Watch Relive video here:https://www.relive.com/view/vYvrzrxd3xv

On the Road: 18 km/ 11.2 mi. l 1088 m/ 3,570 ft el

Spectacular, iconic, gritty and testing!

This was a scheduled rest day in Launceston…but the iconic Jacob’s Ladder ride is just a short van ride away and you can’t come to Tasmania and not attempt it!
Bikes were loaded from the Grand Chancellor and we drove for 40 minutes to the Ben Lomond National Park where the climb began.

The Ben Lomond/Jacob’s Ladder is a 16km ALL gravel climb, the 1st 4 km @ 9%, then 3km @3%, then 4km@9%, 2.6km@3% and the last 1.6km(the ladder) of loose gravel switchback @12%!!

Jacob’s Ladder is a unique climb that not many riders have have the pleasure to take on! It is gravel – rideable on a road bike with 34 cc tyres but we were supported all the way and to technical to descend it without at 40cc tyres.

The climb was genuinely steep especially on the switchbacks and with a gravel surface it was a real test not to be underestimated. I fell on the 2nd switchback to the summit…This was no usual 18km at just under 8% climb (which would be more than enough anyway!)

Bikes racked and back in the van for the ride back to the hotel….a short walk to the Queen Victoria Art Museum to look at a wonderful Indigenous history of Tasmania

Got a chance to spend time with my Launceston tandem friends from my 2019 Hannibal bike trip, Joyce and Phil Ogden…visited their home overlooking the harbour and great Indian dinner.

Life is good in Launceston!