The Complete Guide to Climbing (By Bike)

This is where it all started for PJAMM cycling.

The Complete Guide to Climbing (By Bike)

Author: John Summerson

PJAMM Cycling has documented all of the climbs in John Summerson’s The Complete Guide to Climbing (By Bike).  You can see all the climbs on the “map” or “list” above, or access each individual climb by clicking on the climb itself on the map or on the “list” of the climbs.  The page defaults to the map, which has pins for each climb in Summerson’s book, but you can also see the full list of climbs by clicking “List” at the top left of the map.  The list defaults to alphabetical order, but you can also arrange the climbs by difficulty, distance, highest finish, steepest grade, etc. by using the “Sort” feature to the left of the map/list.

In 2011 I was introduced to cycling by my law partner, Max Beach, who is an avid collector of vintage bikes and master cycling historian. Because my primary objective relating to cycling was exercise, I quickly began to focus on climbs in Sonoma County, California where I grew up and still live today.  The first cycling book I purchased was John Summerson’s The Complete Guide to Climbing (By Bike), Edition 1, above.  In 2013 I augmented my first edition with Edition 2, and also purchased several other Summerson cycling guides along the way.

The Complete Guide to Climbing (By Bike) 2nd Edition

When I began to travel internationally for this website 2015, I began to add to my cycling library.

PJAMM Cycling library circa May 2019.

In 2011, I decided to climb Summerson’s Top 100 US Bike Climbs (1st Edition p. 164).

The Complete Guide to Climbing (By Bike)

From 2011 until 2015 when we turned our sights international, PJAMM Cycling travelled the US with the intent of documenting Summerson’s Toughest 100 US Bike Climbs. As of May 2019, we have cycled all but #59 Okemo, #69 Clingmans Dome, #81 Blue Ridge Summit, #92 Brasstown Bald, #85 Mt. Mitchell.  As is apparent in the above photo, my marking system for rides completed leaves much to be desired.  We will finish the Summerson 100 in October 2019.

I cannot say enough about John Summerson’s books as a cycling resource and guide.  They are well organized and, while the descriptions are brief at times, they are very well written.  We could not have done what we’ve done on the PJAMM Cycling website for US climbs without frequent reference to John Sommerson’s books.  His books have acted as my guidepost for locating and getting to the great climbs of the United States.  For that, PJAMM Cycling thanks you John Summerson.

Here is an excellent article about John Summerson from JournalNow.com.  Additionally, here are John Summerson’s Top 5 Picks for Southeastern climbs by bike.