What kinds of grades do you guys climb?
08-09-22, 04:45 PM
#1
Banned
Thread Starter
What kinds of grades do you guys climb?
I think cyclists are the best conditioned athletes on the planet.
Today, I rode up a 10% grade for 3 minutes and was maxed out.
Had to switch back a few times. Fully winded and legs burning.
It was like .2 or .3 miles at the most.
I can not fathom how people do this for several miles !!
What do they do for Tour de France?
What kind of distances grades durations do you tackle?
Today, I rode up a 10% grade for 3 minutes and was maxed out.
Had to switch back a few times. Fully winded and legs burning.
It was like .2 or .3 miles at the most.
I can not fathom how people do this for several miles !!
What do they do for Tour de France?
What kind of distances grades durations do you tackle?
Likes For CheGiantForLife:
08-09-22, 04:51 PM
#2
Senior Member
Shanghai is pretty much pancake flat, so the only climbing that I do is up onto bridges. The longest climb (i.e. biggest bridge) that I do is only about 500m in length, with a grade of only 5-6% maximum. Most 'climbs' here are much shorter than that.
08-09-22, 04:56 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: South shore, L.I., NY
Posts: 6,285
Bikes: Flyxii FR322, Cannondale Topstone, Miyata City Liner, Specialized Chisel, Specialized Epic Evo
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2848 Post(s)
Liked 1,580 Times
in
905 Posts
Long Island pretty flat as well and in my current level of condition, I avoid what few hills we have, thus its "Col De Meadowbrook Parkway" and the "Long Island Expressway Pass", etc., Needles to say, the Climbing feature on my Hammerhead Karoo is pretty much wasted.
08-09-22, 04:58 PM
#4
Newbie
I live in country where we have one 7% climb for 1km (sorta), now I am in Alps and rented road bike. And it was not a big surprise that on first day I failed miserably to ride on nearby climbs, after one week I now can climb 5-7% for 3km, anything over 10% just makes me stop/bonk/fail. Anyways, today's stats says I have climbed 1km in 85km ride, which, for me, is quite impressive, taking in account my age and cycling history. So now I have plan/training target to get more fit for next year, to be able to get through 15% gradients 
Likes For zaje:
08-09-22, 05:33 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: insane diego, california
Posts: 7,963
Bikes: 85 pinarello treviso steel, 88 nishiki olympic steel. 95 look kg 131 carbon, 11 trek madone 5.2 carbon
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1526 Post(s)
Liked 2,732 Times
in
1,498 Posts
here in socal, we’ve got pretty much everything. looong block at 32%, long 20-mile climbs getting up above 8k feet and a bleepton of short, medium and long climbs in the 9%-18% range. the good thing about hitting the local muur(s) is that once you get in the habit, nothing seems insurmountable.
08-09-22, 05:54 PM
#7
Should Be More Popular
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 40,797
Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix
Mentioned: 548 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20422 Post(s)
Liked 7,138 Times
in
3,349 Posts
Steeper is better. To a point. My favorite local climb is almost a mile and about 10%.
__________________
Originally Posted by rjones28
Addiction is all about class.
08-09-22, 06:14 PM
#8
Newbie
Anything from short flat to 5 mile average 9%. N short 20% If i cant peddle up them i go into 2 ft gear. Have yet to find a grade that 2 ft gear dont work on
08-09-22, 06:19 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 8,243
Mentioned: 67 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2905 Post(s)
Liked 2,135 Times
in
1,312 Posts
You want me to give a grade to my climbing?
B for effort.
F for ability.
B for effort.
F for ability.
08-09-22, 06:31 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Mission Viejo
Posts: 5,446
Bikes: 1986 Cannondale SR400 (Flat bar commuter), 1988 Cannondale Criterium XTR, 1992 Serotta T-Max, 1995 Trek 970
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1815 Post(s)
Liked 1,965 Times
in
1,205 Posts
Likes For 70sSanO:
08-09-22, 06:36 PM
#12
Senior Member
I'm next to the foothills. I have .3mi of 15+% gut puncher within a mile of me.. and the major climbs like Diablo,Hamilton and Tam within 60min drive. Not to mention dirt climbs that are worse.
08-09-22, 06:38 PM
#13
Super-duper Genius
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Muskrat Springs, Utah
Posts: 1,372
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 599 Post(s)
Liked 684 Times
in
351 Posts
I've got one I like to do from time to time that is 3 or maybe 3.5 miles at an average of 8%. It tires me right out, but that's partly because it falls in the middle of a route that is anywhere from 25 to 60-something miles long. (I sometimes drive to a starting point near the climb and make a small loop over the top, then down another canyon and back to the car, but other times I ride all the way to it from home.) It's called North Ogden Divide.
Here is my latest effort on it:
A better map:
I've done short climbs, like a mile or less, at 12 or maybe 15% gradient. I have no trouble climbing 4 or 5% for many miles. But my threshold for enjoyment with a combination of distance and steep climbing is probably the one mentioned above.
Here is my latest effort on it:
A better map:
I've done short climbs, like a mile or less, at 12 or maybe 15% gradient. I have no trouble climbing 4 or 5% for many miles. But my threshold for enjoyment with a combination of distance and steep climbing is probably the one mentioned above.
Last edited by Broctoon; 08-09-22 at 06:48 PM.
08-09-22, 06:49 PM
#14
climber has-been
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Posts: 5,860
Bikes: Scott Addict R1
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2333 Post(s)
Liked 2,327 Times
in
1,177 Posts
Climbing steep grades requires practice. And pacing. And adequate gearing. And patience. And some technique.
If you're forced to slalom across the road, your gearing is too high, or you don't have adequate standing skills.
When climbing a very steep grade out of the saddle, it should feel like you are slowly climbing stairs. If it feels like you're running up stairs, you're probably going harder than you can sustain.
Take it slow.
If you're forced to slalom across the road, your gearing is too high, or you don't have adequate standing skills.
When climbing a very steep grade out of the saddle, it should feel like you are slowly climbing stairs. If it feels like you're running up stairs, you're probably going harder than you can sustain.
Take it slow.
__________________
Ride, Rest, Repeat
Ride, Rest, Repeat
08-09-22, 07:01 PM
#15
Full Member
Join Date: May 2020
Location: North Florida
Posts: 439
Bikes: 2019 Specialized Diverge, 2021 Cervelo Caledonia
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 239 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 312 Times
in
157 Posts
My daily ride is rolling hills with 10% max grades, but short (less than half a mile, and most shorter than that).
08-09-22, 07:04 PM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Mission Viejo
Posts: 5,446
Bikes: 1986 Cannondale SR400 (Flat bar commuter), 1988 Cannondale Criterium XTR, 1992 Serotta T-Max, 1995 Trek 970
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1815 Post(s)
Liked 1,965 Times
in
1,205 Posts
John
08-09-22, 07:59 PM
#17
Clark W. Griswold
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 11,959
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Mentioned: 51 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3729 Post(s)
Liked 3,180 Times
in
2,121 Posts
I generally got mostly Bs but always tried to climb to As. My guess is your highest is a C but only because the teacher felt bad?
Likes For veganbikes:
08-09-22, 08:13 PM
#18
Banned.
08-09-22, 08:42 PM
#19
Banned
Thread Starter
What is 2ft gear?
15% is no joke, on the other hand.
I've got one I like to do from time to time that is 3 or maybe 3.5 miles at an average of 8%.
I've done short climbs, like a mile or less, at 12 or maybe 15% gradient. I have no trouble climbing 4 or 5% for many miles. But my threshold for enjoyment with a combination of distance and steep climbing is probably the one mentioned above.
I've done short climbs, like a mile or less, at 12 or maybe 15% gradient. I have no trouble climbing 4 or 5% for many miles. But my threshold for enjoyment with a combination of distance and steep climbing is probably the one mentioned above.
Climbing steep grades requires practice. And pacing. And adequate gearing. And patience. And some technique.
If you're forced to slalom across the road, your gearing is too high, or you don't have adequate standing skills.
When climbing a very steep grade out of the saddle, it should feel like you are slowly climbing stairs. If it feels like you're running up stairs, you're probably going harder than you can sustain.
Take it slow.
If you're forced to slalom across the road, your gearing is too high, or you don't have adequate standing skills.
When climbing a very steep grade out of the saddle, it should feel like you are slowly climbing stairs. If it feels like you're running up stairs, you're probably going harder than you can sustain.
Take it slow.
I am able to sit and climb in lowest gear and switch back for relief.
I did that as a kid on a BMX bike but never on my mountain bike on roads.
I will try that next time and see if its easier.
10% max on 1/2 mike sounds like a great ride.
08-09-22, 08:44 PM
#20
Banned
Thread Starter
What blows my mind is the sustained grade for miles.
I was able to climb 10% for 3 minutes and was tapped out
But, after coasting on flats for a minute, I was able to keep biking.
It is ALL about the rest intervals, for me.
But can not imagine cranking away for miles (30 min.
I was able to climb 10% for 3 minutes and was tapped out
But, after coasting on flats for a minute, I was able to keep biking.
It is ALL about the rest intervals, for me.
But can not imagine cranking away for miles (30 min.
08-09-22, 08:57 PM
#21
ignominious poltroon
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 2,841
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1626 Post(s)
Liked 2,433 Times
in
1,288 Posts
Here is our local hard hill:
https://pjammcycling.com/climb/430.Alba%2520Road
Sadly, that little red schoolhouse was incinerated (along with a surrounding 88,000 acres).
https://pjammcycling.com/climb/430.Alba%2520Road
Sadly, that little red schoolhouse was incinerated (along with a surrounding 88,000 acres).
08-09-22, 09:07 PM
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Hacienda Hgts
Posts: 1,848
Bikes: 1999 Schwinn Peloton Ultegra 10, Kestrel RT-1000 Ultegra, Trek Marlin 6 Deore 29'er
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 722 Post(s)
Liked 1,666 Times
in
821 Posts
I have a one mile climb just outside my living space that maxes out at 22% but if I want to get in the dirt it rises to about 30% to a fire lookout for North Orange County, CA.
Never been on the dirt portion on a bike but have completed the asphalt section a few times. Would be lying if I did not say it was a struggle.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40553623
Never been on the dirt portion on a bike but have completed the asphalt section a few times. Would be lying if I did not say it was a struggle.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40553623
Last edited by CAT7RDR; 08-11-22 at 08:46 PM.
08-09-22, 09:35 PM
#23
Just Pedaling
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: West Coast
Posts: 608
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 215 Post(s)
Liked 309 Times
in
204 Posts
I currently live on a small bay at sea level that requires a 2 miles stint at 7% grade in either direction unless I take the back road out of town and that is 12% and almost 3 miles. I used to live in the mountains at 6500 foot elevation, that tires you even before you start to climb haha. On my modern bike i can climb most hills in the saddle, but on the vintage bike I'm slowly climbing stairs. Since I ride purely for the workout though, I have really come to like hills and the slower pace that they force upon you (half the time)
Likes For zandoval:
08-09-22, 10:38 PM
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: San Jose
Posts: 951
Bikes: Blur / Ibis Hakka MX
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 396 Post(s)
Liked 252 Times
in
184 Posts
I had to switch to a gravel bike with easier gearing for the bay area. My knees where not happy grinding away for hours at like 40rpm on a road bike with 36 front 30 back. ha-ha
Hard to say what % grade. If you are talking over miles and miles the avg grade goes way down. There's tons of 5+ miles mnts with 1/4 mile sections with 13% + grade here and there.
Hard to say what % grade. If you are talking over miles and miles the avg grade goes way down. There's tons of 5+ miles mnts with 1/4 mile sections with 13% + grade here and there.
