What is a strong climb?

[TigerFish]

Is 590+ m of climb on a 32 km loop a reasonable climb?

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

Sure, if your climb is a 22% grade the whole way. Otherwise,,, NO!

 

[TigerFish]

How do you determine grade?

How do you figure % grade? x/y x=vertical meters, y=horizontal meters or what? If you need to shout to reply don't bother to reply. You are obviously to sophisticated a rider to deal with someone like me.

 

[xmoonx]

you got it (but its usually denoted this way where, y=rise (vertical meters), x=run (horizontal meters), m=slope, gradient); so a change (y2-y1) in rise over the change (x2-x1) in run is your slope.

(y2-y1/x2-x1=m)

 

[overgeared]

lots of factors determine how hard a climb is, there is some interesting reading here

 

[JA.Tri]

Hi TF,

Don't stress. Like so many things in cycling...it's all relative.

Factors that you may consider:

your age
your sporting history/exercise background
how long have you been riding
what terrain do you normally cover
your bike; lightweight? 20 speed? well maintained?
whether it is mainly one ascent
the gradient of that/those ascent/s

I'm assuming that you have not until recently climbed many hills. If so, your stated terrain is a reasonable climb.

But as I stated, it is all relative.

 

[Martin318is]

Another way to look at all this (and its the way I look at it) is from the personal viewpoint.

Is that climb difficult or easy for YOU ?
If you are trying to work on climbing then its probably too short unless you are just starting out. If you are just creating a training loop then it is fine. If as was said, its really steep then it might be good for that type of training.

But if its easy and you want to train with climbs, find something bigger. Otherwise, who gives a toss what other people think?

 

[rgmerk]

"Hard" depends on so many things

A 32 km loop with 590 metres of climbing could be dead easy, or really, really hard. If you cruise and have a bike with low gears (and use them for any steep bits) it can be a pleasant workout. If you attack it with the goal of setting the fastest time possible - or try to hang on to the wheel of a pro on a hard training ride - it'll become an absolute suffer-fest.

 

[M Sport]

Is 590+ m of climb on a 32 km loop a reasonable climb?

Have you got a link to a Garmin profile. Like others said, 590m in 32km could be a reasonable test, or it could be pretty easy. What it's not though is really hard.

 

[JA.Tri]

Another way to look at all this (and its the way I look at it) is from the personal viewpoint.

Is that climb difficult or easy for YOU ?
If you are trying to work on climbing then its probably too short unless you are just starting out. If you are just creating a training loop then it is fine. If as was said, its really steep then it might be good for that type of training.

But if its easy and you want to train with climbs, find something bigger. Otherwise, who gives a toss what other people think?

+1 absolutely (from an individual's point of view, the only criteria that really matters). Sorry, well chagrined, that I did not include in my attempted "comprehensive" list.

 

[TigerFish]

my information

Hi TF,

Don't stress. Like so many things in cycling...it's all relative.

Factors that you may consider:

your age
your sporting history/exercise background
how long have you been riding
what terrain do you normally cover
your bike; lightweight? 20 speed? well maintained?
whether it is mainly one ascent
the gradient of that/those ascent/s

I'm assuming that you have not until recently climbed many hills. If so, your stated terrain is a reasonable climb.

But as I stated, it is all relative.

I am 55
always exercised
biking 3 years 3,000 miles in each of last two years
hilly
Jamis Ventura Race, 20 speed, well maintained
a lot of very up and down, hilly
some very steep for short stretches, very up and down, I tried to paint in a profile from bikely but can't figure out how to paste in a picture

 

[JA.Tri]

my taking others words

Given your response: yes a reasonably hilly undulating loop. Intensity, %HR, gearing, gradient, distance are all important and to a large extent interrelated.

Picking the eyes out of other points (my presumption*):

I read (assume) from your words that you work solidly on the climbs, perceived intensity (see Martin318is), gearing obviously plays a part.

rgmerk makes the good points related to how you attack the ascents.

Hard charging seriously fast hill climbers would probably subscribe to a view similar to RDV4ROUBAIX.

You could also compare your ride with a Cat 4, 3, 2, 1 or Hors....overgeared

All valid views, pick the one/s that resonate/s with you. Whatever you choose...it's all good!

*Apologies if I have misinterpreted any post..."possible red face"