Big Ascensions

BigAscenders said:

45 percent at bottom photo...

http://bigascensions.free.fr/loca2004/devil.htm

You can't always take road-sign percent grades at
face value. Often they represent the steepest short
section or even the inside of a turn, rather than the
overall grade over an appreciable distance (like
100 meters or more). That said, I'm sure all those
roads are quite painfully steep. It is difficult to take
a picture that captures the steepness of a grade.

In article
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Quoted message said:

BigAscenders said:

45 percent at bottom photo...

http://bigascensions.free.fr/loca2004/devil.htm

You can't always take road-sign percent grades at
face value. Often they represent the steepest short
section or even the inside of a turn, rather than the
overall grade over an appreciable distance (like
100 meters or more). That said, I'm sure all those
roads are quite painfully steep. It is difficult to take
a picture that captures the steepness of a grade.

First step is to use a lens with the proper field of
view.

"... standard lens which produces a 24x36mm
(1x1.5inch) negative - has a 50mm focal length. The
normal lens for a camera using 4x5inch (100x125mm)
film is 135mm ..."

--
Michael Press

BigAscenders said:

45 percent at bottom photo...

http://bigascensions.free.fr/loca2004/devil.htm

I remember that in 2002 (or 2001 ?) , some cars could barely make it
up the Angliru in the rain, 45% seems...steep !

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

45 percent at bottom photo...

http://bigascensions.free.fr/loca2004/devil.htm

I remember that in 2002 (or 2001 ?) , some cars could barely make it
up the Angliru in the rain, 45% seems...steep !

From what I understand, the Angrilu isn't anywhere near 45%; it's somewhere
in the mid-20s. But I don't think it's the grade that's as important as the
composition of the road surface. I'm very experienced with Sonora Pass (in
the Sierra Nevada mountains of Northern California), which has grades of up
to 26% (if you take the worst lines through the steepest corners), and one
section at 8400ft that's a sustained 20% for 1 kilometer. Last month I had
the opportunity to find out what it would be like to climb, and descend that
grade, in a snowstorm (snow, hail, sleet & rain at various times).
Surprisingly, traction was never an issue. On the other hand, I've had
problems on some local hills (San Francisco Peninsula) where the grade is
only 10%, but tires slip out fairly easily when wet.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

"Keith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

BigAscenders said:

45 percent at bottom photo...

http://bigascensions.free.fr/loca2004/devil.htm

I remember that in 2002 (or 2001 ?) , some cars could barely make it
up the Angliru in the rain, 45% seems...steep !