PJAMM Cycling Blog

PJAMM Cycling, the leading global resource for cycling climbs, has merged with Sherpa Map, an innovative route planning platform. This exciting partnership brings together two powerful tools to create an unparalleled cycling experience for enthusiasts worldwide at a fraction of the cost of our competitors. Let's explore what this merger means for cyclists and how it enhances the services offered by both platforms.

Today, we've added over 600 gravel climbs to our site, selected for their popularity, epic nature, or sheer challenge. Our primary focus this past year has been identifying the hardest gravel climbs in the U.S., and after countless hours of research and over a thousand inquiries to experts and enthusiasts, we're confident in our Top 100 list. However, we know this list will evolve as our community contributes their experiences and discoveries, ensuring we capture the very best gravel climbs.

At PJAMM, we have long depended on the FIETS index to assess the difficulty of climbs. While it has served us well, we recognize that the FIETS index is not without its limitations. Thus, we are driven by a desire to refine and enhance the existing methodology, leading us to develop our own comprehensive difficulty index.

The Death Road in Bolivia stands as a giant among giants. It is not the most difficult climb in the world, but -for my money- it is one of the toughest. There are just so many variables to contend with and danger is -literally- around every bend. A total of 11,624 feet is gained over 38.7 miles for a summit elevation of 15,187 feet. But wait - there's more...

The drive east through Slovakia gave a hint at what was to come in Ukraine. The roads became worse, gas stations were increasingly infrequent, and options for food were reduced to candy bars and chips. We reached the border around 2pm. Though the border station was quite a large and imposing structure, it was also very evidently old, unmaintained and poorly run.

The 110th edition of the Tour de France will begin in the northern Spanish town of Bilbao on the first of July. As always, the route decision for this year's tour has sparked controversy. There will be no summit finish on the Alpe d'huez in 2023. Likewise, the barron slopes of Mt. Ventoux, nearly always plagued with high winds and unforgettable bike racing, is also not on the docket.

Less than two miles into PJAMM's 2017 Ututruncu summit push, just over 14,000 feet above sea level, it seemed unlikely that we'd be standing atop the volcano hogging the view ahead

I was determined to beat my top speed on a bike on the way back down. The two guys I was riding with held back and I gunned it. I was going pretty quickly but still thought that there was more to come when...holy $h!t!!

I'd like to share my story of inspiration, hard work and the love a son has for his father. I'm a resident of Las Vegas and an avid road cyclist. In 2009, I took on the challenge of being the first person to ascend the Top 100 road bike cycling climbs in the USA.

If you're looking for "switchback climbing" this is the place. In lieu of road-biking, you may call this "road-climbing" given consistent ascending/descending of canyons and roads. This may not agree with everybody, but I love it.

Some cyclists never have issues with leg cramping while others frequently do. I never had trouble with cramps while cycling until I started chemo therapy in 2021 for lymphoma. Before the chemo treatments I only had cramping issues while swimming long distances, usually approaching or over 2 miles. I rode my bike nearly daily during my chemo treatment and frequently had terrible cramps, both while riding and while sleeping at night - sometimes excruciating and unbearable pain.

If Zwift or the Peloton are not cutting it for you, consider traveling to one of the few areas on earth where you can get outside and up with varying options and a fair chance of good weather.

PJAMM launches its Triathlon Home Page and Event Pages for all full and half Ironman events.

When we launched PJAMM Cycling in July 2014, our vision was to create a trusted resource for cycling climbing information that could be relied on and enjoyed by cyclists in the United States and throughout the world. We have been grateful for and encouraged by the strong following and support we have received by visitors and members of the site over the years.

For mountaineers, It is a big deal to hike to a mountain peak that is 14,000'+. There are many websites that are dedicated to hiking the fourteeners of the US. There are 96 fourteeners in the US: Colorado has 53, Alaska 29, California 12, and Washington two. There are 18 mountaineers who are known to have submitted all 67 contiguous US fourteeners.

Our coverage of the King of the Mountains classification for the 2021 Vuelta a Espana and the race for the polka-dot jersey.

John overcomes his fear of heights and takes his final steps to the end of chemotherapy for SLL.

At 65 years old, and likely among the oldest 'rookies' to become a climber, I am very satisfied with my progress. As I have said before, just get out there and do it!

PJAMM Cycling announces the winners for the July Strava Club climbing challenge.

The Death Ride is cancelled due to forest fires but John starts to prepare for his next challenges as he continues chemotherapy for SLL.

Our coverage of the King of the Mountains classification for the 2021 Tour de France and the race for the polka-dot jersey.

John gets ready for the Death Ride in Markleeville, California next weekend by attempting to climb 10,000 feet in the summer heat.

John provides a video and written update on his chemotherapy treatment for SLL and training as he prepares for the Death Ride in Markleeville, California later this month.

PJAMM Cycling welcomes guest articles to share with our cycling climbing community, this is an article submitted by one of our members: 50 years ago this July, an event occurred that shook the cycling world.

After many years of heading out on cycling trips and adventures we have compiled a comprehensive list of things to remember to bring with you. We have organized this list into 5 main categories of items and put together checklists for you to utilize as you plan for your next cycling adventure.

If you're setting out on a cycling adventure and have decided to transport your bike with you, the most important decision you will make is which travel bag you should use for your bike. There are many materials, sizes and features to consider but I have narrowed it down with some specific recommendations and where to purchase these travel bags.

I've packed up my bike in a bike bag for air travel over 50 times over the course of 25+ cycling adventures. I have surveyed several of my cycling contacts who have travelled extensively with their bikes for cycling trips to see what their experiences and preferences have been. Combining my personal experiences and the results of this survey, I've come up with this valuable resource on traveling with your bike for a cycling adventure.

Join PJAMM Cycling as we climb Bogus Basin just outside downtown Boise, ID.

PJAMM Cycling welcomes guest articles to share with our cycling climbing community, this is an article submitted by one of our members. The first time I heard of Everesting I thought, why would anyone ever want to ride up and down the same hill over and over again?!

John takes us through several of his workouts during Cycle 2 of chemotherapy for SLL as he continues to train for his cycling trip to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia this fall.

John introduces PJAMM Cycling's Director of Training Tayler Hockett. John and Tayler discuss Tayler's background and John's training program during chemotherapy for SLL in preparation for his trip to the Asir Mountains in Saudi Arabia this fall.

Very recently, I experienced a humbling yet inspirational couple of rides. A few weeks back I rode with my local cycling group, the Santa Rosa Cycling Club.

PJAMM Cycling is pleased to introduce another member of our team, Tayler Hockett. Tayler has been involved with PJAMM Cycling for several years helping document many of our climbs. Tayler is our Director of Training and will be providing training guidance for cyclists interested in building and improving their cycling performance and endurance for climbing.

PJAMM Cycling welcomes guest articles to share with our cycling climbing community, this is an article submitted by one of our members. My boyfriend and I rode to the summit of Mauna Kea from the Kona side! After hours of research, this is how we accomplished the ride self-supported.

How much cycling climbing can you complete in a month? PJAMM Cycling, the leading global resource on cycling climbing, wants to know.

PJAMM Cycling welcomes guest articles to share with our cycling climbing community, this is an article submitted by one of our members. In August 2020, my husband and I decided the pandemic seemed to have no end in sight so what better way to take advantage of working from home than cycling around the West Coast.

PJAMM Cycling welcomes guest articles to share with our cycling climbing community, this is an article submitted by one of our members: Normally at this time of year we would all be right in the middle of the Tour of California. However, in October, 2019 came the announcement that the event was cancelled for financial reasons.

Probably the most important part of cycling as an older cyclist, or anyone really, is to just get out and do it.

John begins his second cycle of chemotherapy for SLL and describes the infusion treatment process.

John provides an update on his fitness training during the last few days of his first cycle of chemotherapy for SLL. John soon begins cycle 2 of 6 of infusion chemotherapy and will continue to train for his trip to ride up the Asir Mountains in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia this fall.

We often are asked "what is your criteria to list a climb on your website?". The short answer is usually a climb that is challenging, well known, epic, or scenic.

John climbs his "old home course" Los Alamos Road to test his fitness and get a sense of the effects chemotherapy has had on his cycling abilities.

John does his first cycling climb at altitude since beginning chemotherapy treatment for SLL.

I would have never guessed 25 years ago, when I was raising kids with my wife and working in the tech industry, that I would be taking up road cycling in my 60's and cycling up various mountains in the western US.

John gets back on the bike to do his first hill repeat training ride since his chemotherapy treatments for SLL started.

John continues his stair workouts and discusses what his goals are over the course of his treatments and afterwards.

John has agreed to publicly share his fight against cancer to show how, with the proper prognosis, treatment, nutrition, training and most importantly attitude, cancer can be overcome.

Over the last year or two, Everesting has become a trendy thing to do on a bike. The goal is to climb the height of Mt. Everest (8,848 m, 29,032 ft) on your bike, all in one day (or one ride).

2020 posed challenges for many of us to get out and travel as we normally would due to the COVID pandemic. With the COVID vaccination program in full swing across the US, many of us are starting to think about our travel plans for the remainder of the year, I know I am - Asir Mountains in Saudi are at the top of my list this year! As some areas begin to ease restrictions and more Amreicans get vaccinated, I think 2021 could be a great year to get out and make up for lost cycling time in 2020.

PJAMM Cycling is focused on the sport of cycling climbing which at its core is the skill and endurance of riding your bike up hills or mountains. Climbs can be a series of simple rolling hills on your local route or as challenging as the great climbs of Alpe d'Huez in France or Pikes Peak in Colorado. No matter what the climb may be, it takes a certain level of physical fitness, bicycle handling and mental fortitude to take on a climb

We are the leading global resource for cycling climbing around the world and we are thrilled to share with you the new and exciting upgrades and enhancements we have made to our platform. We have redesigned our website to make it easier for our users to find the cycling climbing information they are looking for quickly and efficiently.

PJAMM Cycling has many exciting developments for 2021 and our new Blog is one of them. This is the first of what will be an ongoing communication with you, the PJAMM Cycling community.