Bike Forums - View Single Post - 2% grade, >40 miles. Gearing?

07-23-08 | 11:57 AM

#30

merlinextraligh

pan y agua

Joined: Aug 2005

Posts: 31,809

Likes: 1,232

From: Jacksonville

Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike

Quote:

Originally Posted by marin1

I also call BS, saying climbing in wisconsin is steeper than the alps is crap, Alp d'huez averages 8-9% for 13km. Your riding partner is just trying to make excuses for sucking on a climb.

I've ridden a fair sampling of HC climbs from the TDF (L'Alpe De Huez, Galibier, Ventoux,Izoard, Aubisque .) The HC climbs in the TDF really are not that steep, they're just consistently steep for a long long way. In fact many of the Cat 1 and 2 climbs have steeper sections than the famous HC climbs. They just aren't as long.

For example the Col Marie Blanque with a sustained section of 13% is steeper than anything on L'Alpe de huez.

There are steeper climbs in Florida. Of course they're only a 100 foot vertical, but they're steeper.

And much of the climbing in the Appalachians is steeper than the HC climbs, just not as long.

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