Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 730
Likes: 0
From: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Bikes: 1976 Apollo Mk IV, mid-'80s Miyata touring bike, mid-'80s Miyata mtn bike, 2007 Trek 6500 mtn bike, 2008 Trek Madone 5.2
Here's how I determine the grade of a hill, from the gentlest to the steepest:
-breathing easy, can still accelerate
-breathing harder, would rather not talk, can accelerate with difficulty
-can feel my heart beating, feeling my legs, can only accelerate by standing
-muscle burn is setting in
-should probably stand if I'm going to make it
-drop into my small chainring on a triple
-and finally: holy cr@p, please, please, please, make the pain stop.