Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,370
Likes: 1,232
From: South Meriden, CT
Bikes: '90 B'stone RB-1, '92 B'stone RB-2, '89 SuperGo Access Comp, '03 Access 69er, '23 Trek 520, '14 Ritchey Road Logic, '09 Kestrel Evoke, '08 Windsor Tourist, '17 Surly Wednesday, '89 Centurion Accordo, '15 CruX, '17 Ridley X-Night, '89 Marinoni
I'm guessing the three major climbs I rode in France in 2004 were my steepest and longest. Alpe d'Huez, which I rode twice (13.9km long and bridges 1118 vertical meters with an average gradient of 8%), Col de la Madeleine (20km / 12.4mi average gradient: 7.8% Start point: La Chambre Elevation at top: 2,000m / 6,562. The Madeleine is an Hors Categorie climb. 27 hairpin bends to reach the summit – 6 more than Alpe d’Huez),and La Mongie (19.0 km / 11.8 mi long, climbing1,404 m /4,606 ft at an average of 7.4% with a maximum of 10.2% near the summit).
I can't remember climbing anything here in the states more difficult. Steeper grade maybe, but nowhere near as long.