Originally Posted by
chasm54
If your gearing is low enough you can remain stable while climbing at very low speeds. I've certainly climbed at 2mph, fully loaded, on a >20% gradient, in a 17 inch gear.
+1. I have a 24x34 low gear, which I only have to use on the steepest hills (over 20%). On grades between 13%-20% or so I'm usually in the 24x26 or 24x23.
I've been as low as 2 mph, maybe even lower momentarily. Never any problems balancing the bike at such low speeds. Here's a video with GPS overlay showing me climbing grades in the high teens between 2-4 mph. The only thing moving around excessively is my head.
I had no idea I moved my head around so much while climbing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_NanMq4-xw