Red Bull

[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.

[Bike Goddess]

THANKS KIM! I have watched yellow jackets (our guys) disappear around the first bend and thought "Hmmmmm, when am I going to do this thing?" Since I'm doing Chico century I figure I might as well get a little more climbing in before I do Honey Run

[yellow]

Re: taste...In my neophytic (is that a word?) opinion, it's fruity-sweet-tarty. But then Kim is right...I don't think there is anything out there that I would compare it to taste wise. I do coffee too and caffeine doesn't seem to affect me that much.

Re: the hill... it's steep, but not as steep as Slug Gulch or Snows Road (which I get the pleasure of riding tomorrow, apparently). I think it hits you like a bullet train because you've just spent 3-4 miles climbing, then you go around a steep and strangely banked corner (which slows you right down) and then you climb again for a bit. I don't know why, but this hill eats just about everyone I know. It's not as steep as some others in the area, though I hate it more than just about any other.

SK, yes it is the one that we lost Robb on.

I'll put my GPS on the bike tomorrow and let you know what Snow's is, assuming I don't melt into a big blob of I-don't-wanna before we get there (which could happen given that I haven't taken a rest day since Monday).

[RoadRaven]

Hey there... I haven't been 'brave' enough to try Red bull yet either

But, we do have something here called "V" which I like just before a race. I used to have "Mountain Dew" for the caffeine, but "V" (caffeine/guarana) i find gives me more of a 'rush' (if you will).

[DirtDiva]

...we do have something here called "V"...

V is fantastic. Kinda works like Red Bull, but actually tastes goooooood. It isn't available in North America, but those of you in the UK should be able to find a 250mL can for the small fourtune of about £1.50 (approximately NZ$4.00 ). Mmmmmm... V...