Some definitions of "hills" and "climbs"

[AyeYo]

So I'm pretty new to cycling (this is only my second season riding), cycling lingo, and everything cycling related. I've been doing a lot of reading and reading up on this forum as well. I see people talking about hills and climbs. Short and steep, long and gradual, etc. I have no idea what most of you are referring to. How short is short? How long is long? What's the grade cutoff for "steep" Are you talking CO hills or FL hills? Making things worse, most of my riding is done on fairly flat rail trails. I do the occasional group ride on semi-hilly terrain, but I'm in CT so it's mostly pretty flat. I do like to do one short ride that I consider a hill. The problem is I don't know where on the short/long/steep/gradual spectrum you guys would place this hill, so here it is for your evaluation (the hill, not my lame effort up it, please). Once I have that as a reference, then I'll be able to relate to what people are talking about.

http://www.strava.com/activities/81137292

 

[jhuskey]

100 feet of climb equals moderate to me and 3000 feet of climb per mile is steep. At least that is my take on it.

 

[maydog]

Google is your friend:

https://strava.zendesk.com/entries/20420292-How-are-Strava-climbs-categorized-For-Rides-
http://www.tourofcalifornia.org/2006/01/rating-bike-climbs.html
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/climb_information/

3000' per mile ~ 70% grade yup that is steep.

 

[jhuskey]

Google is your friend: https://strava.zendesk.com/entries/20420292-How-are-Strava-climbs-categorized-For-Rides- http://www.tourofcalifornia.org/2006/01/rating-bike-climbs.html http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/climb_information/ 3000' per mile ~ 70% grade yup that is steep.

Make that 300.

 

[maydog]

I expect climbing 70% sounds something like this:

 

[AyeYo]

LOL

I do understand how the climb categories are calculated. I was more interested in where everyone's subjective descriptions fit into that.

 

[An old Guy]

Originally Posted by AyeYo
LOL

I do understand how the climb categories are calculated. I was more interested in where everyone's subjective descriptions fit into that.

I prefer hard and easy. Easy climbs are those where my heart rate stays below LT. Hard climbs are those where my heart rate stays at LT.

Proper gearing helps.

 

[hansenator]

Anything that makes my legs hurt is a climb. This early in the season it doesn't take much.

 

[AyeYo]

Originally Posted by hansenator
Anything that makes my legs hurt is a climb. This early in the season it doesn't take much.

See that's my issue with climbs. They never make my legs hurt. I don't know if it's my granny gearing (54/30), winter time asthma, or what, but it's always my cardio system that gives out first.

 

[hansenator]

Originally Posted by AyeYo

See that's my issue with climbs. They never make my legs hurt. I don't know if it's my granny gearing (54/30), winter time asthma, or what, but it's always my cardio system that gives out first.

It's kind of both for me. I haven't been out much this year because my lungs don't handle temps below about 40F very well. It's supposed to get into the 50s on Sunday though and I am so planning to get out.

 

[swampy1970]

Originally Posted by jhuskey
100 feet of climb equals moderate to me and 3000 feet of climb per mile is steep. At least that is my take on it.

How not to descent a 3000ft per mile hill: