Originally Posted by terrymorse
From that link:
"I am often asked how climbs in the United States compare to those in Europe. Most of the US climbs are either steep enough by European standards (6-8% grade), but are short (5-10km) so they fall into the 3rd Category or 2nd possibly; or the climbs gain enough altitude, but are too long (they average <5%) so again they would fail to break the 1st Category barrier and end up most likely a 2nd or 3rd Category."
There are several climbs in the US that are 1st categorie -- and a few are definitely hors categorie. The biggest climbs in the US put the biggest climbs in the Alps to shame. The real killer climbs are in the Eastern Sierra, starting around 4000' and topping out over 10,000' -- over a vertical mile of climbing.
Somebody was telling me the other day that "they" (whoever rates the climbs) came up with 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc. by the lowest gear of a Citroën needed to climb the hill. So if it could make it all the way in 3rd gear, it's a 3rd category
. I listened to the story rather skeptically, but by the end I was curious to know where this fantasy may have started, and how many people actually believe and perpetuate it.