Originally Posted by Don Woodson
The reason I ask is because I recently rode 39 mi (rt) on the Katy trail in Missouri. It was described as a 4% grade the entire way. But during the whole ride I couldn't tell which way was uphill or down hill. At what % grade would you say is 30 or 40 degrees? Some of the hills that I ride are at an honest 40 degrees for about a half mile.
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Don, where is this section of the Katy that is 4% for 39 miles????
I've ridden the east end of the Katy several times, and it is board flat. There are spots (a few yards) marked as >5%, but that's only where the road briefly rises over a bridge or another road. I think they note those spots for people using wheelchairs, etc.
A 7% grade, IIRC, means that there is 7 feet of rise to every 100 feet of road.
I think this translates to a 45 degree road being a 100% grade. A 40 degree road for a half mile would be extremely steep. Something like an 80% grade I think. That would be a hill rising (corrected) 2100 ft in a half mile. I've seen some of the hills along the river, and they are really tough. But I don't think there are any hills that high in MO or IL.