Fifty Plus (50+) - Climbing the Steepest Hill

I've posted some photos and a story about last Sunday's Fargo Street Hill Climb, in Los Angeles, here (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/718208-To-Climb-the-Steepest-Hill-A-Journey-of-Self-Discovery).

I'm guessing I'm one of the older riders to make the top of the hill this year (stats will be out later), which, while it is only 1/10th of a mile long, features a 33% grade.

Here's a photo of my 59 year-old brother, who made it without stopping to the top of the hill.

http://www.davewyman.net/fargo201.jpg

Here's a photo of my 59 year-old brother, who made it without stopping to the top of the hill.

Hey, is he tacking? Cheater! :)





j/k. That's awesome, congrats to both of you. Looks like fun.

That's awesome.

I climbed Fargo back in '78 and I still have my silly embroidered patch with the "33% grade" on it. So, that would have been when I was 28.

Not sure I could climb it now (at nearly 61), but maybe next year I'll go out and give it a try again.

What gearing were you using? I did it in a 30t x 28 in '78, but would use a 34t x 32t if I tried it in 2012.

Rick / OCRR

33% ouch... I've got a hill similar to that leading up to my cottage up north but it's all gravel. My hat goes off to anybody who can climb a grade like that under any circumstances.

Great photo!

I climbed Fargo back in '78 and I still have my silly embroidered patch with the "33% grade" on it. So, that would have been when I was 28.

Not sure I could climb it now (at nearly 61), but maybe next year I'll go out and give it a try again.

What gearing were you using? I did it in a 30t x 28 in '78, but would use a 34t x 32t if I tried it in 2012.

Rick / OCRR

My brother and I climbed the hill in 1978, too.

Back then, and for some years, we probably used 42/24 gearing. This time out, I used 34/27, and my brother went with 39/24.

We both tack across the face of the hill - very few can pedal straight up. My brother plans on trying that next year.