Once the gradient gets into the double digits, I feel like even it's still crawling along even for the super fit.... And that just isn't fun IMO!

A low gradient climb with favorable wind (no headwind) can be enjoyable if the scenery is nice, I'll admit that much. Sunrise Hwy in San Diego is like 5% avg and often has a tailwind, and it is nice to climb from desert chaparral into a more coniferous/mountain ecology.

:thumb:

I've done some of the climbs in the eastern Sierra Nevada. This pic is from the climb to the Ancient Bristlecone Forrest. Gains 6000 feet in about 25 miles. Tops out at 10K but there is a dirt road up to 14K. One of my friends did that part on his mtb. It's actually the White Mountains.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bc0e5bdc58.jpg

It takes patience, which most times I lack. I want the climb over....now! If I had any decent climbs around me I would like to do them. But no such luck. The couple of vacations and work/travel that I did with my bike were awesome. I loved California, it was great. I did some awesome climbs while I was there. Kentucky is a blast. More rollers than mountains.

A different year we went up to Lake Sabrina, South lake, and North Lake, Not quite as high at 9200' but a lot more climbing/mileage. It's really very memorable and satisfying. Especially being heavier than everyone else. Here is my friend taking a pic on the way up.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ba9c62be91.jpg

I am trying to think of some good double-digit climbs in my area. There is one that FEELS like it's 12-14% in some sections, but the Strava segment says the climb is "only" 9.1% and 1/2 mile long. I do think an ideal pitch is somewhere in the 5-8% range, but you gotta have some variety.

A couple more from eastern Sierra trips. The view climbing to Whitney Portal just as you enter the canyon. Shortish day but lots of steep.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ddf6a4bc4a.jpg
Then there's an easy day up Rock Creek.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...976ffba06c.jpg
I'd love to go back up there if my body would cooperate.

After Baldy Village the road gains 2000 feet in 4 miles. It's tough for me because in addition to already having over 5k in my legs, there are extended sections of 15%.

I find tailwinds to be a bad thing on climbs, because they don't really push you much but they do rob you of a lot of cooling.

I have. The feeling of satisfaction was little reward for the amount of suffering that preceded the satisfaction. IMO, YMMV.

I had ridden myself in to a hole and the miles were compounded by heat and hay fever. I thought I was going to have to chain my bike up if I didn't change my ways. I finally took Sunday off and then rode a club ride with slow riders on Monday. Legs felt better on Tuesday. Had a forced day off yesterday for doc appointments. Got up this morning to 55-60º temps and light winds and my legs were golden. Rode with my retired racer buddies and was even dropping the skinny guys on the short punchy hills.

Taking another day off, ride 35-40 on Saturday and then heading for Door County next week and if my 70 year old legs feel fresh, it may be a 275 mile week so leaderboard watchers should plan ahead. :innocent:

You could pea gravel your front yard; I've seen a lot of that in Europe, especially Ireland.

Sträva percentages are weird. Many of our short bluff hills are double digit; I know because I've surveyed several of them. or have plans to verify the grades. Strava almost always halves the gradient, especially in segments. They aren't even close.

I did the Death Valley - Mt. Whitney Road Race three times. Day 1 is Stovepipe Wells to Lone Pine. You start at 0' elevation and immediately start climbing to 5000', followed by a wide open descent to Panamint Springs (where I hit my fastest-ever speed of 60mph). Then another climb and rollers to Lone Pine - 80 mi / 9000+'. Day 2 is Lone Pine to Whitney Portal via some loops through the Alabama Hills - 20mi, 5000+'. I thought Day 2 was harder. Been there. Done that. No more, thank you.

I believe it. That segment feels like 15% for about 500 feet. I have to stand up in my bailout gear (34/28) to make it.

This is from somewhere up there looking back toward Lone Pine. The Alluvial Fan, or Plain, is ridiculous. I just remember grinding for long time without feeling like I was getting closer to the mountain.If you turn around and look back you can see it. It's a relief when you finally get to the canyon.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9c944e1ea0.jpg


The only other time I had that feeling quite that bad was in the Tejon Pass when 2 of us were riding from hwy 138 to Gorman into a strong headwind. It just didn't seem to be getting any closer for a long time.

Oh, everything is a-okay - some of us are still young enough to have libidos. ;)

Pffft. Phooey.

Yeah, me too.

Back when I was doing a lot more climbing, I did West Alpine from Pescadero Road to Skyline in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It was the first (and so far ONLY) time I'd ever ridden it, I had no GPS, and the whole time I don't think I saw even one car, and maybe one or two other cyclists. It's a longish climb that just keeps going and going and going. It was a little creepy, and I was really relieved to arrive at Skyline, let me tell you!

Ftfy

My way of telling if I pushed hard enough on the climb is whether I want to throw up at the top. If I actually throw up, that was too hard.

​​​​​​So pretty much the same as yesterday at the Fair, when my kid wanted me to ride the Tilt-a-Whirl with him, and get it really spinning. :D

Yes, but I usually don't eat a couple corn dogs and a funnel cake before a climb.

What's this climbing you speak of? I'm sure I'm allergic to that.

Rode the commuting bike for 30 mi over some of my workout roads today, with a backpack and all. It has a compact front and a 11-28. I really liked the way the 28 felt on the steepest section. I had previously thought it was too low, but I want one for the plastic bike now.