WHAT'S THE HARDEST CLIMB IN THE WORLD? Ask a (Retired) Pro

[@jvogel431]

Phil, I followed your exact route up Mauna Kea and got to the top. It was the single most amazing ride I have ever done. There is no real way to describe this incredible ride. I completed the route in 8 hours. I hoped it would be less than 10, so I felt like a super hero. In actuality, my wife was the super hero. She drove the entire route providing me with food and water because there are no places along the way for support. She spent 4 hours above 10,000ft to make it possible for me to complete the hardest and most amazing bike ride of my life. All the best on your return to the volcano.

[@jvogel431]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHq5kIuMbbp0jLcsi=hqps5812uwgffFTU

[@tbone-ip5fi]

Well done

[@ShawnIsBatman]

...and this is why Phil is the OG of Cycling KZbin and still the leader of the pack in my opinion. The hardest climb for any individual cyclist is the climb you are currently on when have gone over your threshold only to realize that you are only halfway up the climb.

[@cokebottles6919]

I can confirm, Hawaii has some of the coolest climbs in the world. I did Haleakala (a 10k climb from the beach) a couple years ago and I still think about that ride every week. Going from tropical beach to farmland, to pine trees, then desert and finally the moon while moving through cloud layers is an all time experience. I usually don't enjoy the downhills as much, but that one was an exception. 100% recommend every cyclist to go for it. I really want to go back and do Mona Kea on the big island. Have fun, I'll be watching!

[@RamonOchoaMusic]

I did that ride back in Nov 2012 and still remember all the details as if it were yesterday. The little corkscrew on Baldwin Ave by Rainbow park. The one steep block where it becomes Olinda road. Turning left on to the start of the switchbacks. The mini ‘descent’ at 6500’. The small parking lot at 8500’ where I had to stop for a minute as my legs weren’t having it. 1.5 hour descent back down to the Parking lot in Paia. I still want to go back and ride it again.

[@wills.7626]

Haleakala is awesome. One one ride up it, I looked back and could see this person just ripping up behind me. Turned out to be Svein Tuft. Now Svein was never really known as a pure climber, but he was flying. World tour is world tour. Chatted with him briefly. Nice dude.

[@johnallen4235]

I hope you have favorable conditions. When my son and I completed MaunaKea, we went your route despite a local telling us that the winds would be better if we started from Hilo, and sure enough the winds on Saddle Road were atrocious.

[@leewinter28]

Phil I’m now 51 and have been cycling since 33. You got me INTO climbing a few years ago. I now seek out climbs and enjoy them. Thank you for all the inspiration and suffering!

[@RobertJWaid]

There is something magical about climbing. Someone once said, use the largest gears you can spin for the length of the climb. So simple... yeah. I look forward to your sharing of a five hour KOM.

[@starlitshadows]

Looking forward to this. Scenic views and cycling is the best combination.

[@W.Zoeller]

I'm really looking forward to this! Hard to describe how inhospitable Mauna Kea gets past the visitor's center.

[@mattbanner3032]

Phil , you are not '' Gate Keeping ''. You just posted a how to video. Anyone who wants ride up that mountain now knows what it is going to take to do it. Good Job.

[@swiftshift06]

DUUUUUUDE I'm doing this in June! So happy to get some direct, clear insight about this ride beforehand. Thanks a ton!

[@petervonl]

🤞Go Phil! You don’t need good luck, but good luck anyway. Can’t wait 😊👍

[@dropatrain]

Mauna Loa isn't paved anymore unless you consider fresh lava as pavement. Maybe save it for the gravel bike

[@davidrichardson6371]

I did the route starting in Pahoa and included the waipio valley on my full suspension mountain bike, rode all the way to the top, then rode down to pahoa. I also did the route in reverse. I did it as my weekly sunday ride and it took about 6 hours.

[@MitchBoyer]

Good luck, Phil! Looking forward to the video 🍿

[@13squared2009]

I don’t know how you do it but I sure am glad that you do! Go get what’s yours!

[@rickeverett3304]

Awesome retirement you mean…adopt the shaka and share and explain why it is the coolest hand gesture. Also mahalo from an east coaster that wishes I could go try Mauna Loa or Mauna Kea. I did ride from Waimea up a couple of thousand feet once on Manna Road, was awesome.

[@asmwilliams]

Yes! Such a great ride, can't wait to see the video.

[@neilbarber793]

Can’t wait Phil. Good luck. Be safe. Suffer well ✊🏻

[@ChesterChi3]

Wow that sounds like an awesome plan, Phil! I'm really looking forward to the Mauna Kea video.

[@johnnytarmac4685]

Safe travels and I hope you have favorable weather!

[@h20s8804]

This is great. I met Candelario last summer at Oregon's Alpine Epic 50--super cool approachable guy. I almost got him on the descent... I was wondering where your content was headed. This nails it for me--indeed so much cool shit you can do on a bike that's not racing. Individual challenges like this are so incredibly rewarding. My buddies and I make them up all the time. Last year's best for me was the "Tripple Nipple" a local MTB challenge--very difficult--scenic--epic--fun. I'll be watching your Mauna Kea KOM attempt for sure.

[@Tony.in.motion]

Best of luck Phil!

[@kimnida7820]

Phil, I really wanted to do this ride this past September when I was there but my boyfriend didn’t want to ride on the hwy. I shouldn’t done it by myself. Great job. Can’t wait to see the video of it.

[@matthewnormand2041]

That's a bucket list climb for sure.

[@tomfitzgerald890]

Good luck Phil! will look forward to success!!

[@AB-fh9zh]

Looking forward to that video, good luck!

[@utube7930]

I just rode up mount (volcano) teide which took only 2 hours and was crushingly brutal. Chapeau for doing 3 times that in under 5 hours 🎩

[@arglebarglefoofara]

Awesome can't wait! 😃

[@global_nomad.]

wishing you luck and at 56 I need to get there soon to tick it off my bucket list

[@JMcLeodKC711]

Go for Phil….please go after that

[@thomaswillemin9181]

Mauna Kea is the view in my back yard. It’s a beast climb! We did bi weekly training up Mauna Loa just to stay on pavement. The eruption 2 yrs ago messed up the Mauna Loa road…I hope they fix it

[@christiangro8621]

Was not fixed ~3 months ago when I was there. Still an amazing ride. If it was fixed, definitely the more beautiful ride of the two.

[@thart6103]

So exciting!! Good luck, Phil 💪🚴💪

[@rusty9501]

I love the way you work buddy!

[@Benniderbaer]

Great Inspiration 👍

[@rc51bigdaddy]

Looking forward to that video! Should be epic in a Gaimon sort of way.....:)

[@HoldenAdventures]

Super cool! Can’t wait!!

[@davidmulligan42]

That sounds like an awesome ride!

[@edawriter]

I look forward to seeing the ride. What's weird about Hawaii is that it can be freezing at high elevation!

[@theblackbibs]

Can't wait for this one.

[@redwoodJB]

Cant wait!!!

[@toby8381]

Hell yeah. Warm up on Haleakala? 🤙

[@marcwallace7486]

Cool story, Bro. Really. I stopped listening and started really paying attention once I heard what you were saying. Thanks for the background. I just got back to the US from Costa Rica and I couldn't believe where I saw people cycling. Challenging rural roads, in heavy traffic on narrow roads, etc.

[@OxterMcLaughlin]

Good luck Phil 👍

[@edgerat]

We spend two weeks on the Big Island every year, unless you have seen the route it cannot be overstated just how impressive it is to do this in five hours. CARS struggle to make this climb.

[@davidvonslingshot]

best narrator of actual irl cycling on the internets.

[@FC-uj6vv]

Looks like you dud it! Same climb took me over 7 hrs with a bike swap.

[@lolbubs11111]

I've driven up Mauna Kea. That would be a tough climb. The unpaved portion at 9000' or whatever is loose and sandy (and steep!). Are you going to run knobbies or big slicks?

[@etherealdreams7936]

Big Buddha climb Koh Samui 😮

[@theorangehelmetguy]

go get it!!! best of luck

[@jayobannon5359]

Hey Phil, I live in Kona. The velofix guy is a good friend. If you want someone here to take you out for a good meal and cheer you on at the visitor center (9300') I'm here for you.

[@RDFB101]

in other words, ITS ON

[@rolandcolavizza5368]

go get it man .

[@bababaanarama]

for me: Saga die Ala. ~9% sounds easier, thats cause the last 2km hast only 5%. From the start: takes all your energy with 14%, shuffles between 12 and 9%, after already 500hm climbing you get short 5% rest, till you have to climp 1,3km of over 15% (max 22%). Mortirolo has more average % but is more gentle.

[@sdmike1141]

This outta be fun!

[@jameswhitehead6758]

We watched the sunset from the top of Mauna Kea in 50+mph winds. May the odds be ever in your favor.

[@lifelong5425]

Do it Phil

[@eti3691]

Go get it tiger !!!!

[@davisbest]

Heck, yea can't wait for the 4:37 minute video...

[@MaxPower2-e8j]

Why dont you (or do you?) have one of those 5kg bikes? And have you ever considered going to uk hill climb championship?

[@colinricketts1415]

So when Larry retires is he going to chase your KOM's using his more recent world tour fitness..

[@worstretirementever]

If that’s the precedent that I set, I’ll be happy with my contribution to this sport

[@ericlambi]

I’d like to keep my top 10 on that segment, so don’t bring any friends with you please and thanks.

[@GaryBleck]

+6:09 nice

[@fangxx456]

Then you gotta beat VC and JB on the impossible route version.

[@berad1cal]

Fuck yes Phil

[@frankhammond9909]

Definitely a hard climb, but the hardest in the entire world?! I'm sure there are some that are on even worse roads that go way above 14k.

[@Xhadp]

Oh you're doing that climb again? Kudos for whoever is going to be in the follow vehicle for 5-6 hours. That must be brutal, hopefully they have something to keep themselves occupied so that it isn't a really slow car ride. Altitude is not going to be your friend haha, not from the lack of oxygen but from how cold it'll get from the swing going from sea level to high altitude. Needing to pack layers just for the elevation difference and descent is not something you do everyday. Been a hot minute since I've heard of Drake Deuel, I was wondering what he was up to.

[@ZenEndurance]

I remember laughing in a comment at Vegan Cyclist for riding up that on a 1x and he got a bit annoyed. But seriously. You need all the gears ever made instead of trying to tie them into a single chainring. Sheesh.

[@DericO-rz3be]

*PHIL* If you have a male child ... you should name him *GUY*

[@KrazyKrzysztof]

The hardest climb in the world is the one you did last bud

[@peiffer83]

You should stay on the same bike the whole time. If you swap a bike that seems like cheating unless everyone doing that kom attempt has a bike swap.... :P

[@BadWithNames123]

your mom

[@hutchy_4297]

don't do a bike change please, just use a bike that works

[@GelMibson-u2y]

Oh baby!!!! Good luck 🤞