Climbing Data
The following is an incomplete record of the data we've kept about a small
portion of our climbs.
2001 Splugen Pass from the Italy side, about 6000' gain in 1 day (with camping gear)
2003 Schnalstal NW of Bolzano, Italy
3050'/8 miles (13km) much of it 10-15% grade, unloaded
381'/mile or 715m/10km
March 2004 Galicia, Spain
2300'/12.5 miles (20km)
185'/mi
350m/10km
2006 Alps Climbing Analysis
Climbing Summary
About 6.0 m/min pedaling time for straight on 7-8+% grades, loaded, about 80°.
Leisurely lunch is just under an hour.
Usually do 500m/90min including brief stops.
Bill starts getting altitude effects in mid 1700-1800m range, though variably.
Klausen Pass, Switzerland (between Altdorf & Linthal) 2006 6.0 m/min
On this day, we climbed 500m in the first 90 minutes (5.55 m/min). It was in the high 70's F (25°C) when we headed out at 8:30 am from about 2000' and only cooled to about 68°F (20°C) in the middle afternoon at 6400'. It seemed that the typical grade was 7-8% and it would bounce up to 9-10% frequently. For the last 500 meters, we were climbing at almost the same rate as in the morning, which was terrific. Bill started feeling ill from the altitude at about 1800m (5900'), though felt some of his symptoms were from the cold/cough he was just recovering from and the medications he was still taking. Once we started descending, he felt fully recovered at 1880m.
Time
pedaling:
4 hrs (240 min)
elapsed for climbing:
7 1/4 hrs
average speed (inc some descent): 5.8 km/hr (3.6
mile/hr)
non-riding time:
30 min for grocery shopping
30 min for rest 100m (elevation)
before cresting
1+ hr lunch
lots of brief rest & photo stops and
6-8 construction zone stops
Distances
km to top: 24 (14.9 miles)
total gain: 1435m (4708')
m/10 km: 600m/10km
descents: 110 m
(361')
summit:
1952 m (6404')
Splügen Pass from Splügen
town to the top 2006 (6.1m/min)
Time
pedaling
1:45 hrs (105 min)
elapsed for climbing
2.25 hrs
(no lunch break)
average speed (only 10m descent) 5.2 km/hr
max speed
10.8 km/hr
Distances
to top
9 km
total gain 640 m
(6.1m/min)
m /10 km: 710 m gain/ 10
km ridden
descent
10 m
summit 2080 m
Steep grades, lots of sustained 7-8% often to 10% . It was only uncomfortably
warm for the first half hour.
Bill started feeling short breath around 1700 m and more altitude effects around
1780 m with slight headache.
Got relief at 1980m on way down.
Aprica Pass, last 470 m of about 1100m Italy 2006 ( 5.9 m/min)
Time
pedaling
1.20 hrs (80 min)
elapsed for climbing
? hrs
(no lunch break)
average speed (only m descent)
5.7 km/hr
max speed 14.8 km/hr
Distances
to top
7.6 km
total gain 470 m
(5.9 m/min)
m/ 10km 618 m gain/
10 km ridden
descent
? m
summit 1135m
Hot and humid, in the low 80's; steep grades, lots of sustained 7-8% often to 10% .
Road to Ponte di Legno - no pass (4.78 m/min) 2006
This was for comparison purposes on road with lower grades, usually 4% or
under but little descent. Some drizzle, some pedaling when it was too warm, then
cooler and a brisk tailwind. Surprisingly, the rate of gain was slower than on
the steep roads even though our average speed approached being double.
Time
pedaling
1.56 hrs (116 min)
elapsed for climbing
3 hrs
lunch break
53 min
average speed (only 10 m descent) 9.5 km/hr
max speed 30.3 km/hr
Distances
to top
18.44 km
total gain 555 m
(4.78 m/min)
descent
10 m
summit
1235 m
Tonale Pass 5.8 m/min 2006
Hot and humid the first half, in the low 80's; steep grades, lots of sustained 7-8% often to
10% .
Bill didn't feel any ill effects with the altitude though could feel a lift
after drinking a sweet drink.
Did about 500m in 90+ min.
Time
pedaling
1:42 (102 min)
elapsed for climbing
1:50 hrs
average speed
6.6 km/hr
max speed
16.8 km/hr
Distances
to top
11.4 km
total gain
595 m
(5.8 m/min)
descent
0 m
summit
1830 m
Madonna di Campiglio 5.7 m/min 2006
Hot and humid the first half, in the low 80's; steep grades, lots of sustained 7-8% often to
10% .
Time
pedaling
2:29 ( min)
elapsed for climbing
3:50 hrs/min
average speed
6.4 km/hr
max speed
22.3 km/hr
lunch
51 min
Distances
to top
16.0 km
total gain
855
(5.7 m/min)
descent
25 m
summit
1670 m
2006 Europe Averages
100m gain / 10km = 2006 Europe overall average
200 m gain / 100 km = month in Dolomites average
600-700m / 10 km = up the big passes in Switzerland
(715m/10km = Schnalstal in 2003)
Nov 2006 - Feb 2007 New Zealand
monthly average = 100m gain / 10km (= 2006 Europe overall average)
100m gain/ 10km ridden was sustainable on 100km days (tho tiring)
easy days in NZ = 50 m gain/ 10km ridden
hard climb (Franz Josef glacier to Fox glacier) =300+ m / 10 km could have been
450 m /10km
Sicily Spring 2008
1st 13 days (10 riding days): 7630m (25,000') 367km (228 miles) = 208/10km
July 8, 2008 Col du Tourmalet in Pynenees
1140m/13 km or 3740'/8 miles
7,000' gain in 2 days 2 Col d'Aspin
