qmsdc15

Between 3 and 4 hundred pounds, carefully loaded under the watchful eye of the client.

She said "Maybe you should make two trips."

Me "I've rather make one."

She offers to take my Rubbermaid bin.

"Are you going to be at the drop?"

"Yes."

"Ok. I was going to bungee it to the top, but you can take it. Thanks!"

The loading dock of this hotel is in the basement of the building, at the bottom of a very steep ramp. I calculate it at about 13% grade. A short hill but one of the steepest in DC. She leaves with my bin, I finish loading the trailer. and head towards the exit. I get about 1/3 of the way up the ramp and come to a stop. I jump off and manage to stop the load rolling backwards, but pushing over 400 lbs gross vehicle weight up the ramp is not happening.

I remember arguing in another thread a long time ago that I can ride a big load up a hill easier than I can push it. I lost that argument, nobody agreed with me, but I still think I'm right.

I can't prove it with this load though because I could neither ride nor push it up this ramp. I managed to get turned around, rode down the ramp and left some of the boxes at the bottom and tried again. Again I could not ride up or push up the ramp. I ended up shuttling the boxes to the top of the ramp in three trips.

frantik

i think i would be easier to ride a load up a hill than push the bike up the hill with the load

in some parking garages I have to go up steep hills with my pedicab, luckily though in downtown san jose most garages are underground so i'm driving uphill with *after* i've dropped off my passengers

qmsdc15

An empty pedicab isn't must lighter than my loaded rig.

You're probably stronger than me and probably have lower gearing (I couldn't get my biggest cog, out of adjustment), but this ramp is steeper and longer than most parking garage ramps.

If my packages could've walked, I would've instructed them to walk up the ramp and meet me at the top. Can't you just drop your passengers at the garage rather than drive them through it?

frantik

not when they're too drunk to walk or if they ask me to take them all the way to their car (since hopefully it will mean a better tip).

dcrowell

Wow, that's quite the load. I think lower gearing is in order....

Reminds me of when I tried pulling my trailer with 80lbs of stuff with my single-speed up a milder grade of only about 4%. I made it, but just barely. I no longer use the single-speed for towing jobs.

katcorot

Was the parking garage ramp the slippery polished concrete, cause that I could see you breaking traction once momentum was lost. Else you need take faster run at it or lower your gearing some more.

Edit: Those boxes look like they have been reused one too many times.

johnr783

Im surprised they let you in the garage. I cab in San Antonio. We dont go into the garages but have never tried either.

qmsdc15

I didn't lose traction, just came to a stop. Lower gearing might help but I think I'm just not strong enough to lift 600+ pounds (including my weight) up a ramp that steep. I can only put 190lbs onto the pedals, maybe a little more if I pull up on the bars.

Nightshade

With a load like this you are courting a not only a human failure more importantly you are courting a catastrophic mechanical failure of serious magnitude!!

Bicycles can be made strong but that strength is NOT limitless!!

frantik

yeah the first time i was a lil nervous the attendant was going to say something but they don't seem to care

fotooutdoors

At a certain point, having enough speed to stay upright would become a problem for me, at least. That said, I know I can't push a 500 lb load up a steep hill. Maybe you need a trike (keep you upright, two power wheels on the ground) coupled with lower gearing?

FunkyStickman

Time for *gulp* electric assist? LOL!

Dan Burkhart 

I was thinking more in terms of internal combustion.

qmsdc15

Trikes and motors. Haha. Very funny. Why ferry the load up the ramp in three trips when I could simply purchase a truck?

frantik

Trikes are fun to ride, especially with a heavy load in the back; you can do some fun turns and stuff that you couldn't do on a bike

qmsdc15

Maybe when I get old. I'm only 55.