Red Bull

[Bike Goddess]

Yellow- Please get that altimeter or whatever we call those measurement things we use on our bikes and give us the % grade. If you are doing it at 5.5 I can IMAGINE what a grind it must be for the rest of us. I'm about to do one of those nasty climbs next Tuesday up McEwen Road which I understand is pretty nasty on a bike (I've done it in a car only).

Of course, we could come up your way and climb along with you using this Red Bull stuff! I await further comments

[aka_kim]

I'm about to do one of those nasty climbs next Tuesday up McEwen Road which I understand is pretty nasty on a bike (I've done it in a car only).

It is pretty nasty, but still doable. The very start is quite steep (15% maybe?), but it then levels off to, say 9-10%, and goes for about half a mile. You'll have no problem, Nancy, wings or not.

[spazzdog]

OK... off the Red Bull topic (slightly) but:

How does one find out the grade of hills in the area? Is there a specific type of map or county dept I need to contact?

Then I'll know if I need a Red Bull...

(how's that for segueing back to topic?)

[CorsairMac]

OK... off the Red Bull topic (slightly) but:

How does one find out the grade of hills in the area? Is there a specific type of map or county dept I need to contact?

Then I'll know if I need a Red Bull...

(how's that for segueing back to topic?)

are you riding a bike??...then ya need a Red Bull!

Corsair "no bull" Mac

[SadieKate]

Spazz, there are a variety of ways. You can use an inclinometer, a computer with an altimeter, maps that report it, club myths, tall tales, fellow post-ride drinkers and other stories. Sometimes clubs will post elevation profiles for rides. All you need to know is distance and elevation change.

You could probably also go to topozone and check the elevation for various spots on the road and calculate the slope. I think there are threads on this subject over on cyclingforums and bikejournal where people have posted links to various mapping software on the internet where you might be able to look up altitiude and then just do a WAG for an entire ride.

For instance, we have a 10.6 miles mtb ride with a cumulative gain of 2,020 ft (per V's compooter). On the assumption that 1/2 of the ride is climbing, a WAG tells you that the average climb is 7.2%.

[SadieKate]

If you don't want to do the math yourself . . . .

Slope Calculator

[spazzdog]

Okee-dokee!

First I buy a case of Red Bull (just in case).

Second I check out topozone (if I try to put one more piece of computer equipment on my bike, I'll have to learn to ride with no hands... all the time)

Third, I drink the Bull

Fourth I ride the hill.

spazz

[SadieKate]

Okee-dokee!
Second I check out topozone (if I try to put one more piece of computer equipment on my bike, I'll have to learn to ride with no hands... all the time)

Don't need to: TopoZone

Maybe all the caffeine and sugar will help you calculate really high impressive numbers. Yep, I can hear you now exclaiming that you climbed that 10 mile long, 19% grade in your big ring. Just takes another can of Bull.