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Romania Pasul Bâlea
Pasul Bâlea Bike Climb - PJAMM CyclingPasul Bâlea Bike Climb - PJAMM Cycling

25.8
PDI
18.3 mi
DISTANCE
4,917 ft
GAINED
5.1 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
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Page Contributor(s): Ard Oostra (BIG 108), Switzerland; Patrick Morris, San Francisco, CA, USA - veloasia.com and indochinatravel.com; Anja Kalan, Škofja Loka, Slovenija

INTRO

One of the two greatest bike climbs in Romania (the other is Transalpina North).  There is a nice Top Gear article about the road at TopGear-Transfagarasanhighwayworldsbestroad. 

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PROFILE CLICK IMAGE or BUTTON FOR INTERACTIVE TOOL

This climb averages 5.1%. The steepest quarter mile of this climb is 7.9% and steepest continuous mile is 6.8%. 0 miles of the climb is at or above 10% grade. The gradient on this climb is broken down as follows: 0.3 miles (1.6%) of descent; 6.4 miles (35.4%) at 0-5% grade; 11.5 miles (63%) at 5-10% grade;

See more details and tools regarding this climb's grade via our interactive Profile Tool.
Tunnels:  There are 5 tunnels, so bring lights. Although, when we asked Anja her opinion, she wrote "No tunnels do not frighten me. I did not use a lamp. Tunnel on the top of a climb is narrow, only one car at once, like one way and then they stop and cars from opposite side... But lights are good so no problem only a lot of dust inside so you need to be fast🤣🤣🤣🤣."
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CURRENT WEATHER

START
FINISH
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NEARBY CLIMBS (2) RADIAL PROXIMITY

FROM
Transfagarasan South (Pasul Bâlea)
1
19.3 PDI
Romania
Ranking
-
World
3
Country
14.2
Dist. (mi)
3,734
Gained (ft)
4.9 %
Avg. Grade
Paltinis
2
14.9 PDI
Romania
Ranking
-
World
6
Country
12.7
Dist. (mi)
3,122
Gained (ft)
4.5 %
Avg. Grade

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ROUTE MAP
PROFILE TOOL

Pasul Bâlea

STREET VIEWS
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IMAGES
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SEGMENT
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GRADIENT
See where the steepest portions of the climb are located by gradient group.
Gradient
30%
20%
10%
0%
Route Data
S.G. (%)
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Steepest Gradient (%)

7.9
0.25 mi
7.2
0.5 mi
6.8
1 mi
6.7
2.5 mi
6.3
5 mi

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Route Data
S.G. (%)
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Steepest Gradient (%)

7.9
0.25 mi
7.2
0.5 mi
6.8
1 mi
6.7
2.5 mi
6.3
5 mi

Click on above gradient to display on profile.

Segment Data
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CLIMB SUMMARY

Cycling Romania’s magnificent Transfagarasan

Ride 29 kilometers gaining 1,500 meters at 5.1% average grade.

Photographs contributed by Anja Kalan, Škofja Loka, Slovenija.  

Summary by our Legendary Mountains co-author Ties Arts, Bussum, Netherlands.

Transfagarasan is referred to by many as one of Europe’s most beautiful climbs - at least it is Romania!  Or is it Transalpina?   Transfagaran is an extremely scenic pass that certainly qualifies as a legendary (iconic) mountain.  Since Jeremy Clarkson praised it as “the best road in the world” in the BBC TV series “Top Gear’ in 2009, the second highest pass in Rumania has gained worldwide popularity.

The Transfagaran road is in the Carpathian Mountains. The road, built in 1971, is paved and 90 km long. Former Dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu ordered this road quickly built as military access across the mountains in case of a Soviet invasion. The road goes through Transylvania, the county of Count Dracula fame 😟!

The northern route is the legendary route with 5 tunnels, viaducts, 30 hairpins, scenic views, beneath and above the tree line, a well paved and maintained road.

Near the highest point, at Bâlea Lake, the road passes to the summit. From there you can go through the Bâlea Tunnel, the longest (884m) road tunnel in Romania and ride the south side.

Thank you Anja!!

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