Vidman V Glenvale Rd - Melbourne's steepest road?

[malkobitches]

I dunno why, but I reckon it'd be harder descending that hill. You know that feeling a bike gives you, as if it just wants you to drop the brakes and take off like a rocket? At least when you climb, if you lose concentration you just slow down...Great effort btw!

[vidman1969]

First time I attempted this hill we came down it first and my wife freaked out and stopped (but I talked her into riding the rest of the way down).

Heading up is very scarey too as you feel like if you don't manage to turn the pedals over with each pedal stroke, you will start rolling backwards. I had to get off and walk with 20mts to go my first time because I couldn't turn the legs over another pedal stroke and was in fear of rolling backwards out of control. YIKES!

[vidman1969]

Yes I remember it being unmade and totally straight. It was still like this in the 80's and even early 90's I think. My mother lives on Glenvale Rd (further south) so I know it well.

[Barsopen1970]

it's too hard to capture how steep it really is on a video.

..it use to be even more scarier, it once never had that small intersection down the bottom to stop the momentum, so it was dead straight from one hill top to the other side, not even a slight bend - and to make it totally suicidal, in the 70's the whole road was gravel ! - i still remember the side of the road filled with dumped cars that died.

- today's safer design's and higher estate population ended the thrill & reputation it had

[PenRob612]

Well done vidman. PennyR