What is a "pure climber"

[maillotpois]

It's the word "gradually" - is it 1780 feet in 10 miles or in 50 miles? Big difference, but "gradually" leads me to believe it is a long distance, shallower climb, which wouldn't favor a pure climber who would excel at the steeper climbs.

Marco Pantani was a pure climber - tiny and wiry and strong. Mario Cipolliini not so much, but Mario could hang with Pantani on the shallower climbs I am sure because the power to weight ratio is not such a factor.

[SadieKate]

Note that "pure" doesn't necessarily mean drug-free.

[maillotpois]

Snort!

[ny biker]

Whatever a pure climber is, I am the opposite.

[pinkbikes]

Whatever a pure climber is, I am the opposite.

I'm with you! I'm a pure couch sitter! Pure chocolate eater!?

[ny biker]

Pure slowly-wheezing-my-way-to-the-top-but-at-least-I'm-not-falling-over.

[marni]

Pure slowly-wheezing-my-way-to-the-top-but-at-least-I'm-not-falling-over.

that describes me perfectly Today's climb over the Eagles Nest near Medina was 12% but it was only 3/10 of a mile of narrow hairpin turns, hit the granny gear and try to keep going fast enough to not fall over. I made it and found the downhil 12% over 1/2 mile of narrow hairpins harder and scarier.

marni

[Catrin]

Pure slowly-wheezing-my-way-to-the-top-but-at-least-I'm-not-falling-over.

This was me last Friday on a short but steep hill in a park. I actually didn't know it was POSSIBLE to be going 3.5 mph and not fall over

[malkin]

Whatever a pure climber is, I am the opposite.

An impure climber?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

An impure climber?

I'm an impure climber, and proud of it.

[WindingRoad]

An impure climber?

OK that sounds like you should have a big red scarlet letter on your jersey, LOL

[ny biker]

An impure climber?

I used to be Snow White, but I drifted...

[Jiffer]

It's the word "gradually" - is it 1780 feet in 10 miles or in 50 miles? Big difference, but "gradually" leads me to believe it is a long distance, shallower climb, which wouldn't favor a pure climber who would excel at the steeper climbs.

Marco Pantani was a pure climber - tiny and wiry and strong. Mario Cipolliini not so much, but Mario could hang with Pantani on the shallower climbs I am sure because the power to weight ratio is not such a factor.

So, basically I was right. Harder climb would benefit the pure climber. The ride they're talking about is a 40 mile out and back, but the climbing part is during the first 20.