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Gradients and cycling: how much harder are steeper climbs?

In the first part of this series, we looked at how the gradient of a hill is calculated and how hard various gradients feel. In this piece we'll dig a little deeper, employing some simple physics to work out, objectively, how much harder various gradients are than others and what effect a rider's weight has on climbing speed. Read more “Gradients and cycling: how much harder are steeper climbs?”
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Gradients and cycling: an introduction

If you're at all interested in cycling uphill you would have heard people refer to a climb's gradient (or steepness) as a percentage. A climb might have an average gradient of 3% or 5% or even 10% but how is gradient calculated? And how challenging are various gradients? In the first part of this series, we answer these questions and set the scene for more detailed discussions of how gradient applies to cycling. Read more “Gradients and cycling: an introduction”
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Crux: the movie

A few weeks ago myself and a dozen others took on the annual Hells 500 epic: Crux. It was a tough day -- 215km, 10+ hours in the saddle, 5,600m of climbing -- but it was also a very rewarding and memorable. Thanks to Nigel Welch, there's now a terrific video that really captures the spirit of the ride. Read more “Crux: the movie”