Comments on: Let’s Talk About Percent Grade and Climbs

By: Bill Clelland

Bill Clelland — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 20:38:00 +0000

Rented a bike from Daryll in Grenada in mid January 2013 for 10 days. Great way to see the island at bike speed. As Daryll says there are lots of hills to climb and descend in his paradise. The drivers are suprisingly generous to the few cyclists out there considering they careen around on their roads. Great service from Daryll. The bike was new and in great shape. Thanks. See you next time.

As for climbs at home in Canada, the one that comes to mind is in the Laurentians outside Weir, Quebec that I often ride. It’s an average 14%er for 800 meters and goes up to 20% (that’s the point at which I don’t look up at the road or it could defeat me). My cycling buddies call it “the bastard” as it comes often at the end of a 2 to 3 hour hilly ride. Personally I like the uphills better than the downhills. They concentrate your mind in a way that pushes everything else out.
Now back in Canada and looking forward to some spring riding
Bill

By: Carlos Rodriguez

Carlos Rodriguez — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 18:03:00 +0000

Darril, I live in Gijón, Asturias (north of Spain)... there's no road around my hometown without a climb minimum 5%, and lots of 7-11%. But, back home to finish my rides, there's a paved street, 200 meters long with 10%... it breaths me out. Gijón en Bicicleta

By: Andy

Andy — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 22:23:00 +0000

Nasty driveway I have to go back up a hill pretty much no matter which way I go. Shorter and low 20′s, medium in the 16% range or longer at about 12%. Tough to finish a long ride that way but you will be better for it in the end

By: Darryl is Loving the Bike

Darryl is Loving the Bike — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 19:45:00 +0000

The best way to track it is with a bike computer. They calculate the percent grade based on satellites and as far as I know they are quite accurate.

By: Trail Mayor

Trail Mayor — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 19:41:00 +0000

How do you measure climbs in percent? I don’t rally trust Strava and it reads in feet of climbing not %. Thanks for helping!

By: Darryl is Loving the Bike

Darryl is Loving the Bike — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 11:17:00 +0000

Keep on pushing hard up those hills, Andy.

By: Darryl is Loving the Bike

Darryl is Loving the Bike — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 11:16:00 +0000

That’s some serious climbing, Jay. Keep up the great climbing.

By: Jay

Jay — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 04:20:00 +0000

I live in Colorado. Avg. training day is 50-60 miles with 5-6,000′ of climbing. Mostly 6-8% (Hwy insists on lower grades for snow removal). The steepest is 17-20%, but those are short pitches. Triple By-Pass is 125 miles, 10,000′
Loving the bike here!

By: Andy

Andy — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 01:40:00 +0000

lots of 7-14% grades around me. One nasty hill starts at 7% and finishes at 23%….Really Hard.

By: Darryl is Loving the Bike

Darryl is Loving the Bike — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 17:07:00 +0000

That’s a great questions, Kim and I should have mentioned something about it in this post. My Garmin computer tells me the percent grade of the road based on satellite calculations. This is how the myself and the people who commented know what the percent grade is.