This is BF Chuck.

In most places people figured out how to build roads over hills.

I remember where I was when I heard that JFK was assassinated. I remember when I got the news about John Lennon. And the Space Shuttle Challenger exploding.

I do not recall where I was when I heard Michael Jackson was dead. Didn't leave that big of an impression.

Sorry.

not the frign romans. we have some roads here that just go straight up and over. so stupid.

I remember where i was when princess Diana died. I was even slapped by colleague for making a tasteless joke the next day.

The top marginal income tax bracket went from 24-63% under Hoover's short term to 63-94% :eek: during FDR. Fun times...

Maybe the Indians blazed many of the trails that are now our roads.

At any rate, there's not "10-18% grade hills all over the place."

That being said, it's hard not to watch 'This is It' and not be blown away by that man's talent. I mean he weighs 120 lbs, he looks like a strong breeze would kill him, and he's the best dancer on a stage full of top pro dancers. A guy who never took dance instruction. Amazing. And singing in perfect voice at the same time.

And epic Entertainer for the Ages in the vein of F. Sinatra. He's so much fun to watch you don't even have to like his music to enjoy him. Stupid drugs. They kill everybody.

That being said, I'm still here.

No, life is not fair.

It's pretty hilly around here. All of my week-day rides are at least "rollers". Usually with on 6% to 8% grade thrown in.

I have a long flat route, but if I start from home, I have to climb out of the valley. There is at least one 15+% grade there.

This is my first season in this area and the first few weeks were pretty rough. Hell, it was a little rough today -- back-to-back steep graded hills (the short kind) at the beginning of a 4 mile hill that is otherwise 2% to 3%. I used to live in Delaware and that's pretty flat.

It must be the country roads. They just seem to have paved the cart paths.

r u in NY state too?

Yes. Near Syracuse.

and it really is really hilly?

Compacts and triples are not required for "climbs" in NY. It's more rolling than hilly.

It can only be considered hilly in NY if you are riding hard.

Here it's simply the terrain. Most of Orange County is hilly, this may be the hilliest part. This is the last grade before my driveway, it tops out @ 17%.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...Daddybike3.jpg

You appear to be zigzagging back and forth across the road to make the ascent.

How tall are you? That's what I weigh this second.

This from a Brooklyn guy who's idea of a 'big climb' is the Col du Alpine Boat Basin.

I can assure you there are hills here that would have half the Freds in the NY area crying for a compact.

Well, it seems pretty hilly to me.

Probably about 5' 9.5"

I haven't measured in a while.

You appear to be a Gomer pudgeball even @ 156 pounds. What's your point?

Wait, two days ago you said you were 5'11" like me. They must have a lot of flooding there. You're shrinking.

Little Tor, Bear Mountain, Ash St. in Piermont, Bradley/Tweed? None require a compact or any gear more than a 39/23.

oh crap. the ride i signed up for has a climb at 25%

Here's what the local cycling club says about terrain

Terrain: Abbreviations are used in the ride descriptions to describe how flat or hilly a ride is. Note that these ratings are approximate, and are an average for a ride –some rides have long flat segments along with some very hilly segments.
Code Description Feet of Climbing/Mile

F Flat route < 10
F/R Flat to Rolling 11-20
gR generally Rolling 21-30
RH Rolling to Hilly 31-45
sH somewhat Hillier 46-60
VH Very Hilly > 60

Around the block for me is 7.7 miles with 407 feet of climbing and a max.grade of 6.2% (a short stretch.)