Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > General Cycling Discussion
Reload this Page >

What kinds of grades do you guys climb?

Notices
General Cycling Discussion Have a cycling related question or comment that doesn't fit in one of the other specialty forums? Drop on in and post in here! When possible, please select the forum above that most fits your post!

What kinds of grades do you guys climb?

Old 08-20-22, 06:58 PM
  #101  
TakingMyTime
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Los Alamitos, Calif.
Posts: 2,478

Bikes: Trek 7.4 FX

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1026 Post(s)
Liked 912 Times in 535 Posts
I don't do enough hill training to get better at it. And I'm in no rush to get better at it. A 6% grade is almost tolerable but once it turns to 8% I'm hoping that the top of the hill is around the next turn.
TakingMyTime is offline  
Likes For TakingMyTime:
Old 08-21-22, 10:02 AM
  #102  
Kapusta
Advanced Slacker
 
Kapusta's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 6,187

Bikes: Soma Fog Cutter, Surly Wednesday, Canfielld Tilt

Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2749 Post(s)
Liked 2,516 Times in 1,422 Posts
All depends on the gearing. For mountain biking, sustained grades of 10% or more are common as dirt, but with MTB gearing, its not considered steep.

On the other hand, 10% on a road bike with a 34/32 low gear is steep.
Kapusta is offline  
Old 08-21-22, 10:03 AM
  #103  
jnbrown
Senior Member
 
jnbrown's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Encinitas, CA
Posts: 1,292
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 132 Post(s)
Liked 95 Times in 52 Posts
Originally Posted by big john
I rarely have ridden that far south. I have been up to Julian, nice ride. Do you climb that thing? How long is the steep part?
On that day we did not climb it, we went the opposite (easier) way on that road which had roller coaster hills with some in the 20%+ range.
I have climbed it on several occasions and it is by far the hardest hill I have been up.
It is about 1 mile long. It is not 26% the whole way but it is in some portions.
It is dangerous to even stop on because it feels like you are going to fall over if try to unclip and put your foot down and the road a nasty camber to it.
jnbrown is offline  
Likes For jnbrown:
Old 08-21-22, 11:00 AM
  #104  
diphthong
Senior Member
 
diphthong's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: insane diego, california
Posts: 8,287

Bikes: 85 pinarello treviso steel, 88 nishiki olympic steel. 95 look kg 131 carbon, 11 trek madone 5.2 carbon

Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1619 Post(s)
Liked 3,087 Times in 1,670 Posts
Originally Posted by jnbrown
Los Gatos road near Fallbrook, CA.
los gatos is a beast.
diphthong is offline  
Old 08-21-22, 01:06 PM
  #105  
terrymorse 
climber has-been
 
terrymorse's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Posts: 7,005

Bikes: Scott Addict R1, Felt Z1

Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3337 Post(s)
Liked 3,436 Times in 1,737 Posts
Originally Posted by jnbrown
It is dangerous to even stop on because it feels like you are going to fall over if try to unclip and put your foot down and the road a nasty camber to it.
There’s a trick to stopping and starting on a steep grade: either find a driveway to pull out in, or stop and start the bike facing perpendicular to the road. Mind the traffic, of course.
__________________
Ride, Rest, Repeat. ROUVY: terrymorse


terrymorse is online now  
Old 08-21-22, 01:37 PM
  #106  
big john
Senior Member
 
big john's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,101
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8188 Post(s)
Liked 8,844 Times in 4,392 Posts
Originally Posted by jnbrown
On that day we did not climb it, we went the opposite (easier) way on that road which had roller coaster hills with some in the 20%+ range.
I have climbed it on several occasions and it is by far the hardest hill I have been up.
It is about 1 mile long. It is not 26% the whole way but it is in some portions.
It is dangerous to even stop on because it feels like you are going to fall over if try to unclip and put your foot down and the road a nasty camber to it.
Yep. I feel the same about Balcom. I really don't like descending those things, either.
big john is online now  
Old 08-21-22, 01:38 PM
  #107  
big john
Senior Member
 
big john's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,101
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8188 Post(s)
Liked 8,844 Times in 4,392 Posts
Originally Posted by ooga-booga
los gatos is a beast.
I figured if anyone would know that road, it would be you.
big john is online now  
Likes For big john:
Old 08-21-22, 02:45 PM
  #108  
t2p
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2022
Location: USA - Southwest PA
Posts: 2,980

Bikes: Cannondale - Gary Fisher - Giant - Litespeed - Schwinn Paramount - Schwinn (lugged steel) - Trek OCLV

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1359 Post(s)
Liked 1,803 Times in 1,038 Posts
Originally Posted by big john
I figured if anyone would know that road, it would be you.
I rode hills - you guys ride mountains
t2p is offline  
Old 08-21-22, 03:09 PM
  #109  
big john
Senior Member
 
big john's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,101
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8188 Post(s)
Liked 8,844 Times in 4,392 Posts
Originally Posted by t2p
I rode hills - you guys ride mountains
Not so much these days.
big john is online now  
Old 08-21-22, 08:46 PM
  #110  
diphthong
Senior Member
 
diphthong's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: insane diego, california
Posts: 8,287

Bikes: 85 pinarello treviso steel, 88 nishiki olympic steel. 95 look kg 131 carbon, 11 trek madone 5.2 carbon

Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1619 Post(s)
Liked 3,087 Times in 1,670 Posts
Originally Posted by jnbrown
On that day we did not climb it, we went the opposite (easier) way on that road which had roller coaster hills with some in the 20%+ range.

I have climbed it on several occasions and it is by far the hardest hill I have been up.

It is about 1 mile long. It is not 26% the whole way but it is in some portions.

It is dangerous to even stop on because it feels like you are going to fall over if try to unclip and put your foot down and the road a nasty camber to it.

talk about scylla and charybdis...one direction is straight up, the other direction is the roller-coaster from hades.

totally agree with your assessment...personally rate it as the hardest, semi-quick climb in all of socal. fargo (and nearby) streets near dtown la get a little steeper (and shorter) but at least you can "paperboy"
up those since they're fairly wide...los gatos is narrow-no rescue driveways, no shoulders plus you get the local aggie trucks throughout the day so there's no magic hour to climb it. plus
it's got a southern exposure so it's guaranteed to be extra hot.

los gatos is the only hill in all of paved and public socal that i fear. even some of the nearby monsters on sandia creek rd and elsewhere in de luz are just a light appetizer comparatively.
it's been over a decade and i'm heavier but have better gearing and a lighter bike. thinking about giving it the old college try here in september. it ain't the easiest to get to either with
some leg-sapping climbs just to reach the base before the attempt. you can descend it from the north-which is easier climb wise-and then ascend but going down just psyches you out.
gotta make sure the will is up to date and the insurance is maxed out before the attempt tho. will be leaving the water bottles at the bottom of the hill.

there is a smallish area with some ridiculous longer 20% climbs called "dictionary hill" in the town of spring valley which is approx 9-10 miles east of dtown san diego. the streets are straight as an
arrow and the traffic is relatively low. looks like i'll be getting busy over there doing some prep. it's an easyish 30 min ride there from my place. the big, short climbs (which hit 28% max) near me in sd are too short
to replicate los gatos...need 20%+ and distance...think this will be the closest i can get w/o actually doing los gatos.

Last edited by diphthong; 08-21-22 at 09:09 PM.
diphthong is offline  
Old 08-21-22, 08:55 PM
  #111  
diphthong
Senior Member
 
diphthong's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: insane diego, california
Posts: 8,287

Bikes: 85 pinarello treviso steel, 88 nishiki olympic steel. 95 look kg 131 carbon, 11 trek madone 5.2 carbon

Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1619 Post(s)
Liked 3,087 Times in 1,670 Posts
Originally Posted by big john
I figured if anyone would know that road, it would be you.
would rather climb the 39 to dawson or gmr to the lifts with guaranteed hours of suffering vs the out of the saddle the entire way longest fifteen minutes of your life that is los gatos.
diphthong is offline  
Old 08-21-22, 09:29 PM
  #112  
big john
Senior Member
 
big john's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,101
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8188 Post(s)
Liked 8,844 Times in 4,392 Posts
Originally Posted by ooga-booga
would rather climb the 39 to dawson or gmr to the lifts with guaranteed hours of suffering vs the out of the saddle the entire way longest fifteen minutes of your life that is los gatos.
Ahh...39
big john is online now  
Likes For big john:
Old 08-21-22, 09:55 PM
  #113  
diphthong
Senior Member
 
diphthong's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: insane diego, california
Posts: 8,287

Bikes: 85 pinarello treviso steel, 88 nishiki olympic steel. 95 look kg 131 carbon, 11 trek madone 5.2 carbon

Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1619 Post(s)
Liked 3,087 Times in 1,670 Posts
Originally Posted by big john
Ahh...39
yah...that 39...in both directions.
diphthong is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.