Beaker

Is it me or are there more grade signs in SoCal than NorCal? I can't recall the last time I saw one round here.

Vireo

No bike in the picture. I have done Furnace Creek 508 three times (2007 fixed gear 49 x 17). I can post this picture and say that I have climbed Towne Pass 4956 elevation.

Race reports 2006, 2007, 2008

palookabutt

Wow. I will never complain about chip-seal again.

(Ok, I lied. I'll still complain about chip-seal, but I won't feel quite so put-upon.)

dmb2786

i have never seen a grade sign. do they have them on skyline drive?

unterhausen

I don't have any pictures, but that sign with the truck going down a steep grade is my favorite road sign of all. Means you're near the top.

rallison

Mt Baldy climb to the ski lifts, pics is of my mom who did it as well:

kayakdiver

Not common in the PNW(grade % signs). When I rode in New England last summer I saw a few. Our signs in Washington tend to just have the truck picture. Sucks for the ego.

chuckb

No grade. Does elevation count? It's about 7%, but goes on for about 5,000 feet

dcvelo

Not that I've ever noticed any grade signs, but then I don't think there is anything much over 5% on Skyline Drive.

kgabike

Here's one from Florida that I did.

Copperhed51

Did a little climb in Farmington today and realized that I definitely need a different cassette. I think I'm running an 11-23 or maybe it's an 11-21 with a 50/34 compact crank and I had to stop on a hill for the first time ever today. My cadence was down to around 55 and my heart rate was stuck in the upper 190's. I could only sustain it for a few minutes before I couldn't take it anymore. I was really excited about going back down but it was so windy that I couldn't get above 40mph. The one time I hit 40, the bike and I started getting lifted off the ground and blown to the side. The shoulder wasn't big/debris-free enough to allow that and the road itself had a huge rut running down it that would have sucked my wheel bad. First time I've ever been scared on a descent.

mattm

Taken when on the bike, and yes I've ridden up it too:



And yes, I know that's a tiny hill.

urbanknight

Nice pic! btw My VDO claims that the grade gets up to 18% at the last stretch.

Vireo

I love seeing pics of BF members who ride/share the passion of cycling with their family members but especially their parents. Mine have passed away and I only wish I could have shared my passion for riding with them.

urbanknight

+1 It didn't work out that way for me. I got into racing and stopped riding with my family. One-by-one, hey each stopped riding and I'm the only one left. I've tried to get my dad back into it as he's out of shape, but he's no longer motivated, and he's the one who got me into riding in the first place.

WSKB

The only way is up...

WSKB

Where is this, Highands? Lake District?

Vireo

There's still time don't give up on him

Vireo

In the process of doing my 400km Brevet report I found this one. It is on of the "summits" on De Luz Rd in Fallbrook.

KiddSisko

What can we do to help get your dad back on the bike? How about a group petition?

It wasn't my parents or family who got me into cycling at age 13, but another family who moved into the neighborhood. I'd see them leaving early in the morning or evening for a ride, all on white 10 speed Peugeots. The boy was my age and we became fast friends. For being so young, he had a solid grasp of all things bike and cycling. Where most kids read comic books or Mad magazine, he read Bicycling. I was soon reading it too.

My father, as well as his 3 brothers, were all HS and collegiate scholarship athletes. They're all still huge sports fans, but don't play much these days except for some hoops shoot around. However, my dad and his wife are very into square dancing. Now retired, they dance weekly and travel the country attending big dance events. I just talked with him over the weekend and he told me about a 3 day event they just came back from. 3 days of dancing and eating! And, while cyclists can talk endlessly about frames, wheels, shoes and clothes, square dancers can do the same with bands, dancehalls, clothes and shoes.

He always asks about my cycling exploits. I once took him on a spring drive up some of the roads I regularly bike throughout the Santa Monicas and he was amazed anyone could ride up those hills. Seeing me knock off 10 extra pounds these past few years inspired him to do the same. The athlete in him knows it's all about food intake and calories burned. Few things make him happier than putting on a good sweat working outside the house in the summer.

Vireo

From the same 400km report. I nice fast descent on the tandem

Chromavita

Hey, don't count us out completely, I've got a pretty mean hill to tackle coming out of my neighborhood. probably a 7% grade over about 150 feet. About 10 feet of climbing total. And don't even get me started on the OVERPASS I have to ascend to get to the movie theater.

cuda2k

Not my bike, but it is a grade sign with me next to it.



(on trail between Frisco and Breckenridge Colorado, a decent ride for this low lander / flat lander)

urbanknight

Family relations have gone downhill ever since I got married. If you or anyone else really wants the whole story, PM me. Otherwise we'll just leave it at that.

arbitrage

Came across this today while riding some snowy base miles: