La Linea is known as Colombia's "second most mythical climb." It is a 21km climb rising 1,706 vertical meters to reach the summit at 3,275 meters. The first half wasn't too hard. I took it easy for the first few kilometers to gauge how I was feeling 3 days post-Letras. Up until around the 10th kilometer, I was feeling strong so I pushed hard. But then the gradient changed. Most of the second half had gradients of 9%-11%. I started to crumble and struggled through the second half. I finished in 1 hour and 50 minutes with a VAM of 932 (1706 meters/1.83). I was pretty happy with that result considering my form.
The climb was nice, although I spent most of the time looking at clouds. We were hoping for a view, but this mountain range is generally in the clouds.
Unfortunately, La Linea is heavily trafficked. La Linea connects Colombia's primary port, Puerto de Buenaventura, located on the Pacific, with Bogota. We had been told that trucks are prohibited from La Linea on Sundays (as is the case with the mountain passes near Medellin). Instead, I found myself riding in several slow moving convoys. The noise and exhaust of an 18-wheeler chugging up a steep Andean mountain breaks the serenity of an epic climb, but summiting was still a thrill.
Looks and sounds pretty neat. I wonder if you could have made it back downhill in under 25-minutes.
ReplyDeleteHi Duncan, I now have this on my horizon, easter 2013 - looks pretty steep and harder than Las Letras - what gear ratios did you run? Hope all is well - I will be back in Medellin in February, regards, Alan
ReplyDeleteHi Alan, I envy your trip back to Medellin. I was running a triple. La Linea is quite steep and yes, much harder than Letras.
DeleteHave a great trip!
dg.
Hi, Duncan,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, congratulations for your terrific rides. Well, I´m planning for november a travel to Colombia with a friend, and our aim is mainly the Puerto de Letras from the easy side, Manizales.
I´ve seen your comments on heavy traffic on La Linea...we already assume to don´t climb this col.We expect to go to Mariquita and then turn south to the former town of Armero My questions are; from Armenia to Manizales there are also lots of traffic with trucks jam and so on? since we will head southward to the former city of Armero and maybe even south to Neiva...we will see...the other question is could you suggest something about the itinerary?
thanks in advance, best wishes
Eduard Bernadich
Barcelona, Catalonia
PD: really good you´ve had a great time in my hometown Barcelona