Lillydale Lung Burner

[Ala Carte]

Anyone out there ride this "trail" ever? I rode it for the first time yesterday, and I'm truely impressed. This is easily one of the toughest climbs around hands down, and one of the funnest downhills. Think the climb up Ohio to the top, in half the distance, straight up, on double track crushed shale/gravel, on your mtn bike. Zero tech, all legs. The first section I could only make it 3/4 the way up until the turn, but I grunted the rest. I only saw one other tire track, so doesn't anyone know about this, or am I one of the few silly enough to ride it? The bottom starts at the railroad bridge at Lillydale and goes straight up and exits at Hwy 13 and Annapolis.

[KleinCrazy]

Hey Tyson,

If your interested, I have a GPS with elevation plot of the "Lillydale Lungbuster"

Troy introduced me to it and I have ridden it a couple of times, but like you, I have yet to make it all in one shot, always loose it on the technical first rutted pitch. It might also help if I try it some time on something other than my rigid single runnign 36/17 or 36/20. I know I would have much more luck running 34/20.

I'll have to ride over and pick you up and we can go attempt it a few times. I am sure you are almost right on my way there and I have a buddy who lives right at the top of High Bridge who ALWAYS has a good selection of beer on hand.

I'll pull that plot out and upload it.

Give it a minute

[Ala Carte]

I live right at the top of the high bridge. And I always have good beers on hand too. And a full shop in my basement taboot. Lets ride!

[TML]

Great climb! I've always said that it is by far, the most challenging dirt climb in the cities. The top of the bottom section is really tough to clean. I've done it a few times, but not lately. Only ridden it once this year and would like to hit it again sometime.

Possible Burrito ride sometime- Start at El burrito Mercado, ride over to BC for a lap, come back hit the lunbuster, hit Tyson's place for a beer, roll back down the hill to El Burrito for some of the best mex around.

[SuperClydesdale]

Possible Burrito ride sometime- Start at El burrito Mercado, ride over to BC for a lap, come back hit the lunbuster, hit Tyson's place for a beer, roll back down the hill to El Burrito for some of the best mex around.

As long as fat, out-of-shape riders are welcome, I'd be hot-diggity down for this ride. Make it happen, Troy. And post up when you do.

Mark

[ryno]

As long as fat, out-of-shape riders are welcome, I'd be hot-diggity down for this ride. Make it happen, Troy. And post up when you do.

Mark

Can I tag along too?
I'm 2 blocks of Grand, West of Dale...good warm up.

[TML]

Make it happen, Troy. And post up when you do.

Mark

Excellent. Sounds like a plan. El Burrito now serves cerveza y vino too.

[TML]

Can I tag along too?
I'm 2 blocks of Grand, West of Dale...good warm up.

By all means!

[mara]

I'm in! That thing kicked my butt the last time I tried it. 32x16 is not the gear to use. . .

Ryno, I'm right off Selby/Dale -- good to see other Saint Paulites on the forums.

[Fast1]

Anyone out there ride this "trail" ever? I rode it for the first time yesterday, and I'm truely impressed. This is easily one of the toughest climbs around hands down, and one of the funnest downhills. Think the climb up Ohio to the top, in half the distance, straight up, on double track crushed shale/gravel, on your mtn bike. Zero tech, all legs. The first section I could only make it 3/4 the way up until the turn, but I grunted the rest. I only saw one other tire track, so doesn't anyone know about this, or am I one of the few silly enough to ride it? The bottom starts at the railroad bridge at Lillydale and goes straight up and exits at Hwy 13 and Annapolis.


How far is the start from Ohio Street and which direction? I've done multiple runs on Ohio (road bike) but would like a more suitable hill for the mountain bike when the temps drop. Sounds like a great hill to incorporate into my 40 mile cold weather mountain bike (on the road) ride.

[KleinCrazy]

I'll have maps and elevation plots up later today.

James

[mara]

I'll have maps and elevation plots up later today.

James, you're an awesome overachiever. Not sure if I want to know elevation gain. If I believe it is several hundred feet, it's not so wimpy when I have to walk, right? :sick:

[syntaxjunkie]

How does this compare, pitch/length-wise, to say, Ramsey Hill?

And why do I feel vaguely nauseous when reading this thread?

[mara]

How does this compare, pitch/length-wise, to say, Ramsey Hill?

I've made it up Ramsey Hill; I haven't made it up Lilydale. Lest you think I'm in shape, by "made it" I mean panting, near death, and ready to decorate my shoes with lunch.

[manual63]

I've made it up Ramsey Hill; I haven't made it up Lilydale. Lest you think I'm in shape, by "made it" I mean panting, near death, and ready to decorate my shoes with lunch.

Yeah....that hill hurts....a lot. I have done it on my singlespeed 32x16 and my BMX bike. Made it both times, but not without wanting to die at the top.

[KleinCrazy]

Here is a map of road to road and Just the main part of the climb.

These are both quick hack jobs, and could be better at representing stuff, but you should get the picture.

http://home.comcast.net/~kleincrazy/Lillydale-Lungbuster-road-t.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~kleincrazy/lillydale-climb.jpg

[Ala Carte]

How does this compare, pitch/length-wise, to say, Ramsey Hill?

And why do I feel vaguely nauseous when reading this thread?

The first section is similar in grade and length of Ramsey, then it backs off a little and remains constant for the rest of the climb. Its pretty brutal.

[crux]

Since I'm completly ignorant inregards to finding my way around the TC still could someone post this up with a google earth link to the area. Want to go ride some hills.

[TML]

James, nice job on the profiles and pictures!

Maybe I'll go over there and take some pics of the actual trail sometime.

Tyson-
Could the top section use a little trimming? Last time I rode it, it looked like it could use a little TLC with a hand pruner. Nothing too much, just some face slappers. I'll plan on bringing it the next time I ride it.

[KleinCrazy]

Since I'm completly ignorant inregards to finding my way around the TC still could someone post this up with a google earth link to the area. Want to go ride some hills.


Andrew,

When I get home tonight and can upload a Google Earth link.


Other wise here is google maps link

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=55075&ie=UTF8&t=h&om=1&ll=44.921999,-93.11029&spn=0.009633,0.024076

The entrance to the top of the trail is right at the 13 on Cherokee Heights Blvd.

Entrance to the bottom is off of Water St. W just left of the Cherokee Regional Park label. You can kinda see a parking lot there.

[jkalla]

Thanks for the map James. Now that I know where the Lilydale hill is - where is Ramsey Hill?

[KleinCrazy]

Thanks for the map James. Now that I know where the Lilydale hill is - where is Ramsey Hill?

Just to the left of 35E.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=55075&ie=UTF8&t=h&om=1&ll=44.941344,-93.112661&spn=0.003949,0.012038

Enjoy.

[ryno]

I'm in! That thing kicked my butt the last time I tried it. 32x16 is not the gear to use. . .

Ryno, I'm right off Selby/Dale -- good to see other Saint Paulites on the forums.

Mara, Thanks.
The map looks vicious - I've ridden Ramsey Hill and the Smith bridge, from your posts it sounds like Lilydale is gonna make me green to the gills..

All - when is the ride?

[KleinCrazy]

Mara, Thanks.
The map looks vicious - I've ridden Ramsey Hill and the Smith bridge, from your posts it sounds like Lilydale is gonna make me green to the gills..

All - when is the ride?

Lillydale Lungbuster, twice the elevation gain in 1/4 the distance as High Bridge. High bridge starts half as high and ends at the same point.

Smith Ave.from level to level and crossing the highbridge is about 1 mile long exactly. Not sure of elevation gain but has to be about 400-600 feet I think.

[syntaxjunkie]

Lillydale Lungbuster, twice the elevation gain in 1/4 the distance as High Bridge.

Smith Ave.from level to level and crossing the highbridge is about 1 mile long exactly. Not sure of elevation gain but has to be about 400-600 feet I think.
That's just wrong. R-O-N-G wrong.

[jkalla]

Lillydale Lungbuster, twice the elevation gain in 1/4 the distance as High Bridge. High bridge starts half as high and ends at the same point.

Smith Ave.from level to level and crossing the highbridge is about 1 mile long exactly. Not sure of elevation gain but has to be about 400-600 feet I think.

The elevation gain for the Lilydale Lungbuster looks to be about 250 feet. That would put the high bridge somewhat less wouldn't it?

[TML]

The elevation gain for the Lilydale Lungbuster looks to be about 250 feet. That would put the high bridge somewhat less wouldn't it?

James is telling fish stories. :)

We won't exaggerate that much. The Smith Bridge span gains 120' in elevation. The Lunbuster gains about 230' from the start of the main climb to the top at the level of Hwy 13.

[KleinCrazy]

James is telling fish stories. :)

We won't exaggerate that much. The Smith Bridge span gains 120' in elevation. The Lunbuster gains about 230' from the start of the main climb to the top at the level of Hwy 13.


You are correct Troy, my measurement of 400-600 hundred were for Smith AVE, from about Cliff Ave. on the north side of the river to Butler on the south.

And I leave the 3 headed fish courtesy of Xcel in the river where they belong.:scream:

[jeffgude]

James is telling fish stories. :)

We won't exaggerate that much. The Smith Bridge span gains 120' in elevation. The Lunbuster gains about 230' from the start of the main climb to the top at the level of Hwy 13.


That 120 feet feels like about 500. PLus there is plenty of climbing before and after the bridge itself. Your numbers match what my GPS show too.

[jkalla]

Something doesn't add up. The city of St Paul says that the high bridge is 160ft above the river.

[Fast1]

why debate.. just ride both and find out which burns the thighs more... then do them both again to see if you were correct on your analysis... you can allways throw in Ohio and Ramsey the same day for a bit more fun :laugh:


My gps (Garmin Etrex Summit) will display:
Min Elev
Max Elev
vertical speed (ft per minute)
max assent (ft/min)
max descent (ft/min)
avg assent (ft/min)
avg descent (ft/min)
total descent
total assent


I'll have to take it out on a hill route sometime and answer the questions I've got.

[Mo-Tay]

I gotta check this out...I live on Ohio...one of the better climbs locally. I have yet to see this trail.

Great pics Klein. I see some of you are referring to MTBs...is it a dirt/gravel path? Someone may have mentioned that but I am too lazy to go back and read. Is this strictly a MTB trail or can a roadie go up it? There are some little trails in Cherokee Park...with some little jumps and such. Incorporating that would be a good time when time is limited and I have a bad case of the MTBs reaaaaal bad.

[KleinCrazy]

I gotta check this out...I live on Ohio...one of the better climbs locally. I have yet to see this trail.

Great pics Klein. I see some of you are referring to MTBs...is it a dirt/gravel path? Someone may have mentioned that but I am too lazy to go back and read. Is this strictly a MTB trail or can a roadie go up it? There are some little trails in Cherokee Park...with some little jumps and such. Incorporating that would be a good time when time is limited and I have a bad case of the MTBs reaaaaal bad.


Not meaning to discourage our own superman Mr. Bill O, but trying to go up the Lungbuster on a roadie bike is just plain nuts. Sure, you might have the gears for it, but there are many many many sharp rocks, broken off pieces of brick, and at the beginning, one big old rut just littered with rock from golfball, to beachball size all with many sharp edges.

[KleinCrazy]

Something doesn't add up. The city of St Paul says that the high bridge is 160ft above the river.


Lowest point of Highbridge - 759 feet at the intersection of Smith and Cliff Rd.

Highest point of Highbridge - 889 feet at the intersection of Smith and
Cherokee Ave.

Total Climbing for Highbridge - 130 feet

Elevation of Smith Ave at intersection with Dodd Rd - 1024 Feet

Total climbing for Smith Ave - 270 feet


Elevation of Water Street West at intersection with access road to Lungbuster - 700 feet

Elevation of Start of the climb up the Lungbuster - 740 feet

Elevation of Exit from Lungbuster onto Hwy 13 - 960 feet.

Total Dirt Lungbuster climb - 260 feet

Main Climb Portion of Lungbuster - 220 feet

All measurements come from Google Earth and not from the Digital Altimeter in my Garmin 305.

I will make sure we run all those options including Ohio, which we did come down and I do have a plot of, on the group ride and that someone also has a bike computer to compare distances.

[Fast1]

I gotta check this out...I live on Ohio...one of the better climbs locally. I have yet to see this trail.

Great pics Klein. I see some of you are referring to MTBs...is it a dirt/gravel path? Someone may have mentioned that but I am too lazy to go back and read. Is this strictly a MTB trail or can a roadie go up it? There are some little trails in Cherokee Park...with some little jumps and such. Incorporating that would be a good time when time is limited and I have a bad case of the MTBs reaaaaal bad.

if you want a road ride that will put these all to shame just join up with this TCBC ride next Tuesday. The ride includes Ramsey, Ohio all the way up to Dodd, High Bridge up to Dodd, Lexington off 13, two hills going east on 13, Edgecumbe in Highland Park, climb on Marie, Deubener Place and probably a few more that I forgot.... all in about 33 miles.. Don't plan on walking too far the next day.. best hill route (with pavement) in the cities. I, along with 7 others finished with an average speed of 18.1 mph including the hills this Tuesday. We were not the lead group which finished with an average over 19 mph.

22 TUE 6:00 PM A/B 26 or 33 mi. GEARS, TEARS, FEARS. Depart from East Mississippi River Blvd and Hartford Av. Park in the north 3 lots of the Temple of Aaron. A classic hill ride and club favorite. Come on out see why for yourself. A great training ride for WOW. Dave Erick, 763-350-0093. $2.00 for non-members

[Ala Carte]

James, nice job on the profiles and pictures!

Maybe I'll go over there and take some pics of the actual trail sometime.

Tyson-
Could the top section use a little trimming? Last time I rode it, it looked like it could use a little TLC with a hand pruner. Nothing too much, just some face slappers. I'll plan on bringing it the next time I ride it.

It's not too bad. Leave the clippers at home and just ride that SOB!

[bunk]

Rode up the lungbuster on my ride home. (live between smith and ohio two
blks north oh annapolis). So when did this unique climb turn into a
4 ft. wide crushed limestone trail. It looks real new all the way from the
bottom to the old walking trail alongside hwy. 13. It is still a grunt up
but rather ordinary.

[KleinCrazy]

Rode up the lungbuster on my ride home. (live between smith and ohio two
blks north oh annapolis). So when did this unique climb turn into a
4 ft. wide crushed limestone trail. It looks real new all the way from the
bottom to the old walking trail alongside hwy. 13. It is still a grunt up
but rather ordinary.

That has to have been since June 1st. That was the last time I rode it.

Has anyone ridden it between now and then?

The only reason I can think of them doing that to it was to provide better access the the Ice climbing area up there in the winter.

Well that sucks, another unique trail bits the dust.

[TML]

You've got to be kidding me. . . They graveled and filled in the whole thing? :mad:

That's a major bummer if that's the case.

I had a little concern when Tyson said earlier " . . . no tech just all leg."

[Mo-Tay]

Just rode it last night...and yes, crushed rock all the way up. However, there are some off-shoots from the trail that I did not explore. Maybe next time.

It was a lung buster, but having raced Welch a few weeks ago, it wasn't as bad as The Wall. Still fun though and nice training option.

[crux]

She be gravel all the way up. Not really technical, but have increased potential of spinning the rear on the climb.

Thought I would never find the thing but after several miles of pavement I was rewarded with finding the trail way after dark. Not really the time to be out there, or on the road back. Got to see quite a bit of wildlife though.

BTW nats and hairy arms don't mix.
Thought i was showering in bugs on the pavement

[Mo-Tay]

OK, just a small story for you...last night after the rain stopped, I decided to go out for a ride on my roadie as my power was out and I had nothing better to do. I was riding around Dodd and dropped back down onto 13 and it was getting dark. I had no lights but wore a yellow reflective vest...but didn't want to ride down 13 as I wanted to avoid traffic. So I dropped down to the Water Street (I think that is what it is called...where you connect with the Lung Buster) by the Yacht club and to avoid traffic and to get to Ohio, where I live. However, the rain must have awoken the largest cloud of hatching bugs I have ever seen and I rode the WHOLE road to Harriet Island being bombarded with bugs. I could barely breathe they were so thick and I could feel them hitting my arms and legs. I ate numerous bugs and just kept my head down and plowed through. It sucked. I could not beleive the size of this swarm.

Just be aware, the next time it rains, avoid this area...unless you like eating bugs.

[crux]

OK, just a small story for you...last night after the rain stopped, I decided to go out for a ride on my roadie as my power was out and I had nothing better to do. I was riding around Dodd and dropped back down onto 13 and it was getting dark. I had no lights but wore a yellow reflective vest...but didn't want to ride down 13 as I wanted to avoid traffic. So I dropped down to the Water Street (I think that is what it is called...where you connect with the Lung Buster) by the Yacht club and to avoid traffic and to get to Ohio, where I live. However, the rain must have awoken the largest cloud of hatching bugs I have ever seen and I rode the WHOLE road to Harriet Island being bombarded with bugs. I could barely breathe they were so thick and I could feel them hitting my arms and legs. I ate numerous bugs and just kept my head down and plowed through. It sucked. I could not beleive the size of this swarm.

Just be aware, the next time it rains, avoid this area...unless you like eating bugs.

Ha you found the same group o bugs I rode thru the other day. I ate more that I could keep track of and it really sucked when they started crawling or getting lodged in my nose in attempts to breath. I would say that it was an interesting experience.

[Mo-Tay]

Ish...I had bugs stuck in the back of my throat after trying to take a breath. I was trying to hack them back out the whole time.

That place is bug haven...