Bogus

I didn't even know it existed three years ago, but after riding the 2006 Bogus Basin Hill Climb last weekend, I know it awfully well.
Bogus Basin is a small ski resort located in Boise, Idaho. Each year, the race starts at the bottom of Bogus Basin Road and finishes close to the top. A friend of mine introduced me to this bike race in 2003 and I've been doing the annual event ever since (I skipped in 2005).

Cyclists tend to feed on a certain amount of pain and this 15.3 mile climb is no different. It starts steep, but after the first mile, there are a two down-hill sections which provide a bit of recovery if used well. The rest of the ride goes up a 5-7 percent grade until last mile or so where it levels off a bit. Lucky for us, the finish line stops a few miles short of the ski area due to legal restriction.

The first third of the road was re-paved recently with a "chip-seal" layer making the ride harsh. Several riders even had their tires ripped apart by it. It made all times a bit slower than other years, but I was happy with the final results.

The Intermountain region has a lot to offer cyclists looking for big mountains to climb (both on & off road). The next time you're in Boise, take the high road to Bogus Basin.