Hills on commute route
#28
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Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Brooklyn NY
Bikes: Kuota Kredo/Chorus, Trek 7000 commuter, Trek 8000 MTB and a few others
I have 2 "hills", one in Prospect Park, about a 3.5% grade, the other the Manhattan Bridge. I've taken the Prospect Park hill at 20mph a few times, but in the morning on the commute I take it easy so I don't get sweaty. The Manhattan Bridge will also get me sweaty if I don't take it somewhat easy, but it can't be more than 3%. On the way home I'll either take it as fast as I can, or just gently spin it. It depends on what kind of day I had. I get to go down the hill in the park, and the uphill on the streets isn't very steep.
#30
On my last commute I had one hill that averaged about 17% and peaked at 20% at the top. It was only 80 feet or so of climbing, but in a year an a half of commuting I never did get used to it. And in winter with the ice on it, it was dangerous. Coming back at night it was a fierce little road, houses and lots of opportunities for cars to pull out with a stop sign at the bottom. You didn't have the time to enjoy the hill.
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Last edited by Artkansas; 09-29-12 at 11:30 AM.
#31
Here in Atlanta we have a lot of short steep hills that really wear you down after a while. Thankfully, some of the older "unimproved" roads run along ridges or valleys. But a lot of the newer roads where designed with cars in mind and simply go up and over. There's one hill on my way back from the library that's so steep I have to lean over the bars to keep the front wheel on the ground.
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The few, the proud, the likely insane, Metro-Atlanta bicycle commuters.
The few, the proud, the likely insane, Metro-Atlanta bicycle commuters.
#32
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Joined: Feb 2005
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From: 40205 'ViLLeBiLLie
Bikes: Sngl Spd's, 70's- 80's vintage, D-tube Folder
Almost everywhere Ive commuted has serious hillage.
The only thing that works for me is developing a mindset that enables confronting them. It could be Florida, right ?!?!?
Mind over matter. Takes a while, but is more efficient than gears and stuff in the end, for me, anyway . . .
The only thing that works for me is developing a mindset that enables confronting them. It could be Florida, right ?!?!?

Mind over matter. Takes a while, but is more efficient than gears and stuff in the end, for me, anyway . . .
#33
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,162
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From: Brooklyn NY
Bikes: Kuota Kredo/Chorus, Trek 7000 commuter, Trek 8000 MTB and a few others
Older thread about bridge grades in NYC
3.5% is listed for the Manhattan Bridge before it levels out after the tower, and that's about 1/2 a mile. It isn't a killer hill by any means, but it is still a slog up it when you are trying to stay dry.
3.5% is listed for the Manhattan Bridge before it levels out after the tower, and that's about 1/2 a mile. It isn't a killer hill by any means, but it is still a slog up it when you are trying to stay dry.
#34
Member
Joined: Jul 2012
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From: Houston, Texas
Bikes: Specialized Crosstrail (Comm), Trek 1500 (Road) Trek 4500 (MTB), Old Dept Store Bike









