3 Big Climbs

Every now and then I encounter a previously unexplored road that just floors me, and on this ride I had the good fortune to turn onto Level Green Road, where I found one of the most gorgeous climbs and super-fun descents in the region. Level Green is most definitely a misnomer, as the road climbs from around 1300 ft. up to just under 1800 ft. in three miles, a 500 ft. ascent. That's kinder than Ringwood and Yellow Barn, but  certainly no slouch. What distinguishes this climb from the other two is that unlike Ringwood and Yellow Barn, you don't feel as closed in. The views are spectacular, with open pasture on one side and forest on the other. Road conditions are terrific, and somehow the climbing feels easier with the open spaces.  Halfway up, I turned left onto Blackman Hill Rd., where the climb continued, and then the descent began in dramatic fashion.

Some local descents are challenging due to either road condition or blind turns, but Blackman Hill Rd. is a glorious exception, nearly 500 ft. of drop with great road conditions and only a few mild turns, allowing me to get up to 45 mph, even with a headwind. This is one memorable descent that I'll be revisiting again and again.

If you look at the above image, you'll see that this ride includes three big climbs, all of which climb to more than 1500 ft. There's a nice symmetry to this elevation profile, which offers up over 3100 ft. of vertical climb over a 43 mile stretch.

A new training route is born!

Ringwood Slaterville Level Green Loop

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