| Hidden gem |
| Cobbles |
| #42 toughest climb of Flanders |
| #40 most elevation gain of Flemish Brabant |
| #34 longest climb of Dijleland |
| #74 average steepest climb of Druivenstreek |
This climb is for the enthusiast of the adventurous work. For whom the more famous climbs of Overijse such as the Schavei, Hertstraat and IJskelderlaan are not challenging enough, a steep, cobbled and hidden alley, called the Kardaan is waiting for you.
Even before the well-known s-bend in the center of Overijse, you turn right and unaware of the steep ramps that are waiting you reach the cobblestone section. After that, the alley immediately becomes narrow and the percentages quickly increase. Halfway an obstacle must be passed which will reduce your speed even more. After 300m of suffering on steep cobbles, redemption follows. However, you are not there yet. The climb continues for over a kilometer. This time on smooth running asphalt and mild percentages. Halfway there is even a short descent.
The climb is clearly not suitable for riding up in a group or any form of racing, but more for the fan of adventurous climbs. It is an extremely narrow alley, with some obstacles to reduce the speed.
Road names: Kardaan, P.I. Taymansstraat & Vleugstraat
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It's not an easy climb to find, with bad, even very bad cobbles, but the difficult part doesn't last very long.
Une ascension pas facile à trouver, où le pavé est mauvais voire très mauvais, mais la partie difficile ne dure pas très longtemps.
Super narrow road, with a barrier to prevent cars from passing in the beginning of the steep part. The purpose escapes me completely because the road is 1m wide. Even with a bike, you don't want to meet an oncoming car. Especially the last part on the cobblestones, you have to lie on your wheel or you will pull your bike completely with you. The narrow road really makes this a challenge because you can only steeply go straight ahead. Then a very long spur of a.o. Kayman and ijskelderlaan.
Super smal wegje, met een barière om auto's niet te laten passeren in begin vh steile stuk. Het nut ontgaat me volledig want wegje ks 1m breed. Zelfs mer de fiets kom je liever geen tegenligger tegen. Zeker het laatste stuk op de kasseien moet je goed op je stuur gaan liggen of je trekt je fiets volledig mee. De smalte maakt dit echt wel een uitdaging want je kan alleen maar steil rechtdoor. Dan hele lange uitloper van o.a. kayman en ijskelderlaan.
The hidden gem of Overijse! The cobbled start is impressive, technique and balance are essential. In wet weather, it's better to give up ;-) With wide gravel tyres it's better, because of the dislocation of the cobblestones and the very wide and deep joints between them!
Le joyau caché d'Overijse! Le départ pavé est impressionnant, technique et équilibre sont indispensables. Par temps humide, renoncer est plus prudent ;-) Avec un gravel pneus larges ça passe mieux, vu la dislocation des pavés et les joints très larges et profonds entre-eux!
I have ridden the Kardaan several times with a bike equipped with 25mm tires. By the way, I personally find that the cobblestones (at least in dry weather) are not that bad... unlike the hill! That said, it does go much better with the 30mm tires on my current bike.
In both cases, minimum gearing of... 24/34. I always managed to have mountain bike gears on my road bikes. It's in this kind of climbs that it pays! :-)
J'ai fait plusieurs fois le Kardaan avec un vélo équipé de pneus de 25 mm de section. D'ailleurs, je trouve personnellement que ses pavés (du moins par temps sec) ne sont pas si terribles que cela… contrairement à la pente ! Ceci dit, ça passe effectivement bien mieux avec les pneus de 30 mm de mon vélo actuel.
Dans les deux cas, braquet minimum de… 24/34. Je me suis toujours arrangé pour avoir des braquets de VTT sur mes vélos de route. C'est dans ce genre de côtes que ça paie ! :-)
The last few metres of cobbles are terrible! But for the rest it climbs very well.
The asphalt part allows you to recover
Les derniers mètres en pavés sont terribles ! Mais pour le reste ça se grimpe très bien.
La partie asphalte permet de récupérer
The Kardaan itself is the 250 m of cobbled road indicated at the beginning of the profile. This is a very narrow path (difficult if not impossible for two cyclists to ride abreast) with a spectacularly steep last 25 metres. The Cotacol encyclopedia rates them at an average of 24 ％, and the paved surface accentuates the impression of steepness. Very slippery in wet weather, so only to be attempted in dry weather. The next part is innocuous and winds through a residential area of Overijse.
Note that about 50 metres after the entrance to the "Kardaan", two metal hoops prevent motor vehicles from passing (logical given the narrowness of the path!) but cyclists can easily weave in and out of them.
Le Kardaan proprement dit, ce sont les 250 m pavés indiqués au début du profil. Il s'agit d'une sente très étroite (difficile voire impossible pour deux cyclistes d'y rouler de front) dont les 25 derniers mètres sont d'une raideur spectaculaire. L'encyclopédie Cotacol les évalue à 24 ％ de moyenne, et le revêtement pavé accentue l'impression de pente. Très glissant par temps humide, à ne tenter donc que par temps sec. La suite est anodine et sillonne un quartier résidentiel d'Overijse.
À noter que 50 mètres environ après l'entrée du « Kardaan », deux arceaux métalliques empêche le passage des véhicules à moteur (logique vu l'étroitesse de la sente !) mais le cycliste peut aisément slalomer entre eux.
| 7 km/h | 00:12:46 |
| 11 km/h | 00:08:07 |
| 15 km/h | 00:05:57 |
| 19 km/h | 00:04:42 |
