Digital Gee

How do you guys know how much climbing you did on a ride? Is that a function of your cyclocomputer? Mine doesn't do that.

RockyMtnMerlin

Some computers will track elevation. You can also go the GPS route with Garmin et al. Or if you want to be a luddite, you can break out the topo maps and see how many feet you have climbed.

cheeseflavor

For free, you can try this:

gmap-pedometer

I've used it a few times, and it works, and the price is right!

Steve

stapfam

My legs, lungs and body tell me. Moderate hills- quite a few-and I've just climbed Everest.

DnvrFox

Interesting!

Thanks

berts

You could get an altimeter watch or a fancy cyclocomp with alt function or you could guestimate.

After having climbed more than a few hills I can estimate the % grade.. I also know how long the hill is in miles/km. A simple calculation will give you a pretty good guestimate- for example average 5% grade for 2 km (1.25 miles) is about 100 meters (300 ft).

HiYoSilver

Berts,

Ok I'll bite. If I know distance and climb height, what's the formula for calculating grade?


Ped site is interest, BUT add a grain of salt.

I ran the same route three times and total elevation varied from 200 foot climb, to 323 foot climb to 430 foot climb.

Distance is fairly accurate. cyclometer was 4.8 miles, ped site gave 4.6xxx miles.

Best way to map a route is in hybrid mode so you can see trails and roads. Enjoy.

berts

%grade= vertical lift/run*100

in the above case:
avg. vertical lift is about 320
avg. run is about 4.6 miles (24,288 ft) actually it is slightly less but the difference will not change the %grade significantly

% grade = 320/24288*100 = about 1.3%


I tried the ped site, but no maps available for my area (too bad).
I have looked into some altimeter watches, however I'm not sure if knowing my exact altitude gain is that important to me.

jppe

I use a cyclometer called Ciclosport Model 434. It has the traditional cylometer functions plus temperature, elevation gained, highest point during a ride, actual per cent grade/slope of a hill, maximum slope of hill during a ride and probably some other functions I just don't use regularly (like watts). It comes in either a wired and wireless model. The cyclometer itself works either wired or wireless as you only have to change the base unit.

It uses the barometric pressure change method to determine elevation and slope. It's not 100% accurate but it's good enough for me. I picked it up new off of eBay for around $100 delivered earlier this year. I think Vetta makes something similar. A Polar model also has those features but is much more expensive-but you can plot the outputs on your computer!!

Check out the new Garmin Edge GPS for something really neat. Unfortunately it costs a lot more than Lucky!!

My wife gave me a GPS that I have tested against the Ciclosport and I'm satisfied with the performance of the Ciclosport.

RockyMtnMerlin

FWIW I had to return 2 ciclosports that failed. I went to GPS.

cheeseflavor

Yep... when it doesn't crash

It's still a project, but the potential is there.

Steve

HiYoSilver

Probably should be (vertical lift/run) *100 .

Hey, but I'm not going to quibble. Thanks, I finally know the grade to work is about 1%. I'd die if it was a 5% grade.
Then I would definitely have to redo my gearing one more time.

Artkansas 

Try Google Earth. It also gives you distances.

scarry

The Ciclosport HAC4 tracks speed, altitude, and heart rate and allows downloading to your home computer. You can then print out cool ride profiles graphing your ride. Good for keeping records of your tours. For this you will pay $300. The computer interface is extra.

HiYoSilver

Just curious is the HAC 5 out yet?

berts

you're right of course - i left out the ()

stapfam

Thanks for that ********** 100m in 1.25 miles is frightening me- I will check our easy climb up on to the hills as it is 250m in what I believe is less than 1 mile. And that is offroad. No wonder I keep using the granny ring. As I say- this is our easy climb as it is a path that we can get grip on in most places. The basket is 200m climb in 3/4 mile--ON MUD. That puts it at an average of 16%. Only do that one in the summer for some reason- although it was planned for tomorrow to check out the new tyres. Don't think I'll bother now and find an easy route.

Edit
Going back to the altimeter point- Once you have a bike there are certain things you have to get to improve your riding- clothing- accessories and the best Toy for a Bike is the Computer. As I say- I regard a computer as an extra addon that is not necessary, so to me an altimeter is an "Extra" toy that will not improve my cycling ability- but it would boost my ego if I knew that I had climbed 3.000 ft in a 3 hour ride. What It won't tell me is that it was a 5% gradient, which although tiring, is not hard. OR whether it was a basket of a climb at 15 or 20%. Only my body will tell me that.

berts

pretty much in agreement with you on that. I would invest in improving the engine (improved nutrition, core strengthening, increase riding quality and time, etc., etc.) before buying the extra toys.