Posted by: [email protected]
Posted by: Kenny
Posted by: LoamtoHome
climb up the road is pretty chill compared to BLT and probably quicker. Cypress is made for shuttles though.
Climb up the road seems dangerous AF though. Maybe I just don't ride on the road enough to be used to it, but climbing up there with cars whizzing past sketches me out way more than the trails do.
For me 1st to 3rd switchback takes about the same time on BLT or the road. The road has a consistently mellow grade so you can choose a gear and find a rhythm. BLT has an inconsistent grade with some very steep sections, hard to find a rhythm but it's nice to be in the forest, often very quiet.
I've never shuttled Cypress.
The road is double lane up so cars usually pass in the left lane with plenty of space, I've never felt it was very dangerous. Nothing like riding on the S2S highway with cars speeding past at 120 km/h about 10 cm left of you.
Still, a decent climbing trail on Cypress would be nice ;-)
I've climbed both a fair bit. I'll always take the BLT over the road. Yes some parts are really steep but that's more interesting for me than a dreary road grind. But to each his own. I concur that road or BLT to the third switchback takes about the same amount of time. The BLT is steep and the pitch right after the Roach Hit trailhead is monstrous. But I like a challenge, and I make that section sometimes.
I like that the BLT is out of the sun. I find the grade on the road to be a super slog, it's just steep enough to be engaging but it's sustained and never flattens, and it's baking in the sun the whole way with cars flying past.