big john

I have on the dirt. Once by a couple runners on a long, steep grade. I actually stayed with them until the top then the fastest one said "see ya" because there was a descent.
Another time I was on a steep trail with switchbacks and there was a fireman who was quite strong. He was cutting the switchbacks some but he was carrying gear, radio, etc. When the grade got less severe I was finally able to get ahead of him.
I have found on a steep climb a bike becomes more of a liability as it gets steeper. We were thrashing through some brush in the hills once and hikers said something about being impressed by us. I told them we would be going faster if we didn't have the stupid bikes with us.

PeteHski

I did say "by someone walking their bike up a hill" not someone walking/running without a bike. For sure there are steep pitches where having a bike is a liability, but IME you always get to the top faster if you don't have to get off and push it. I'm talking on-road too with this being the road cycling sub-forum.

big john

Of course. I just like throwing out a self-deprecating anecdote now and then.

vane171

Point is, for those walking, riding is no more an option, that is why they walk.

That is, unless they are like me, I ride solo and sometimes I hardly see any car traffic at all, so on some big hill, I ride till I feel it being reasonable, then walk the bike at brisk pace for a minute or two, then ride again for a bit before dismounting again. Brisk walk uphill is surprisingly good exercising too I found.

Actually I can mash it up quite some steep hills but I don't like long hills that are steep enough to stiffen your legs eventually. But if there is some audience and I don't want to be ashamed, I ride up those hills too that otherwise I would partly walk at other times.

PeteHski

This is true, but with lower gearing there is less chance you will get to that point where you are forced to walk.

I was climbing a very steep pitch recently in a group and the guy in front was a little stronger than me and was slowly pulling away. Then it got even steeper and he literally stalled and had to get off and walk. I rode slowly past him on my 34/34 and I was also down to a minimal standing cadence on my limit. I don’t know what gearing he had, but odds on it would be higher than mine. But my point is that I stayed on the bike with the low gear and went faster than the guy walking. It probably looked like one of those slow bicycle races!