Humongous Halloween Uni climb in San Pedro this morning, 10.31.12. This one rivals Fargo for sheer steepness, but it's a narrow walkway so there's no way to "zig zag", and must be ridden straight up! I measured the distance by gps at about 250 feet, with elevation gain at a whopping 102 feet! According to this calculator, that translates to a massive 41% grade!

I'm pretty sure the walkway is less than that, but it sure felt at least as steep as Fargo's 33% grade, even though this walkway is half that distance. Whatever the actual number is, it's a steep mutha, and a GREAT training hill!

The last time I was there and tried it, I failed less than halfway up as I lost momentum and stalled. This morning I went back but with the same light weight road tire I used for my Fargo climb. I had just filmed my first attempt using my tripod, which couldn't capture the whole climb. I was just about to leave when local came along and offered to film me, and followed me all the way up!

I'm sure this could also be done on a bike, and makes a fantastic training climb!

That looks like about a 16" gear, about the granny on the usual MTB. Good job!

Thanks. But it's 1:1 direct all the way! The pedal revs exactly match the rotation of the wheel. With a bike in "granny gear", you are pedaling much faster than the wheel is rotating. And I have no push/pull, only push. I do have another 26" mountain uni with a high gear, which is 1:1.5. So far though, there are no unicycles made today with a low gear.

I think you misunderstand how gear-inches are calculated. They go back to the day when "ordinaries" were in general use. Measuring their "gearing" consisted of measuring the diameter of the front wheel. A unicycle is exactly the same. So your gearing is the diameter of your wheel. An MTB climbing the grade in the video will use the same number of pedal strokes as your unicycle if the MTB's gear-inch number is equal to the diameter of your unicycle wheel. The number of wheel revolutions for a geared bicycle is irrelevant.

I've seen randonneurs riding unicycles with the largest wheel that fit under their butt. Maximum unicycle gearing depends on leg length.

I'm sure its tough but be aware that GPS elevation can be inaccurate. And distance over short distances isn't too hot either. Best to look it up on USGS maps. google maps has that data for many areas.

I can't even track stand so a uni cycle is out of the question for me. Great job.

Thanks for the comments!

That is pretty darned impressive.

Good on you!