rsbob 

Since we have the, it’s ok to walk thread, how about a pure climbing thread, strictly speaking on the bike? (Let the grumps chime in on Mine is bigger than yours, or who cares, but this is a cycling forum after all)

And where did you ride that hill, the grades and distance? I know we have some amazing people here so let’s hear.

Today I did a half mile climb with grades ranging from 10 to 14% with a 30 second reprieve at 5% which felt like a relief on Uplands Way in North Bend outside Seattle climbing up to Rattlesnake Lake.

In that same area I did a short 12-14 17% but it just about killed me.

The longest ascents were 37 miles climbing 2900’ at an average 7.87% to Snoqualmie Pass

Longmire to Paradise at Mt Rainer 10.5 miles climbing 2700’ @ 5%.

I was able to find the specifics on the climbs using Flatestroute.com

urbanknight

My warm up is 13%.

adlai

In my normal ride there is a long ascent on a rail trail that I really enjoy. It is slightly challenging and goes for what feels like a mile. I don't know the grade except it is formed on what I think was a former rail track so likely it is very gradual.

On that same ride there is a short yet steep hill which I dread every time. I would say it is 25-30%.

LesterOfPuppets

I did that as part of Seattle to Ellensburg + Yakima to Vancouver tour in 2015. This year I did Cedar Falls to St. John and afterwards when I rode from Issaquah to Cedar Falls TH to get back to my car this time I rode up the Snoqualmie Valley Trail like a wuss.

Longest somewhat steep at times climb I've done is probably Gresham to Timberline Lodge.

Steepest two miles I've done is in Rock Springs, WY. just about 1100':
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41191479

indyfabz

I hope you are not saying that 2,900' of elevation gain over 37 miles (195,360') is an average of 7.87%.

2,900/195360x100=1.48%

indyfabz

This was nasty on a loaded touring bike:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41192597

What made it even harder was the segment on U.S. 20 leading up to Quarry Rd. It was also an ascent, although not as steep.

The Chemist

What's a hill?

Shanghai is one of the flattest places imaginable. The only 'hills' here are going up onto bridges. I think the steepest I do on a regular basis is about 4% grade, and that's only a few hundred metres long at most. My metric centuries end up with less than 300m climbing overall.

RB1-luvr

I'm guessing the three major climbs I rode in France in 2004 were my steepest and longest. Alpe d'Huez, which I rode twice (13.9km long and bridges 1118 vertical meters with an average gradient of 8%), Col de la Madeleine (20km / 12.4mi average gradient: 7.8% Start point: La Chambre Elevation at top: 2,000m / 6,562. The Madeleine is an Hors Categorie climb. 27 hairpin bends to reach the summit – 6 more than Alpe d’Huez),and La Mongie (19.0 km / 11.8 mi long, climbing1,404 m /4,606 ft at an average of 7.4% with a maximum of 10.2% near the summit).

I can't remember climbing anything here in the states more difficult. Steeper grade maybe, but nowhere near as long.

Maelochs

Yeah, well, I live in Flatahoma, where the land is so flat the ascents actually go downhill .... (polishes swelling e-peen ....)

There are a couple shorts sections which might hit around 5 % but that is the highest grade ..... the average might be half that, and the whole "climb" might only be a hundred yards .... lots of "really hard" 1% climbs that stretch on forever .... like, 300 yards ..... so far I have not had to walk. <flex>

bikemig 

East Burke Mountain in VT 12.3% grade over 3.3 miles with a few parts north of 20%.

https://pjammcycling.com/climb/234.Burke%2520Mountain

There are nastier climbs out there but there is no break on that 3.3 miles on E. Burke Mountain.

Here in the Midwest where I live, I have to go to the driftless region to find some tough hills and you will find them there. Here locally in central IA, 10% is as good as it gets.

Koyote

37%.

ofajen

Our driveway reaches about 24% and we have lots of hills with short stretches steeper than that. Hopefully I've had sense enough to walk or avoid anything much over 30% The plus side is that we don’t have big elevations here, so steep hills are fairly short. The really tough ones are steep gravel, where you want to stand for leverage but then you lose the rear wheel grip.

Back in the 70s as a teen, I used clips, straps and cleats, so you either made it up or fell. Now I run platforms and flat running shoes, so getting off to walk or jog is no big deal, particularly now that I run more than I bike.

Otto

Koyote

At least he's not saying that he climbed 37 miles.

spelger

I don't mind these steep ascents like in the 15-37% range, I just don't like going down them. Probably wound never go down that canton road, view from top is dizzying.

pdlamb

I had an inclinometer on my bike for a few years. It went to 20%, and I climbed a few hills in town like that.

The worst part is that the city built most of those roads out of concrete, and then did something to the surface to roughen them up -- I guess so there's something for a tire to grab when it ices. Most of those are close to unrideable either way because of the roughness; maybe I'll borrow a fat bike with low gears sometime and attack one.

Took the inclinometer off after a few years and without the reminder of the steepness, I made some of those slopes!

indyfabz

Was near that climb back in June during a tour in VT. Went from Stillwater State Park to Brighton State Park that day. Stayed on VT 114.. Really pretty road. Saw lots of people on MTBs. East Burke is a big MTB base. There were also roadies on an organized ride coming in the other direction.

I did Rochester Gap east to west (unloaded) back in 2010. That was nasty. Someone said the ruling grade was 22%. Don't know if that's true.

indyfabz

The N. Cascades Highway from Colonial Creek Campground is 32 miles long (not 32 miles of climbing):

Bike Route Planner - Ride with GPS

Talk about a long day, especially when riding loaded. One thing that really sucked was that you leave camp and hit the steepest part very quickly. A few of actually did laps in the campground to get a warmup. And there are no service whatsoever. The first time it started raining before Rainy Pass. At some point the rain turned to snow, but it was not sticking to the road surface. Did it again the following year. The weather cooperated that time. IIRC, both times entailed about 4.25 hrs. of pedaling.

Koyote

I hope there wasn't any confusion -- I was referring to an earlier thread in which the poster insisted that climbs are defined by their horizontal length; I wasn't referring to your post.

Looks like fun, esp when you throw in the snow. Yikes.

indyfabz

No worries. I got it.

Yeah. The snow made it "interesting." It was only the 6th day of a93 day ride from Seattle to Bar Harbor, ME. I'm an easterner and had never ridden in mountains (or weather) like that. I took this from near the second summit. After that, it was another 16 miles to the next town and then 16 more miles to camp. At least it was pretty much all downhill to one degree or another. The campground sold $0.99 beers. It tasted like the best beer ever. We all went out for pizza instead of cooking that night and had a well-deserved rest day the next day.

Hermes

My longest hard grade was 20% the last 200 meters to the top of Mount Diablo. And one is pretty tired after the 3400 foot climb.

The hardest climb was Mont Ventoux, France via Bedoin: Bédoin-Mont Ventoux is 21.3 km long, it climbs 1,579 m, and its average gradient is 7.4% with the steepest section being the middle section of 4 miles with the average gradient of 10%. The final moonscape section to the top had an easier gradient but by then fatigue made the final section very hard.

big john

There is a street in L.A. called Fargo street. It's a few blocks of 33% and there is an event every year where people try to climb it. You are not allowed to try and descend it. I've never tried it but a friend climbed it with a 42x23 road bike. That was more than 30 years ago. Now, people build bikes just to ride that hill. People do it on Eliptigos, mtbs, etc. It's a freak show.

There is a short 23% section on a road near here which I have climbed 3 times during road rides. Had a triple road bike but only a 30x25. Did not enjoy it.

Doing short, ridiculously steep climbs like that is very different from doing long climbing rides. I've done some 10,000 foot centuries, it's a bit much. In 2006 I did a ride with 12,000 feet in the first 75 miles. Way too much for a Clydesdale. I've climbed up to 10,000 foot elevation in the Sierra Nevada range. That was hard,, too.

I've gone up to Mount Baldy ski lift area a few times. It gains 2000 feet in the last 4 miles with several sections of 15%. What makes it tough is you already have over 5000 feet in your legs when you get to that part.

big john

I did some climbing on roads after snow had been plowed. This day I climbed to 7000 feet and when I turned around the little streams flowing across the road had frozen. I thought I brought enough layers but I was wrong Got very cold descending.

Hermes

Big_John I climbed GMR but bailed out of the climb to the top.

ofajen

Yeah there is one very steep gravel hill that is an essential part of an ad hoc loop around our town and I always do the route so that hill is a climb. I can ride it in my 42/32, though I may walk or jog up it, depending my mood, but I don’t want to go down it.

Otto

big john

I usually turn around at the village. From Encanto park to the village and back is 63 miles with 6300 feet of climbing. It's tough to get motivated to climb after the village just to say you did it, especially when everyone is getting food and drink at the lodge.