Just curious…I’m asking because I’m always amazed at how many people are pretty inaccurate in regards to gradients. I’ll go first, the steepest I have ever ridden is 18.8% here in Minn. We have a spring classics race every year and this infamous hill is a part of the race. I try to ride it 4-5 times per year. It’s only about 1/3rd of a mile long, but it just kills you. The steepest climb I’ve ever seen has of course been Brasstown Bald, with “the wall” section, which is only a part of the climb to the top, but approaches 25%. What about you??
Savageman in Deep Creek Md calims to have the steepest hill in Triathlon but who knows I may do that event this year. But that is much steeper than anything I have ridden
Mt washington auto road, NH, gets up top 22-23%. Its damn steep
Wow…looks cool, never have done anything more than what I listed above. 25% has got to be just a kick in the a*s. I’m usually pretty comfortable on anything less than 12-13%…over that and the pain really starts…
I think I could manage up to about 20-21%, but I don’t know if I could even climb 25%…maybe if it was REALLY short. Cool link.
What’s the Muur de Huy in Belgium? I’ve ridden about halfway up that. In the rain.
clm
32% or 33%, Fargo st in Silverlake, Los Angeles, steepest road in california (allegedly), “ridden” would be an overstatement as I did not make it to the top running a climbing gear of 39-23…
The first 30 yards are manageable then the heart rate goes ballistic:)
Funny you mentioned Brasstown Bald, because that would be it! Didn’t think GA had hills that steep. Next up would be out of the hoover damn up to Lake Mead, but I didn’t have an inclinometer on the bike.
Just curious…I’m asking because I’m always amazed at how many people are pretty inaccurate in regards to gradients. I’ll go first, the steepest I have ever ridden is 18.8% here in Minn. We have a spring classics race every year and this infamous hill is a part of the race. I try to ride it 4-5 times per year. It’s only about 1/3rd of a mile long, but it just kills you. The steepest climb I’ve ever seen has of course been Brasstown Bald, with “the wall” section, which is only a part of the climb to the top, but approaches 25%. What about you??
How do you know the steepness of those hills? There is a pretty steep hill it took me 3 times trying to finally get up it, I would like to know the steepness of it.
the curb, but it didnt last all that long, being only 4inch tall and everything.
There is a really steep hill here in Southern OC just off a popular cycling route. There is a road called Live Oak that descends from the top of Santiago Canyon into Trabuco Canyon. About 1/2 way down there is an access road that goes straight up the side of the canyon. It has only two switchbacks and has a 28 and 30 percent section and averages about 20%. It is just about 1km in length and a great little hill to have on our product test loop.
I can’t imagine some of these 20-25% climbs that are cobbled. The latest Cycle Sport (or was it procycling) rates the Spring classics’ steep grades. But as I understand it, you’ll never know how hard they are until you see how narrow, rough, and brutally fast they ascend them.
-SD
Take a trip to the land of the Kiwi. In Dunedin on the South Island there is a little diddy called Baldwin Street. 37%!!! Took me several attempts but I made it up on a rental bike. Had I used my own…well that 39/21 wouldn’t have gone very far.
Well, for the hills by me, I have always used any one of the various online topographic options…
This is one of my faves…
Laguna Beach California, a street off of PCH called Nyes Place, I believe it is 20% according to the sign. There is also 3rd street which I have made it up and I believe that is more than 20%.
20%; http://www.bicycleclimbs.com/ClimbDetail.Aspx?ClimbID=33
I lived on the plateau at the top of this climb for several years; for most of them I couldn’t make it up in one go. made it last year in late summer and again just recently.
Yeah, that’s a good climb. There are also dozens of little short ones in Seattle (I’m thinking of the neighborhoods around Lake Washington blvd, south of the bridge) that top out well in excess of 20%. You know it’s steep when you are worrying about your front wheel popping off the road!
-C
Fargo st in L.A. Back in 78 did it in a 42/21 tacking all the way. I beleive Thurlow Rodgers did it straight up once in a 39/26.
Steve
www.sidemountpedal.com
Los Gatos road west of Temecula, CA approaches 33% at the top. I may not be a long enough hill to make the recordbook. I’ve only be able to clear it out of the saddle in a cross-country mountain bike.
Recently, Strawberry Hill (SR87 north of Pine-Strawberry, AZ)
Years ago, the Appalachian and Lincoln Gap in Vermont
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I was driving around one night looking for a house that I’d seen listed in Silverlake. I kind of got lost over, and I was driving up this monstrous hill. I thought to myself, “I’d hate to have to ride my bike up this to get home after a long ride.” When I got to the top, I saw the sign… Fargo… It was actually on the other side from where they hold the ride, but it was still damn steep and pretty funny.