What catagory would Mt. Mitchell be?

..o0 0o. said:

Mt. Mitchell in the mountains of NC. The highest peak east of the
Mississippi @ 6684ft (2037M)

Quoted message said:

Where can I find info on how climbs are categorized?

Read the FAQ:

http://draco.acs.uci.edu/rbfaq/FAQ/5.3.html

Art Harris

<< > Where can I find info on how climbs are categorized?

Read the FAQ:

http://draco.acs.uci.edu/rbfaq/FAQ/5.3.html

Art Harris >>

The FAQ says "For Coloradoans, you can thank the ski industry for creating
long,but relatively gradual climbs that rarely exceed 5% for any substantial
length(5+ miles). I never had to use anything bigger than a 42x23on any climb
in Colorado, regardless of altitude. Gear ratios of39x24 or 26 are commonplace
in the Alps and Pyrenees and give a very telling indication as to the
difficulty of European climbs."

That claim about Colorado's lack of steepness only
holds true for the major highways.

"One potential 1st Category climb for Coloradoans may be the 4000 ft. climb in
about 15 miles from Ouray to the top of Red Mountain Pass."

Guanella Pass is rated HC in the Saturn Classic.
Independence Pass would also be a Cat. 1 I think. There
are massive amounts of cat. 2-ish climbs around here.

Robert

Thanks to all

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Mt. Mitchell in the mountains of NC. The highest peak east of the
Mississippi @ 6684ft (2037M)
Where can I find info on how climbs are categorized?

Hard to say. Part of the categorization is where in stage the mountain
is encountered. A mountain toward the end of the stage will get a higher
rating than a similar one at the beginning.
--------------
Alex

Thanks as well for the link to the pertinent FAQ, however, it only
covered how the elevation gain affected rating. I saw nothing on how
gradient or distance into the ride factored in.

For example, lets use another California climb (this one in the Sierra
Nevada mountains), Known as "Big Creek Grade" on the Climb to Kaiser.

It "only" climbs 2000 feet. But it starts at mile 54 of a 155 mile ride,
with average gradient of 8% (max 1 mile gradient = 15%), climbing from
5000 - 7000 feet elevation. Rarely do the "Cols" in the Pyrenees or the
Alps get that high.

And there is an even longer climb a couple of miles further on the same
ride that climbs even further. 7000 feet to 9200 feet in seven miles.
WAY higher than any TdF climb, Hor notwithstanding! And at these
heights, altitude itself becomes a major factor, as it becomes difficult
to get enough oxygen with each breath.

But by the sample given in the FAQ, these would barely qualify as Cat 2
climbs...

- -

"May you have the wind at your back.
And a really low gear for the hills!"

Chris Zacho ~ "Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

Chris'Z Corner
http://www.geocities.com/czcorner

(R15757) said:

"One potential 1st Category climb for Coloradoans may be the 4000 ft. climb in
about 15 miles from Ouray to the top of Red Mountain Pass."

Guanella Pass is rated HC in the Saturn Classic.
Independence Pass would also be a Cat. 1 I think. There
are massive amounts of cat. 2-ish climbs around here.

Mt. Graham (home of the Arizona state hill climb championship and
recent forest fire...) climbs about 6000 feet in 20.0 miles, and
that's with a relatively low slope for the first couple miles, and a
couple significant descents toward the top. It's plenty steep -
probably about the same (over the "uphill portion) as most of the bone
breakers in the Tour.

I also rode Mt. Mitchell - my recollection is that it's long and
steep, but not AS steep - I believe it climbs something like 4000 feet
in 25 or more miles (but with a couple large descents that would add
1000 feet or so). But I'm quoting from memory, so probably have it
all wrong.

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
http://www.habcycles.com
Home of the $695 ti frame

What do the climb categories mean?
Climbs are graded according to their severity, from fourth to first
category, plus the very hardest climbs which are considered 'hors categorie'
or 'beyond category'. The gradings take into account the length and
steepness of the climb and the position of the climb in the stage, with the
quality of the road surface making up a final, less important factor.

How are the gradients calculated?
A grade of, say, ten percent, simply means that the road ascends ten metres
for every 100m it travels horizontally. For those with a mathematical bent,
it's a simple tangent ratio. Climb grades are averages for the whole climb,
so a straightforward-sounding six percent grade can hide some much steeper
pitches that make it a monster.

".o0 0o." <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Mt. Mitchell in the mountains of NC. The highest peak east of the
Mississippi @ 6684ft (2037M)

Where can I find info on how climbs are categorized?

Mark Hickey wrote:

<< Mt. Graham (home of the Arizona state hill climb championship and
recent forest fire...) climbs about 6000 feet in 20.0 miles, and
that's with a relatively low slope for the first couple miles, and a
couple significant descents toward the top. It's plenty steep -
probably about the same (over the "uphill portion) as most of the bone
breakers in the Tour.

I also rode Mt. Mitchell - my recollection is that it's long and
steep, but not AS steep - I believe it climbs something like 4000 feet
in 25 or more miles (but with a couple large descents that would add
1000 feet or so). But I'm quoting from memory, so probably have it
all wrong. >>

I think with all this talk of Mitchell, Diablo, and Graham we are forgetting
the toughest American hill climb which is being raced this very unseasonably
cold day while I sit warm in the living room: The Bob Cook Memorial Hillclimb
up 14000-foot Mount Evans.

Robert

MJR said:

What do the climb categories mean?
Climbs are graded according to their severity, from fourth to first
category, plus the very hardest climbs which are considered 'hors categorie'
or 'beyond category'. The gradings take into account the length and
steepness of the climb and the position of the climb in the stage, with the
quality of the road surface making up a final, less important factor.

How are the gradients calculated?
A grade of, say, ten percent, simply means that the road ascends ten metres
for every 100m it travels horizontally. For those with a mathematical bent,
it's a simple tangent ratio. Climb grades are averages for the whole climb,
so a straightforward-sounding six percent grade can hide some much steeper
pitches that make it a monster.

So, we got any domestic (US) "hors categorie" climbs?

--Karen M.

Karen M. asked:

<< So, we got any domestic (US) "hors categorie" climbs? >>

Guanella Pass (Georgetown side) is rated HC in the Saturn Classic. Mt. Evans
would have to be HC iMO.

Robert

The route taken for the Bob Cook (Idaho Springs to Echo Lake, to Evans
summit) is long but not all that steep. Last I checked it was about
28.5 miles, climbing 6900 feet- something like 7% average rise. What
makes it hard is altitude- 14 miles of the ride are above 10,500 feet.
It should also be noted that the last three miles are among the
steepest, scaling switchbacks all the way to the summit. To be fair, I
have never raced it :-)

I think a harder overall climb is the north side of the Grand Mesa, just
east of Grand Junction. It is long, sustained, and as I recall, has no
appreciable areas to rest your knees. I don't recall all the stats but
I do recall being trashed by the time I clambered over the summit :-)

Terry

R15757 said:

Mark Hickey wrote:

<< Mt. Graham (home of the Arizona state hill climb championship and
recent forest fire...) climbs about 6000 feet in 20.0 miles, and
that's with a relatively low slope for the first couple miles, and a
couple significant descents toward the top. It's plenty steep -
probably about the same (over the "uphill portion) as most of the bone
breakers in the Tour.

I also rode Mt. Mitchell - my recollection is that it's long and
steep, but not AS steep - I believe it climbs something like 4000 feet
in 25 or more miles (but with a couple large descents that would add
1000 feet or so). But I'm quoting from memory, so probably have it
all wrong. >>

I think with all this talk of Mitchell, Diablo, and Graham we are forgetting
the toughest American hill climb which is being raced this very unseasonably
cold day while I sit warm in the living room: The Bob Cook Memorial Hillclimb
up 14000-foot Mount Evans.

Robert

I posted this when I got home from doing the Bob Cook Memorial Mt.
Evans Hill Climb on www.bikejournal.com.

Rode the the Bob Cook today in 3:00:59 minutes. The ride is 28 miles
(45 km), starting altitude 7,450 ft (2298 m) finishing altitude 14,540
ft (4348 m). My goal was 3:00:00. Yes gang I missed it by that much.
Day didn't start good for me and I was 10 minutes behind my last
year's time at the half way point at Echo Lake (1:10 vs 1:00). My legs
weren't working (plan on warming up for 20 minutes was killed by the
fact I spent so much time figuring out what to wear), was having some
stomach problems and I just didn't have anything in that first 14
miles. But I beat my time for the second half from Echo Lake to the
Summit by thirteen minutes, making up most of that in the last 5
miles, the steepest section.

Finally my legs woke up and my stomach calmed down and I started
passing all sorts of people, but didn't have enough to make up all the
time I lost on the bottom but still beat last years time by more than
three minutes. The weather, besides cold (low 40s) and grey (fog,
clouds but no rain) until after Echo Lake wasn't too bad. When I left
Denver it had been cold and raining. Temp at the starting line was
probably about 40F and on top the high was supposed to get to just
38F. When I got to the visitor center house on Mt. Evans Road the sky
started to clear and after the two switchbacks after that we were
above the clouds with a beautiful view of the peaks in the distance
sticking out of the cloudbank and blue skys above. Had mostly sun to
the top, but the descent clouded up and it got cold and windy.

A new record was set on the course today. Details I am sure will be at
www.bicyclerace.com. The kid who set it passed the group I was riding
with at that time on that long straight section about a mile or two
before you reach the descent to Summit Lake. (Pro's start 45 minutes
after the Citizens) We were surprised to see a solo pro rider at that
point and even more surprised when the next pro rider didn't show up
until we were had the turn to the descent in sight, almost 8-9 minutes
later. The guy who won was from Durango and rides for a pro team in
Italy, don't remember his or the team's name. He shattered the old
record by 4 minutes and beat everyone else by almost 9. Well, that was
the fun on Mt Evans today.

This is supposed to be the highest road cycling race in the world and
a guy even had flown over from Japan to race it (came in 13th in his
catagory). It actually looked like there was a considerable number of
no shows at the start line for the citizens race due to bad weather
but still those who did show seemed to have a great day. Well if you
call freezing vital body parts off on the descent fun.

Roger

Danielson obliterates record

By J. David Barron
Herald Sports Editor

United States women's team cycling coach Michael Engleman stated last
week that he was the Mt. Evans record-holder, but that he was sure it
was only a matter of time before fellow Durangoan Tom Danielson broke
the mark.

Danielson wasted no time in proving Engleman prophetic, smashing the
12-year-old mark of 1 hour, 45 minutes, 30 seconds by an astounding
4:10 en route to capturing the prestigious race Saturday. In a field
of approximately 1,000 riders that included around 100 professional
cyclists, Danielson reset the Mt. Evans mark with a time of 1:41:20 up
the highest paved road in North America.

Mt. Evans, located 28 miles north of Idaho Springs, is a 28-mile
ascent with an elevation gain of 6,610 feet to the summit, which
stands 14,150 feet above sea level. Durango had two more cyclists
posting Top 10 finishes in the pro ranks, with Mitch Moreman and Cody
Peterson crossing the line in fourth and sixth, respectively.

Danielson's coach, Rick Crawford, said, "There was a lot of concern
about the tempo at the bottom of the course because it's flat. That
was really important when Mike Engleman set the record (in 1992).

"We knew it going to be a hard record to break," Crawford continued.
"We were concerned that we didn't have the train (team) that Mike had
at the bottom. We didn't have that, but Mike Wilk sacrificed himself
completely for Tom, and that was the key. It helped tremendously.

"I was very confident about his chances in the climbs," Crawford said.
"The numbers he's been getting the last couple of weeks have been
phenomenal. His form has been great. It turns out he had just an
excellent ride. We couldn't have asked for anything more. He just
shattered the record."

Danielson, who immediately boarded a plane for Europe, wasn't
available for comment.

Durango High School teacher and Fort Lewis cycling coach Gerry
Geraghty said Danielson is looking for pledges of $250 for the record
and $150 for winning the race. All proceeds will go toward the Durango
Youth Cycling Program. Persons interested in pledging can go online at
www.durangoherald.com.

<< Danielson, who immediately boarded a plane for Europe, wasn't
available for comment. >>

I've been to the top of Mt. Evans but I never noticed
the international airport up there.

Robert

Howdy Roger,

I think your altimeter is off. The USGS measurement of the summit of
Evans is 14,264 feet. The race ends about 160 vertical feet below that
in the parking lot. There are no 14,000 peaks in Colorado over 14,431
feet, which is Mount Elbert- the highest in the state.

Regards,

Terry

Roger said:

I posted this when I got home from doing the Bob Cook Memorial Mt.
Evans Hill Climb on www.bikejournal.com.

Rode the the Bob Cook today in 3:00:59 minutes. The ride is 28 miles
(45 km), starting altitude 7,450 ft (2298 m) finishing altitude 14,540
ft (4348 m). My goal was 3:00:00. Yes gang I missed it by that much.
Day didn't start good for me and I was 10 minutes behind my last
year's time at the half way point at Echo Lake (1:10 vs 1:00). My legs
weren't working (plan on warming up for 20 minutes was killed by the
fact I spent so much time figuring out what to wear), was having some
stomach problems and I just didn't have anything in that first 14
miles. But I beat my time for the second half from Echo Lake to the
Summit by thirteen minutes, making up most of that in the last 5
miles, the steepest section.

Finally my legs woke up and my stomach calmed down and I started
passing all sorts of people, but didn't have enough to make up all the
time I lost on the bottom but still beat last years time by more than
three minutes. The weather, besides cold (low 40s) and grey (fog,
clouds but no rain) until after Echo Lake wasn't too bad. When I left
Denver it had been cold and raining. Temp at the starting line was
probably about 40F and on top the high was supposed to get to just
38F. When I got to the visitor center house on Mt. Evans Road the sky
started to clear and after the two switchbacks after that we were
above the clouds with a beautiful view of the peaks in the distance
sticking out of the cloudbank and blue skys above. Had mostly sun to
the top, but the descent clouded up and it got cold and windy.

A new record was set on the course today. Details I am sure will be at
www.bicyclerace.com. The kid who set it passed the group I was riding
with at that time on that long straight section about a mile or two
before you reach the descent to Summit Lake. (Pro's start 45 minutes
after the Citizens) We were surprised to see a solo pro rider at that
point and even more surprised when the next pro rider didn't show up
until we were had the turn to the descent in sight, almost 8-9 minutes
later. The guy who won was from Durango and rides for a pro team in
Italy, don't remember his or the team's name. He shattered the old
record by 4 minutes and beat everyone else by almost 9. Well, that was
the fun on Mt Evans today.

This is supposed to be the highest road cycling race in the world and
a guy even had flown over from Japan to race it (came in 13th in his
catagory). It actually looked like there was a considerable number of
no shows at the start line for the citizens race due to bad weather
but still those who did show seemed to have a great day. Well if you
call freezing vital body parts off on the descent fun.

Roger