Northern California - Grade question

Since some of us seem to be fixated with steepness, I was wondering how steep is that street that the Tour of San Francisco used to go up a few years ago? I think that it was Taylor, but I could be wrong. I just remember that the pros really struggled and some of them had to traverse across.

Cliff

Taylor Street has a 16% grade. Here are a couple of guys showing off by climbing it in their big chainrings. The Mercury guy looks like he is shifting down, though. The Texan has his "you call this a hill?" face on.
http://www.kenpapai.com/racing/sf2002/lance0451.jpg

Thanks. that's surprising that's it's only 16% since I remember some of them traversing. I guess they that they couldn't fall back on a 34/28 combo like I do.:)

Well, you have to remember that they went up Taylor Street 15 times and up Filmore Street (similar steepness, but a block or two longer) 10 times, for a total of 25 times up a nasty pitch, with serious hammering in between.

I did the "short" course in one of the years they let you before the race began - Taylor was steep. I made it up once. I might have been able to do it twice, but I'm not positive. Those are Tour of Flanders-level nasty - minus the cobbles, but still . . . .

The SF Grand Prix was a greatrace to watch. I'm still :mad: that SF politics killed it.

Well, you have to remember that they went up Taylor Street 15 times and up Filmore Street (similar steepness, but a block or two longer) 10 times, for a total of 25 times up a nasty pitch, with serious hammering in between.

I did the "short" course in one of the years they let you before the race began - Taylor was steep. I made it up once. I might have been able to do it twice, but I'm not positive. Those are Tour of Flanders-level nasty - minus the cobbles, but still . . . .

The SF Grand Prix was a greatrace to watch. I'm still :mad: that SF politics killed it.

Was the race really killed by "politics"? The stories I remember all had to do with money, as in not enough of it, especially when Lance stopped coming.

Well, you have to remember that they went up Taylor Street 15 times and up Filmore Street (similar steepness, but a block or two longer) 10 times, for a total of 25 times up a nasty pitch, with serious hammering in between.

I did the "short" course in one of the years they let you before the race began - Taylor was steep. I made it up once. I might have been able to do it twice, but I'm not positive. Those are Tour of Flanders-level nasty - minus the cobbles, but still . . . .

The SF Grand Prix was a greatrace to watch. I'm still :mad: that SF politics killed it.

+1 I loved the year Chris Horner killed the field and was off the front for solo win.

+1 I loved the year Chris Horner killed the field and was off the front for solo win.

I was there for that one (2003?). He actually lost count on the last lap and the referee had to tell him not to go around again.

I still have a Cytomax bottle I picked up from the peleton that race. I'll assume it was Horner's.

I saw every one of those races.

I think it went: Hincapie, Horner, Dionne, Dionne, Wegmann

Not my photo:

http://www.kenpapai.com/racing/sf2003/jonas0693.jpg

What a cool photo!

I recognize Sacramento boy Mike Sayers in the HealthNet kit on the right.

I recognize Sacramento boy Mike Sayers in the HealthNet kit on the right.

That's Vaughters and Carney with Prime Alliance in the front.


Here's another shot that shows the steepness - note the windows are horizontal in the photo so you know it's not exaggerated.
http://www.kenpapai.com/racing/sf2003/johnson0727.jpg

That's an even better shot - although the first one is pretty spectactular.

Look at Sayers' front wheel. It's barely touching the pavement.

Look at Sayers' front wheel. It's barely touching the pavement.

Floyd's too.

http://subchaos.com/bike/floyd_landis_climbing_in_sf.jpg