How steep is steep?

[virek]

Tell me...with all this talk of steep, not steep, the camera lies etc for the likes of me it is hard to understand how steep it really is without a point of reference of my own.

So how steep is a 6.8% gradient? Yes I know the maths, but compared to Leith Hill, for example Dorking-Coldharbour, how does it stack up?

I know Leith Hill isn't 15km long, forget the length of the climb I'm just interested in knowing the relative steepness.

Many thanks.

[AodanH]

TdF climbs are not steep compared to anything around the North downs but are an order of magnitude longer which is hard to comprehend without trying some.

About 500m of the Dorking-Coldharbour is steeper than most roads in the Alps etc. The Zig Zag would be considered steep but it's only 1 km long as opposed to 8-15km on Alpine climbs.

Most climbs in the North Downs can be approached with a bit of all-out enthusiasm, sure they hurt, but a few minutes of hard work gets most people over them. If you approach the an Alpine climb with this attitude you will die after 2-3 km, end up sitting on the side of the road and you wont even be high enough to have a decent view.

[Andy]

I suppose steep depends on how you feel. After 100km, 8% will be a lot harder than if you tackled it 90km earlier.....

Of course, real 'steep' is 12% plus.....16%+ begins to seem like a wall too. Which is not good for the ol' morale.

ZigZag is no problem with a good rhythm......

[Dan B]

Just guessing:

Leith Hill, coming from the north side: ~7-8% average
Southwest: about the same
Southeast (the slippery, narrow road): ~8-9%

A good idea of roughly 6% average climb: Riddlesdown Road in Purley. Steep bits of ~8% that calm down to 4% or less by the end. A good little training climb.

Like was said above, most of the North Downs climbs are short, sharp shocks. Take White Down, White Hill or Titsey Hill: all about 16% average for about 1-2 km at most, much like the 9th km of the climb to Plateau de Beille (see gradient at bottom of the VeloNews page).

[url]http://www.velonews.com/tour2004/news/articles/6334.0.html[/url]

Now stick all your favourite climbs together and you might be getting close to a Pyrenean climb. Ask anyone who did the Etape last year about the Col de Bargaguy. One rider called it "like riding up the side of a house".

The Alps tend to be longer climbs with less gradient on the whole, so you can get into a semblance of a rhythm. Still tough to us who find Ditchling Beacon a slog.

[Elliot M]

Looks like Alpe D'Huez is 8.45% overall with 11% and 12% sections
[url]
http://www.gsoto.easynet.co.uk/fr_ride1.htm[/url]

[simonfrench]

I did the Alpe D'Huez last month after a few practice laps of Box Hill. It wasn't steeper really - just a lot longer. I can get up Box Hill in a few minutes and Alpe d'Huez took me 1 hour 15....
(I'll find out how slow that is compared to the pros this afternoon... I wonder if anyone will do it in under 30 minutes).

[Dan B]

Box Hill is steepest at the first switchback, then it's fairly easy going after that - problem is you're knackered from the first switchback! But even Lanterne Rouge here can make it up in less than 10 minutes.

I'm humbled by Ibbo's workouts, but Box Hill is his back garden. Motorpace ten times up at an easy 20 mph, and dive back down. Flash git.

Now 21 switchbacks compared to 2 1/2: there's a comparison.

Can you beat Sheryl Crow on Alpe d'Huez? It took her 90 minutes.

[David Lombari]

I thought Box Hill was fairly easy til the Ballbuster last year. On the last leg (running) it felt like Alp D'Huez!! Maybe I'll do some training for this year's event.

[Elliot M]

Alpe d'Huez is very steep when you have skiied halfway down, totally bottled it, and not being near a skilift had to walk up the road in ski boots carrying your skis with trucks hurtling round the corners on the icy road...

..so i've heard.