Athletes, what's harder riding up that hill or running up that hill?

[witeowl]

I'll repost this picture I posted some time ago. Biking/running up a street near where I was born. The runner won.
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/attac...7&d=1199922660

Well, I think that settles it.* Just look at the calm smile on the runner, compared to the scream of determination on the cyclist.

* Not really, of course.

[Eden]

That's a 34% grade hill..... like I said I think there is a steepness at which the bike becomes a liability, and I do think it is before you hit the 30's .... I'd say in when a hill hits the high teens a runner might begin to have the advantage. I also think the distance you are talking about makes a difference. Have you ever seen the rabid fans that run along side the riders on mountain climbs. They can usually run faster than the racers *but* for a short time only.

Bicycling Science (a neat geeky book) goes into great detail and appears to come to the conclusion that equilibrium is reached at around an 18% grade (but also assumes you are pushing the bike)

[Owlie]

I'm not at a point yet where I have enough muscle power to overcome the bike's tendency to want to roll backward. I'd say running, except that I can't run either. (No, really. I walk a mile faster than I run one.)