Gradients, are we talking about the same thing?

[anotherkiwi]

Often here I read "20% hill" and think to myself that is bonkers so then looked it up https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grade_(slope) OK so lets apply to the terrain.

This is a tough hill to walk up. It is tough to ride up too because there is no run in possible so you have to start from a standing stop or from walking pace, definitely a first gear hill on my bike.

https://www.doogal.co.uk/RouteElevation.php

Location 1 43.377861 -1.669943
Location 2 43.377136 -1.669042

Only a 13-14% gradient over 100 metres and it is a tough climb in first gear! So how do you manage 20%? I know a 10% hill I can't ride all the way up on an un-powered bike, 20% is twice as steep!

 

[EddiePJ]

Interesting question.

I did a little test whilst in Switzerland on an old railway line. Well it wasn't really a test as such, I just wanted to see if I could ride up it. I'll try to piece together the stats for it at some stage, but Velowviewer seems to be more of an accurate gauge than Strava that it is linked to.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1083946774

From this photo, I estimate that at least at the point where this photo was taken that the bulk of the ride was an 18 degree climb, but certainly felt much steeper. After taking a fall about half way up the ascent, trying to get going again was a real bastid. I ended up having to place a log behind the back wheel to stop the bike from rolling backwards and spinning.

This sign was towards the latter stages of the climb, and I stopped when I reached it as there were people about, and clearly I wasn't supposed to be on there. Annoying for me though, as I had set it as a bit of challenge for myself.

This photo is taken looking back down the climb, and the steep section to the side, is the very steep footpath climb that I would normally have taken.

 

[flecc]

Interesting question.

I did a little test whilst in Switzerland on an old railway line. Well it wasn't really a test as such, I just wanted to see if I could ride up it. I'll try to piece together the stats for it at some stage, but Velowviewer seems to be more of an accurate gauge than Strava that it is linked to.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1083946774

From this photo, I estimate that at least at the point where this photo was taken that the bulk of the ride was an 18 degree climb, but certainly felt much steeper. After taking a fall about half way up the ascent, trying to get going again was a real bastid. I ended up having to place a log behind the back wheel to stop the bike from rolling backwards and spinning.

This sign was towards the latter stages of the climb, and I stopped when I reached it as there were people about, and clearly I wasn't supposed to be on there. Annoying for me though, as I had set it as a bit of challenge for myself.

This photo is taken looking back down the climb, and the steep section to the side, is the very steep footpath climb that I would normally have taken.

18degrees, that's 32%, a really tough climb and never within my unpowered cycling ability, but I did just manage the same once on a powerful hub motor Ezee bike. Half killed me though, slowing to below when the hub motor could deliver before reaching the crest meant I had to slog over the last few metres. Never tried it again.
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[flecc]

Only a 13-14% gradient over 100 metres and it is a tough climb in first gear! So how do you manage 20%? I know a 10% hill I can't ride all the way up on an un-powered bike, 20% is twice as steep!

Your post puzzles me a bit, but I don't know your age. I've never been an especially capable cyclist, not being a sporting type, but I only rode unpowered up until I was 67 and continued with unpowered as well up to age 69. Up until then I always rode for my supermarket shopping unpowered, and that included a 7% on the way plus a very long 6%. Plenty of downhill on the return loaded with shopping, but one stiff 10% climb and of course my 14% up to home.

I live up that fairly short 14% hill and without load certainly didn't have to use the lowest gear to ride up it. Unpowered and standing on the pedals when in the mood I'd sprint it at over 10mph. Powered, my legal Ezee Quando based e-bike makes it very easy, since it can take me up 10% without pedalling and just manages 12% unaided by pedalling.

I also have a few not very long 20% hills in the North Downs and could just ride those in bottom gear unpowered, though I didn't do that routinely and of course it wasn't easy. It could be exhausting at times, and the more capable of my e-bikes makes 20% more manageable. However, my first e-bike, a Giant Lafree with the first Panasonic unit made such heavy weather of a long 20%, I wondered if I was really gaining anything from the motor, judging by how exhausted I got helping it up there

In my 60s I enjoyed conquering some of the nastiest climbs unpowered. For example one longish country lane climb varied between 10 and 14%, but what made it nasty was the way it suddenly changed from 10 to 14% at the midway point before returning to a bit under 10%, then back to 14% when approaching the crest. That double hit could really sap the spirit, but after beating it I would often ride a couple of miles around the lanes just for the challenge of doing it again.

However, I have to admit I could only do that as a result of a year's intensive cycling training a couple of years after retiring to reach peak fitness . A little over 5000 miles in my hilly area did the trick.

Depending on your age, perhaps that could be an answer, buy a light unpowered road bike and set yourself a daily training session for a few months to improve your ability. Obviously start with a flattish route and then gradually make it tougher as your fitness improves. Once you have enough fitness to ride unpowered, e-biking up steep hills will seem very easy.
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[topographer]

This photo is taken looking back down the climb, and the steep section to the side, is the very steep footpath climb that I would normally have taken.

Blimey. That path looks like you'd have to ascend it on all fours.

 

[EddiePJ]

Blimey. That path looks like you'd have to ascend it on all fours.

The path is 1.6miles long, with an elevation gain of 1,602ft

https://www.strava.com/activities/1083946782

The local mtb guide book, recommends not climbing it, and suggests taking the train up instead.

 

[flecc]

Doing it with a trailer:

And loaded:

But it's easier downhill:

 

[anotherkiwi]

Your post puzzles me a bit, but I don't know your age. I've never been an especially capable cyclist, not being a sporting type, but I only rode unpowered up until I was 67 and continued with unpowered as well up to age 69. Up until then I always rode for my supermarket shopping unpowered, and that included a 7% on the way plus a very long 6%. Plenty of downhill on the return loaded with shopping, but one stiff 10% climb and of course my 14% up to home.

I live up that fairly short 14% hill and without load certainly didn't have to use the lowest gear to ride up it. Unpowered and standing on the pedals when in the mood I'd sprint it at over 10mph. Powered, my legal Ezee Quando based e-bike makes it very easy, since it can take me up 10% without pedalling and just manages 12% unaided by pedalling.

I also have a few not very long 20% hills in the North Downs and could just ride those in bottom gear unpowered, though I didn't do that routinely and of course it wasn't easy. It could be exhausting at times, and the more capable of my e-bikes makes 20% more manageable. However, my first e-bike, a Giant Lafree with the first Panasonic unit made such heavy weather of a long 20%, I wondered if I was really gaining anything from the motor, judging by how exhausted I got helping it up there

In my 60s I enjoyed conquering some of the nastiest climbs unpowered. For example one longish country lane climb varied between 10 and 14%, but what made it nasty was the way it suddenly changed from 10 to 14% at the midway point before returning to a bit under 10%, then back to 14% when approaching the crest. That double hit could really sap the spirit, but after beating it I would often ride a couple of miles around the lanes just for the challenge of doing it again.

However, I have to admit I could only do that as a result of a year's intensive cycling training a couple of years after retiring to reach peak fitness . A little over 5000 miles in my hilly area did the trick.

Depending on your age, perhaps that could be an answer, buy a light unpowered road bike and set yourself a daily training session for a few months to improve your ability. Obviously start with a flattish route and then gradually make it tougher as your fitness improves. Once you have enough fitness to ride unpowered, e-biking up steep hills will seem very easy.
.

One word answer: asthma. There is nothing wrong with my fitness and I have very strong legs. But as the years go by I have more and more trouble getting oxygen to my muscles. Any slope of length and I am quickly breathless with uncontrolled heart rate.

 

[flecc]

One word answer: asthma. There is nothing wrong with my fitness and I have very strong legs. But as the years go by I have more and more trouble getting oxygen to my muscles. Any slope of length and I am quickly breathless with uncontrolled heart rate.

Fully understood and I sympathise. I have a limited experience of struggling to get oxygen to the muscles on longer rides since my high output endurance is very poor. In my case it's a legacy of heavy smoking over many years, and the years since giving up (31 years now) haven't been able to fully repair the circulation damage.

I can do long rides for hours, but my average speeds are way below par since I can only low output over long periods.
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