Mangamuka Saddle is a climb of 5.2 kilometers (category 1). The climb finishes at 390 m above sea level. It is located in Kaikohe-Hokianga Community, Northland, New Zealand / Aotearoa. The average gradient is 6.0% with a maximum of 13%. The climb has 308 meters of elevation gain.
Difficulty breakdown: The Mangamuka Saddle is a 5.2 km climb rated Category 1, with 308 m of elevation gain at an average gradient of 6%. The hardest stretch is between KM 0.5 and KM 1.0 at 9%, and KM 2.0-2.5 hits 8%. Only KM 1.5-2.0 eases off to 4%, so most sections sit between 5% and 9% and demand a sustained effort from bottom to top. KM 5.0-5.2, at 0%, gives you a bit of a breather near the top.
Tips for pacing yourself:
1. Don't go out too hard. KM 0.0-0.5 (7%) and KM 0.5-1.0 (9%) are steep right from the foot of the climb, so keep a steady cadence and a moderate gear.
2. Recover on KM 1.5-2.0. This 4% section is your best chance to recover and spin your legs back up before KM 2.0-2.5 at 8%.
3. Save something for the finish. After KM 4.0-4.5 and KM 4.5-5.0 at 6%, the almost flat KM 5.0-5.2 lets you finish the climb strong.
Those who have ridden up to the top of Mangamuka describe a road full of bends, which follow one another almost all the way to the summit. One rider recommends it to anyone who likes twisty roads. Another warns that there is a very windy stretch, to be taken with care.
At the top, there are benches and picnic tables by the roadside, and walking tracks into the native forest. Several people talk about a pleasant setting, with dense, green vegetation. Others find that the view is just green and that there isn't much else to see. After the rain, the colours of the foliage came back out, according to one account.
The point that comes up most often is rubbish. Many people say the site is littered with trash, with whole trailer loads dumped over the bank, and that campers use it as a tip. There are no bins on site and no public toilets. The track has turned muddy after heavy rain. A sign asking why people dump their rubbish is mentioned, with a certain amount of irritation.
On the plus side, the traffic is quiet, and several riders appreciated the road repairs after the landslides. The summit is a good place to stop and stretch your legs, or to let the car cool down. One account recommends staying there overnight to watch the stars. The site is still being developed, and one rider reckons it's worth waiting for it to be finished.
5.2 km • 308 m D+
VAM: average climbing speed, based on elevation gain
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