Yesterday, we climbed to Kartepe (means “snow mountain”), or formerly known as “Keltepe” (means “bald mountain”). With 1699 meters in height, Kartepe is the third highest mountain in the Marmara region of Turkey. There’s a ski resort atop it. With a 16.6 km length and 7.4% average gradient, the climb is categorized as Hors catégorie (HC) by Strava (a French term used in stage bicycle races to designate a climb that is “beyond categorization”), and some sections are over 16%. We rode 188.8 km and climbed 3,468 meters in total.
Old Istanbul-Izmit road 
Beautiful views of old Istanbul-Izmit road 
A very hilly route 
Beautiful hills. The weather was not sunny but beautiful, though. 
Old Istanbul-Izmit road 
Old Istanbul-Izmit road 
Self-shot 
Hills of the route 
Here is the mountain. Well, the summit is cloudy/foggy, so we couldn’t see it. 
The climb begins. 
The starting kilometers of climb were sunny. 
We climbed on the beautiful and mostly empty roads. 
Lake Sapanca is down there 
Lake Sapanca 
We cannot see the sun anymore, after that point 
Still climbing 
While climbing, the sun disappears. I launched a solo attack. 
“Sisli vadi” means “foggy valley” 
The way I climbed 
The temperature started to decrease dramatically. 
A restaurant named “Can çekti” (means like ‘to crave for food’). I read it as “Can çıktı” (meaning “I am already dead”) 🙂 The restaurant is at the finishing point of a really steep section. 
After the steepest section (around 12th km), it gets easier, I could even climb at big ring (53t). 
The steepest section of the climb coming soon. 
Last meters 
The end of the road (Ski resort hotels) 
At the summit, with Ozlem. She is a really good cyclist. She came just 2 minutes or so behind me. 
Returning back 
Returning back to Izmit 
I am climbing the Kocaeli University climb at Izmit. It is even harder than the Keltepe (Kartepe) climb! 
Koceli University climb 
Old Istanbul-Izmit road again, this time returning back.
I am a software developer, a former road racing cyclist (at the amateur level), and a science enthusiast. Also an animal lover! I write about cycling on this website, cycling-passion.com. I also take care of stray cats & dogs. Please consider supporting me on Patreon.
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