What is the “Dante’s Ride”?

…. This page is all about ride references, history, reports, and has cue sheet and route links.

               See also Facebook: “Dante’s Ride” for updates (Auth: Ed Keplinger).

Last update 7/12/2024

Dante’s ride is a challenging road bike route in Central New York, south of metropolitan Syracuse, which has a series of distinct hill climbs, averaging between 3-11%, with some of the very steepest sections at or above 21%. The hills are between 0.6 to 7 mile long climbs.  It has two “sides”: Dante’s East and Dante’s West, with each side about 70 miles and nearly 7,000′ of climbing, and each with nine component hills.  The ride has been a cult interest of a group of local riders, originally and informally known as “Team Dante’s”, but more and more cyclists have been expressing an interest in training on this amazing route.  With the loss of competitive events in 2020, due to COVID-19, an impressive number of cyclists conquered the route.

A “Full Dante’s” Ride is a combined continuous ride of both East and West courses: 18 hills, 140 miles, 14,000′ of climbing.  9-12 hours of moving time. What is a “Double Dante’s”?? – two complete Full Dante’s laps, 36 climbs, 280 miles and almost 28,000′, see below…. originally attempted in 2012 with no finishers, it was later completed in about 24 hours, August 17-18, 2013 by Dan McCarthy and John Cico, and then repeated by them August 23-24, 2014, with Amy Reynders pulling them along. Most recently, August 2-3, 2015, Dan McCarthy made it three in a row, along with Dan Wnorowski, finally finishing the “Double” on his fourth attempt. And then, suddenly all was quiet re: Double Dante’s… But the “Classic” Dante’s still remains CNY’s premier climbing challenge for those that dare to challenge their spirit and passion… There is also a SuperWest option, which adds all climbs around Jamesville Reservoir and some great Otisco Lake climbs to the basic West course and increases the climbing density: 120 miles and 14,000′. 

FKT Dante’s Podium:

Adam Luban, July 11, 2024, with an incredible moving time 7:19:53, average speed 18.7mph, max speed 60.3mph, ave power 246W. Adam bested the prior records held by himself, August 16, 2022, moving time 7:24:35, average speed 18.5mph, and previously by Kevan Edwards: July 28, 2021, 7:40, moving time 7:33, average speed 18.2mph.

It is a great training route.  

Many consider it hard, and some consider it “hard as hell”…

“Dante’s” comes from “The Inferno”, a classic written by Dante Alighieri, c1300AD, about his version of what Hell might look like.  On the main gate is inscribed these words:  “Abandon All Hope Ye Who Enter Here”.  He describes his vision of the nine concentric “circles of Hell”, at the center of which resides Satan himself.   This ride has hill climbs which by some original accounts loosely resemble these nine circles, nine within each of the East and West “sides”.  We have yet to find Satan anywhere on this magnificent course.

In the interest of historical accuracy…

Tom Baesl, MD, is the “father of the concept of the Dante’s rides”, much like George Washington is the “father of our country”.   There are more states in the US now, as well as more hills in the Dante’s ride, but George and Tom got the ball rolling.  Tom should be given full and complete credit as the originator of the key concept and overriding theme, that is to realize that so much suffering could exist so close to our home.  The current version of the Dante’s, true to Tom’s marvelous vision, beats the likes of the notorious Highlander, Triple Bypass, and Death Ride, and is both a physical and mental challenge. Dante’s evolved through test versions 1.0, 2.0 and the current 3.0 West and 4.0 East.  Many have contributed suggestions, and there have been additions, and further revisions are underway (see “SuperWest” below).   It is now 140 miles and 13,800+’ of climbing:  18 hills, all within a 20-30 mile radius of the former “Nice and Easy” (how ironic), now “Circle K” fuel stop and convenience store on the SW corner of route 92 and Enders Road just SE of the village of Manlius (the original starting, midway stop, and finishing point). It began as a training course for these other events mentioned above, and by most cyclists’ experience, is by now probably even harder than any of these.

See below for the route directions, and the maps and profiles.

June 18, 2023: John Jeha added a solo achievement to the full Dante’s list with a 13.9 mph average speed, 12:00:43 moving time. October 11, 2023, Eric Rickman “joins the club”, also solo, at a fast 10:03:12 moving time! Then a trifecta on October 13, 2023, Paul Leary, Andrew Schmid and Ben Salibra ride a full Dante’s at 9:24 moving time, averaging 14.8 mph!

Fastest known Dante’s group ride: Dan Jeske, Kevan Edwards, Matt Curbeau,  July 19, 2017:  8:34:08.

Another extraordinary feat from a Team Dante’s teammate: Aaron Vlasak: “Everesting on Gulf Road” (Fayetteville), August 25, 2021: 

A Dante’s Rider’s Impression of Everesting  (https://www.strava.com/activities/5854634660/0verwiew)

“Dinner at 20,000 feet”

Everesting has been called “the most difficult climbing challenge in the world”. As a Dante’s rider, I’ve been curious about this challenge and how it compares to Dante’s since its popularity exploded in 2020. In late August, ’21, I spontaneously decided to give it a try. No specific training or extensive planning or preparation went into my effort. The day before my attempt, I checked over my gear, went to the grocery store, and selected the closest Dante’s hill to my house, Gulf Rd.
Everesting is strikingly different from Dante’s in that you can only ride one hill but any hill will do. Gulf is a wonderful road; it is wooded, tight and twisty and the animals come out at night, but this comes with road hazards, no place to park, and a technical descent with oncoming traffic. Before I started the ride, I had no idea that it would take me 170 miles and 19 hours to complete or that the Manlius police would be searching for the owner of the vehicle (mine) haphazardly deserted in someone’s yard.*
Unlike Dante’s, there is no pedaling between hills, no warm up or cool down between efforts. Each lap begins abruptly, and in my case this went on 64 times. On several laps, this topographic low point was for me also a spiritual low. I thought of Sisyphus, who was forever condemned to accomplish the meaningless task of pushing a boulder up a mountain, only for it to roll down again. And I wondered whether it is perverse to willfully subject myself to his curse or whether, instead, the philosopher Camus had it right when he said, “one must imagine Sisyphus happy”.
For me, completing the Everesting challenge became a defiance of the conventional wisdom to ride within one’s limits. To get it done, I had to exceed my perceived limit. This was not as easy as coping with muscle cramps, hot spots on the feet, saddle discomfort, etc.—all of which happened. It was more about working through a pervasive and debilitating anguish, where even the desire to continue got lost. At the lowest point, one simply must keep the forward motion, imagine oneself happy while laboring under the boulder. It is a tricky and risky business because there is no way to test the veracity of the perceived limit except by edging in closer. When I may have been near my actual limit, I was alone in the woods at 2am. Eventually, sheer time on the bike and lack of sleep would have finished me.
I can only imagine the hell of going through a double Dante’s, at 280 miles and roughly the elevation gain of Everest. For this reason, I am confident that whoever declared Everesting “the most difficult climbing challenge in the world” has never heard of the double D.
CMFC!
Aaron
*The Manlius PD were genuinely concerned for my welfare. Aside from my family, who brought me lunch and dinner, the police were my strongest advocates. When I explained what I was doing, they cheered me on!”

Stats: 172.95 miles, 30,140′, 18:50:16 moving time, 9.2 mph ave speed, AP 140W.

While they last… for finishers, free kits still available, but medium sizes are all that remain. If you are interested in a group purchase to replace your vintage kit, or if you have completed or will complete the Dante’s ride and are interested in participating in a group purchase for size other than medium, email me at genufix@yahoo.com.  When I have  a critical mass I will get a price from LG, the original supplier.

Dante’s going viral?

This route has trained some of us very well for other challenging rides, like the Highlander (http://www.highlandercycletour.com/), Triple Bypass (http://www.teamevergreen.org/triple) and Death Ride (https://www.deathride.com/), the “Bumps” Northeast Hillclimb Series (http://www.hillclimbseries.com/), and for Dan McCarthy, La Ruta de los Conquistadores (http://www.larutadelosconquistadores.com/info/) (Dan has done the La Ruta event at least 12 times).   This course has been gradually assembled and has been growing over time, and it is a demanding giant now.  Usually you can do a “Half  Dante’s” (East or West) in a half day, often each on back to back days, so it is manageable, and so to not mess with people’s training schedules. Again, each is about 70 miles, and 7,000′,  or 4.5-6 hours.  These are moving times, and do not include breaks. When we have done a Full Dante’s, usually start at 5-6am and do the West first, followed by the East; estimate 10-12 hours riding time.  It is best to build up to this a little at a time, and in a piecemeal fashion.  An easy bail-out point on the East route is to continue down Peck Hill Road instead of the left on Palmer, continuing right on South Eagle Village, back to 173, left on 173 and left on Enders, back to the starting point, and you still have done a very respectable ride of some 30 miles of three awesome hills: Gulf, 13-Carry’s-Fenner, and Stanley!!  From the West, you can bail from the top of Frank Long Road, and descend down Sweet Road to Broadfield and Pompey Center Road, and back to Enders and back to your car, or from Apulia Road South after coming down Eager, and climb back up Pompey Hill via 20 East to Palmer, and Clark Hollow, then to Newell Hill Road and finish down Henneberry and continue the tail of the West course. Re: gearing: I know of some people, who did the entirety (Jeremy Burton) or just the harder West side with “normal gears”, 39 up front. A 39×25 (ratio 1.56), represents a big challenge on the steeps. Dodge, Frank Long, Carrys Hill, Stanley, Case Hill, Ortloff, Newell, and Hitchings are bears with such gears (all with 21%+ sections).  If you want to make it easier, and if you do not have a triple (which makes it much more manageable), consider a compact: 34×25 = 1.31, to 34×31 = 1.10. I typically use 34×28 = 1.21.

Double Dante’s

A bigger test, nightime climbs: west twice, east twice: 36 climbs, 280 miles, 28,000 feet. 24 hours…

For the dark, need lights for East-West combo 6pm-6am (August sunset approximately 8pm, sunrise 6am).  Need redundancy: spare lights, spare computer, spare Garmin, spare phone battery, tools, tires, tubes, etc.  Headlight and front and rear bike lights are required. Riding in the dark is dangerous!   

Self-support suggestions: Byrne Dairy in Lafayette (20 West), Pompey Mall (route 20/91) (East and West), Cazenovia (Main Street, route 20) (East), Circle K in Manlius (Enders Road/route 92) (East), Jamesville Depot (Apulia Road/route 173) (West).

GPX files current Dante’s routes/courses (thanks to Dick Rozanski):

• Dante’s West 3.0 (click to download GPX file)
• Dante’s East 4.0 (click to download GPX file)

Dante’s West – GPX Data

Dante’s East – GPX Data

Overview of Dante’s (hills in bold):   Dante’s West (3.0): Manlius at 92 and Enders: Broadfield to Henneberry to 91 to Frank Long to Gates to 173 to Apulia to Coye-Eager to Apulia to Dodge to 20 to Hitchings to Kingsley to 80 to 20 to Case Hill to Cook to Barker to Otisco to Tully Farms to Webster to 11A to Ortloff-20 to Palmer to Clark Hollow to Newell Hill to Berry to Kelly to Berwyn to 20 to Henneberry to Brown Gulf to Watervale to Number 2 to Pompey Center to Alliance Bank…

Dante’s East (4.0): Manlius at 92 and Enders: 92 to village to North Street to Duguid to Rte. 5 to Gulf-Palmer to 173 to Dyke to Olmstead to 13-Falls-Carrys Hill-Bear Swamp-Nelson-Larkin-Buyea to East Road-Bingley to 13 to Rathbun toStanley to Peth to Peck Hill Road to Palmer to Route 92 south to Rte. 20 west to Gulf to Oran Delphi Road to Rte. 20 east to 13 to Burlingame to Cobb Hill Road to Dephi Falls to Number 5 to Pompey Center Road to Number 4 toCemetary to Henneberry to Number 2 to Pompey center Road to Alliance Bank…  

The whole route, East and West (3.0):

Profiles of Dante’s rides (Thanks John Evans): East (v.4.0): West (v.3.0):

Dante’s West:

  Dante’s West (3.0) Directions:

Dante’s West (3.0) Map (Thanks John Evans):       Dante’s West (3.0) Hills and Facts (Thanks John Evans): 

Dante’s East:   Note:  Dante’s East recently was upgraded at the suggestion of John Evans, who noticed a “glaring flat spot”, Pompey Hollow Road to Route 20, and also an obvious solution.  We always thought the East side was “anemic”, and John showed his Dante’s qualifications by suggesting that the course be changed to add a hill up 92 to Cazenovia, then over 20 headed west (another small hill), and then descend back down to the intersection of 20 and Pompey Hollow and continue on the 3.0 version back up 20 West to Pompey, etc.  This added about 600 feet and to keep the nine hill- nine “circles of hell” concept intact, rather than drop a hill, we merged the “mini” Number 4 Road Hill with Cemetary Road as one hill, the 8th of the West nine.     East side directions (v.4.0): The East course still has 600′ less climbing than the west side, and therefore, remains a kinder and gentler beast, but is also around 70 miles; 4 to 5 hours ride time (9 HILLS in CAPS): 92 to Manlius village, right on Academy, left 173, right on North St to Duguid to route 5 east (Fayetteville), right on GULF-PALMER #1, left 173, descend to Chittenango, hard right at bottom on Dyke, right on Olmstead, right on 13, left on Falls, straight through four corners to Carrys Hill Rd (13-CARRYS HILL #2), straight at top onto Bear Swamp Rd., left on Nelson then immediate right on Larkin (you are on Fenner Hill), right on Buyea, right on East, cross Nelson, to Bingley (big descent) back down to right on 13, back to Chittenango Falls, left on Rathbun, left on STANLEY #3, through to right on East Lake Rd, then immediate left on Peth, right on Peck Hill Rd, left on Palmer, descend to left on RTE’s 92 (#4), to Cazenovia, right onto 20 (up short hill then long down 20 EAST hill), crossing Oran-Delphi climb up 20 WEST (#5), left at top on Gulf, descend to Oran-Delphi, left on Oran-Delphi Rd, right onto 20 EAST #6,  up to Cazenovia, right on 13, right on Burlingame to Cobb Hill Rd, descend to right on Delphi Rd. and descend to Delphi Falls, straight through to NUMBER 5 RD #7, climb to top and right turn and still Number 5 at top, descending to right on Pompey Center Rd, left on NUMBER 4 / CEMETERY #8, cross Ridge Rd at top and descend to right on Cemetery, top out at Pompey Hill, cross 20 and long descent down Henneberry,  right on Brown Gulf, descend to right on Watervale, then quick left onto NUMBER 2 #9, last climb,  and descend to left on Pompey Center, right on Enders, STOP at 92, Circle K on right.   Refuel at Delphi Falls if necessary, about 55 miles.

Dante’s East (4.0) Map (Thanks John Evans):

Old Stats from Dante’s version 2.0 (Thanks John Cico):

Dante’s “SuperWest”:

Dante’s “SuperWest”:  even better with 18 climbs, 14’000′ in only 120 miles! Added 50 miles and 9 climbs: Colton, Bush, Henderson, Lords, Dutch, Strong, Moon, Churchill-Stanton and Oak Hill climbs to the west course. Note Churchill Rd. is now permanently closed from the lake front nearly to Stanton Rd. There are fences (you can walk around the fencing and the road is ridable in spots but quickly being reclaimed by nature).

Dan Wnorowski did this ride on 7/17/15 and 6/13/20: http://www.strava.com/activities/348213772, and http://strava.app.link/vNqdhHrQm8

PJamm-7 crew, Bo Jenson, et al, also did this route on 6/13/20

Dante’s SuperWest Cue Sheet:

Dante’s 2020: 

Congratulations Dante’s Day Sunday May 3, 2020 (not to be deterred, “COVID Distanced Dante’s”): finishers Bo Jenson, Bryan Ludgate, Will Sympson and Anthony Lubrino”!  Assisted by Dante’s veterans Ray Falso and Ed Keplinger.   They look as good at mile 122 as at mile 0:

And June 26, 2020:  Salty Chimp Team: Rob Chimento, Fred Bulken, Jon Cyganick, Dave Tate, Scott Stewart, Ken Hammond (with Pat McNeil repeating):

And check this out, July 7, 2020: Kevan Edwards SOLO effort , self-supported- 8:41 and only ONE STOP, just 13 minutes shy of July 19, 2017 record, of which he was also a part!

And yet  another SOLO accomplishment:  Nate Molinari September 5, 2020, 8:48:52, another very fast effort.

And a big day for Dante’s SuperWest:

June 13, 2020- 8 riders completing the more hill dense route: yours truly for early am solo lead-out, followed by PJamm team of: Bo Jenson, Bryan Ludgate, Ed Keplinger, Jason Walz, Vince Love, Will Sympson, and Anthony Lubrino (Dante vet Ray Falso assisting):

Dante’s 2017:

No formal Dante’s Day, but some big achievements. Congratulations Tim Palmer for solo Full Dante’s completion Monday 10/3/2017: “…Great day. Hardest day on a bike yet.”  Adam Ruszkowski  10/15/2017, finishes immediately before a big thunder storm.

AND:  Fastest known Dante’s: Dan Jeske, Kevan Edwards, Matt Curbeau,  July 19, 2017:  8:34:08.

“Double Dante’s Days”, August 1-2, 2015: 

What is a “Double Dante’s”?? – two Full Dante’s laps: 280 miles, 36 climbs, 28,000′, 24 hours.

This is an unofficial and informal bike ride for fun, not a race. There is no leader, no map, no fee, no registration, no insurance, no support, no sanctioning, no tracking, no medals. You are responsible for yourself. You ride on your own, at your own pace and at your own risk.  Start anytime, do what you want. It is you vs. the climbs.

For updated info on the Aug 1-2, 2015  ride see Facebook: “Dante’s Ride” (author Ed Keplinger).

This was another great day with some solid efforts, some adversity, and some big success stories once again! Many turned out to do what they were able to do, and support those attempting the FD and DD.

Informal and tireless 24 hour support was provided once again by Maggie Manning, with assistance from Kara Johnston, Jeremy and Lauren Burton, and Beth Wnorowski.  Weather once again was perfect.

“Double Dante’s Days”, August 23-24, 2014: 

Informal and tireless support was provided once again by Maggie Manning, with assistance from Kara Johnston, Jeremy Burton, and Dan Degirolamo. Weather again was perfect.

“Double Dante’s Days”, August 17-18, 2013:

What is a “Double Dante’s”?? – two Full Dante’s laps: 280 miles, 36 climbs, 28,000′.

 A second Double Dante’s attempt was scheduled noon, August 17- noon August 18, 2013. Over a dozen participated, and the entire DD route was completed by Dan McCarthy and John Cico. What an effort by all! 

Weather info (updated August 17, 2013): THERE WERE PERFECT CONDITIONS- Mostly sunny/partly cloudy, high 79f 17th-81f 18th, low overnight 54f, 10% chance precipitation; winds light and variable: E 3mph 17th… S 4mph 18th; humidity 80% 17th-61% 18th. Near full moon.

“Double Dante’s Days”, first attempt, 2012:

Dan M making it EWE and part of the W again, for 21 hours and 240 miles and 25,000′, while Dan W made it about 19 hours and 220 miles and 22,000′. In 2012, John Cico and Tom Bersani each did a full Dante’s circuit in support of Dan’s and Dan’s effort at a double (John after racing the Bumps event Mt, Ascutney Hillclimb Race in Vermont earlier in the morning!).

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Double Dante’s Day Photos:

2015:

6am Saturday start- big interest, some challenges along the way, and plenty of big efforts, with departure of first time FD finishers Tom Macera and Pat McNeil, and repeaters Finbar Scannell, ed Keplinger, and Brian Goetke! CMFC!!!

East side moments, mechanical challenges, Stanley and Carrys Hill, Ray and Ed doing the “Froome assessments”:

Noon Saturday start and transition, the West awaits.., Full Dante’s riders at the half after the East lap, and the Double Riders just beginning, with Ray Falso starting his Full Dante’s achievement:

7pm Saturday atop Carrys Hill, Maggie giving endless encouragement and nutrition tips which always prove invaluable, with Dan M, Ray and Aaron Vlasak:

8pm Fenner Hill sunset- the Dante’s Gods signalling approval… and the loneliness of dusk on the Dante’s:

Midnight FD finish for “Supernova” Ray Falso on the summit of Number 2 Road, the only hill one climbs twice on the FD:

Somewhere on West second lap, maybe Hitchings, maybe 3am, maybe I am asleep, maybe awake… Ed Teneyck repeatedly rides alongside to turn off the snooze alarm and engage in stimulating conversation:

6am Sunday transition, smaller crew, to start the last lap for DD for Dan W and Dan M, aided by John Cico, Fin Scannell (about to start his third lap after a rest and recovery from the FD 6am-6pm Saturday), and Ben Rabin. Final tips from a Dante’s Master…

Every major achievement by a good man exists in the quiet supportive shadow of a great woman:

Double success Sunday afternoon 2015: Number 2 Road Dan McCarthy (#3), Dan W (#1), and John Cico (2 DD in prior two years, riding support in 2015):

2015 finish line crew, thanks for support last leg Stewy and Ray Falso, Kurt Werner and Kara Johnston, Finbar Scannell, and of course Maggie Manning- 24 hour support extraordinaire! Lest we

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2014:

Noon start:

Fresh legs climbing to Henneberry- first hill:

Full Dante’s finishers 6pm: Kurt, Erika, Ed, and repeater Tom:

Nightime riders at summit Stanley 830pm: Aaron…:

…and Finbar:

5 am at top of Number 2 Road: still riding: Sam, Dave, Dan M., John and Amy

Double Dante’s finishers 2014: Dan M. and John Cico (again), and Amy:

2013:

Noon Start, the first West group, and 330am, the second West “group” on Hitchings again: John and Dan M:

Finishers of 2013 Double Dante’s: Dan McCarthy and John Cico, flanking logistics and support specialist Maggie Manning:

2012:

The early days: Dan McCarthy and Dan W. at Wachusett Hillclimb Race May, 2012:

Double Dante’s 2012, climbing Hitchings Road with fresh legs in Lafayette:

Double Dante’s 2012, after 70 miles, Tom Baesl (green shirt), “The Creator”, surprises the riders at the first break:

Double Dante’s attempt 2012, 930pm, at 15 hours in climbing route 20 west of Cazenovia:

This page needs some work…. in progress…. Dan W., author and editor: genufix@yahoo.com

See also Facebook: “Dante’s Ride” (by Ed Keplinger)

(Note: traditionally, there has been a kit provided free by the author for completing this ride, i.e.- Full Dante’s, as defined above). If you have done it, and want the fame, send me your ride report, GPS data, and I will send you a kit, while supplies last. Only a few small and medium remain.)