Originally Posted by HiYoSilver
Is there a common method of calculating hill climbing ability much like there is a Gear Inch table telling how fast you could go in a particular gear?
Not that I know of.
Originally Posted by HiYoSilver
1. What is the typical climb % of hills in US? Is this 1/2 grade or what?
Probably about 6% to 8%. It's unlikely you'll encounter much more than about 15% in the US.
Originally Posted by HiYoSilver
2. What is the worst % hill climb you have faced? [ anyone use a inclinometer, or just eyeball. I know you didn't get out the binoculars and run the trigometry formulas. ]
25% ... in Wales. I walked it.
Originally Posted by HiYoSilver
3. On a 10 point fitness scale with 10 being the high, and 1 low. With a fitness level of 3, what gears/GI would you need to climb most hills?
That depends entirely on the grade, how much luggage you are carrying with you, and what your climbing technique is like.
I've got a triple chainring: 53/42/30 and I put an XT mtn bike cassette on the back: 34-11, I believe.
Before I knew how to climb hills I climbed everything in the 30T, and was often right into my granny (30x34). Then I learned how to climb, even with a load, and now I rarely get into my 30T ... only when I'm very tired or if the hill is a particularly difficult one.