tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172202953319134786.post7825863982415279325..comments2023-11-16T09:57:41.255-08:00Comments on ITALIAN CYCLING JOURNAL: Climbing the ZoncolanAngelo senza la ohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00876175566987717150noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172202953319134786.post-20325164392954800142011-09-27T13:31:52.691-07:002011-09-27T13:31:52.691-07:00Oh the memory of that never ending gradient. Like ...Oh the memory of that never ending gradient. Like you, I just remember thinking that each panel was going to herald another kilometre when often it was just 500 metres and sometimes less. The gradients spray-painted on the road only served to dishearten you further. The "Welcome to Hell" sign after the initial foreplay, didn't help either. <br /><br />I did it this summer (July 2011) with a 34 29 Campy set up in a "shameful" 1 hour 50 minutes from Ovaro but now I'm familiar with it, could probably shave some serious time off that. <br /><br />A local pro whom I met at the start just seemed to fly up but overall the unfamiliarity and unrelenting gradient does for you before the gradient eases up 7/8ths of the way up. I loved the cool wetness of the 3 "gallerias" towards the top and the welcome given to anyone who makes it at the top by the Italians. <br /><br />Descending, I punctured around the Miguel Indurain poster!TheJackalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172202953319134786.post-47661141060556210062010-03-05T07:52:00.647-08:002010-03-05T07:52:00.647-08:00Love the article. What a brute of a climb. My clim...Love the article. What a brute of a climb. My climbing is just around here in the North Shore mountains not as crazy steep. 34X27 is a good friend indeed!Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00688834275406810014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172202953319134786.post-46268503769361416382009-08-29T06:48:14.504-07:002009-08-29T06:48:14.504-07:00That's a pretty fair assessment of the Zoncola...That's a pretty fair assessment of the Zoncolan - it was positively the hardest thing I have done, ever; on or off the bike!! <br /><br />There are a few other climbs in this league - the Mortirolo is similar, but as it's a little longer, it has just a tad less pitch, making it, IMO a bit easier. I don't know the Angliru, but it's reported to be a stinker too. However the hardest rated climb is the Edelwiess near Bolzano, and sadly I missed that one - anyone out there do that? <br /><br />You didn't mention the descent.. What was that green slime in the tunnels that sprayed all over us on the way down? And how about the wheels getting so hot from braking that we positively had to stop to let them cool, lest the tires melted off the rims. <br /><br />We had intended to go down the other side and make a little loop of it, but the traffic in August was so slow that it took 5 hours to get there from Corvara where we were staying, and another 4 hours to get back. But the thrill of having accomplished that ridiculous climb was worth all that driving!! Glad you enjoyed it too. Just think; Pantani did it with 39/25 gearing.. and at twice our speed!Bonproducerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02337029370673292629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172202953319134786.post-86511831847604739902009-02-08T21:02:00.000-08:002009-02-08T21:02:00.000-08:00Nice read. I have been on 22% gradients but limite...Nice read. I have been on 22% gradients but limited to 2 miles. Thats nothing compared to Zoncolan. <BR/><BR/>If you get a chance, don't miss out on climbing the Angliru. If there is a tougher climb than Zoncolan, this must be it. <BR/><BR/>http://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/2008/09/return-of-alto-de-langliru.htmlRon Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394865788996482667noreply@blogger.com