient with the spilled cement fossilized on the right side of the road. I started at the Intersection of Far West & ladera norte, this is downhill stretch of .1 mile. After the short downhill it starts to slope up at 3% and then jumps up to 9%. If 9% wasn't bad enough it starts to go up from there, up to 24%! For the next tenth of a mile to the top of the first section the average grade is 20%.

Once you survive the first part there is an easy section, well at least it's easier than the section you just got through. For the next .2 miles the average grade is 3.2%. Use this time wisely as there's one last intense section coming up.

The last tenth of a mile averages 20%, the last kick to the top is at 20.5%, the max grade of this section is 22%.

	Ladera Norte	Jester
Distance	.64	.4
Ascent	289	214.4
Avg. Grade	7.4%	9.5%
Max Grade	24.5%	22.4%

(I'm using a Garmin Forerunner 305. All numbers are subject to be off as each time I do a ride I can get different numbers.)

Conclusion

I didn't find Ladera Norte too difficult, in fact I did it 3 times with 3 & 5 minutes rest between each attempt. It definitely ranks up there as a must do hill in Austin, I rank it below Jester, Courtyard and below the 3 sisters. I'd compare this to Lost Creek, at least starting from the golf course and heading up Lost Creek towards 360. It's a bit harder at the 2 crests than anything on Lost Creek so I'd rate it slightly above Lost Creek. Definitely a keeper for hill repeats.

What's Next?

I still need to hit Beauford Drive, Smokey Valley, Bullick Hollow, Comanche Trail and Bluegrass.