Cycling Breakneck Road
Ride 1.2 miles gaining 682’ at 10.6% average grade.
This is ranked the second hardest bike climb in New Jersey on PJAMM’s New Jersey Top Hill Climbs list.
Climb summary by PJAMM ambassador Dan Razum.
We start climbing on Route 515, just after an Acme supermarket with ample parking. There is traffic on this climb but most of the way there is at least a small shoulder, so it isn't too bad, just stay on the shoulder. However, there are several grates for rain water drainage, even on the steeper sections, so be careful of them. You certainly want to steer clear of these grates, especially if you descend.
After a short distance on Rt 515 we turn left onto Breakneck Road. At first Breakneck Road is narrow without a shoulder but soon a shoulder appears. Then, as the climbs gets steep, there is an extra lane for slow traffic, which we definitely need! As we get near the top the grade becomes more manageable and the extra lane disappears.
As we approach the top, we can continue straight on Breakneck Road to the top or we can take a small detour if traffic is heavy. We can turn right on Muscoda Road which then turns left and then we can turn left on Tahama Road, which brings as back to Breakneck and the top of the climb. The detour is just a couple of blocks, so it is probably only useful if you are riding during rush hour.
If you descend be careful at the intersection of Breakneck Road and Rt 515 where there is a stop sign, it is easy to pick up a lot of speed on the way down.
Finish