patentcad

I do believe this hill would be a Cat 4 climb in a Grand Tour. About 400' vertical, but spread that over a mile, and trust me, it's a hill. It would completely detonate any amateur race that's for sure. Maybe a hill the pros could take as a pack, but even then there would be gaps, the steep ramps are too steep.

RollCNY

A baby seal walked into a club.

banerjek

I heard that at least one orc was sighted there -- on a bicycle if you can believe that

RT

I heard after that orc climbed said hill, he took a rest on a stylish bench, against which many a clown bike has been posed for a photograph.

patentcad

These western guys - I wonder how many of them have cycled in the east and done eastern seaboard hilly rides, which tend to be somewhat more ball busting in some ways than the prolonged mountain climbs in higher terrain? I can come up with an 80 mile local ride that has 8000 vertical feet of climbing, and the longest single climb is maybe 2 miles long and 700' vertical, but the hills here are steeper and quite numerous, you're always grinding up some little upgrade on a ride like that. It's different than long 5+ mile climbs (I've done a lot of that in Greece). To me the shorter eastern climbs are at least as fatiguing, maybe more so. At least on a long sustained climb you can get into a rhythm.

The toughest climbs are the ones that combine a long sustained mountain ascent with a prolonged section that averages 10%+. The toughest climbs I did in Greece were the road that goes over the high pass on Evia, and the hardest 3 mile section of that pass was easily 10% average with (I kid you not, my computer kept telling me this) switchbacks that were 16-20%. Man that's a tough hill over there. The most astonishing part is that they send articulated tractor trailers (euro style) up and down that road. That's insane. They are crazy in Europe. No doubt.

patentcad

Also, how can I be an Orc? My dog's name is Samwise.

RT

Feet are feet.






Unless you are at altitude

patentcad

I hear you about the altitude, I've skied in the Rockies enough to have had a week of altitude sickness; even when you feel ok you feel how thin the air gets above 7000 feet, I'm sure you feel it on a bicycle at lower altitudes. But how bad vertical feet kicks you is impacted by the type of climbing for sure. Easier to ride 4 miles up a climb with an average grade of 5-6% than 1 mile up a hill with a grade of 8% plus with steeper ramps, at least in my experience with those different climbs.

patentcad

I haven't started a 41 Thread in months. I should make this friggin thread Pay Per View on the Pcad Channel.

Doohickie

All you'd hear would be crickets chirping if you charged for this dredge.

Doohickie

Oh, and compared to your other efforts, this one comes in pretty weak.

MikeyBoyAz

right after Driving over Ms. Daisy and The Home Shoplifters Network.

Doohickie

You see what I'm doing, don't you?

Doohickie

It's not a pcad thread without repeat posting.

Doohickie

I just beat pcad to the punch this time.

Doohickie

You're losing your touch, old man.

Doohickie

Or maybe you're just losing touch.

RJM

You need to quote yourself, Doohickie.

GuitarWizard

Depends on the terrain, really......when you have more gradual transitions, it's easier to find and stay in a rhythm.

banerjek

We have both -- I also find the short steeper stuff tougher (and usually more interesting) because you don't have the option of not working too hard. Also, the descents on such roads are no picnic as they tend to have crappy surfaces and tight switchbacks. But it is fun to see how high you are after you've climbed thousands of feet. Also, there's something neat about dealing with stinking hot weather and snow in the same ride.

patentcad

I'll know my work here is done when Wikipedia defines 'Mt. Doom' as this hill, not that poser fictional volcano in the Tolkien tome.

v70cat

Now I know go if I want to take a couple of Cervelo's.

patentcad

You'll have to get past the Killer Guard Dog.

rangerdavid

you'd know for sure if you'd man up and get a Strava account like the rest of us............. just sayin

K.Katso

Which one of those mansions on the top of it is yours? The one with the giant pool in the back?