login
Category climbs...
-
No new posts
 2009-07-09 7:45 PM |
Veteran  288  |  Subject: Category climbs...How are the different climbs classified? Is it a combination of distance and grade? What are the differences between categories?
Edited by chudley 2009-07-09 7:45 PM |
| 2009-07-09 8:17 PM in reply to: #2274694 |
Champion 26509    Sydney | Subject: RE: Category climbs... Hi - yes you have it right its a combination of both the distance of the time and the grade(s) of the sections of the climb. Its a littlesubjective but the basics are: Category 4 climbs are short and easy Category 3 climbs last approximately 5 kilometers , have an average grade of 5 percent, and ascend 150 meters Category 2 climbs are the same length or longer at an 8 percent grade and ascend 500 meters Category 1 climbs last 20 kilometers with an average 6 percent grade and ascend 1,500 meters. Beyond category climbs (HC)include an altitude difference of at least 1,000 meters from start to finish and have an average grade of at least 7 percent. |
| 2009-07-09 8:29 PM in reply to: #2274694 |
Champion 9407 Montague Gold Mines, Nova Scotia | Subject: RE: Category climbs... In addition, I believe that both the position of the climb in the race and the quality of the road surface come into play when deciding the cateogry. So while a climb may be rated as a 3 if early in the stage it could be a 2 if it occurs later in the stage or the road is in very poor condition. There is some TdF folklore (no idea if it is true or not) that the system came about when driving cars up the climb; whatever gear was need to get to the top was the rating and if the car didn't make it then it was HC. Shane |
| 2009-07-09 8:40 PM in reply to: #2274811 |
Master 1915 Hamilton, Victoria | Subject: RE: Category climbs... kaqphin - 2009-07-10 11:17 AM Hi - yes you have it right its a combination of both the distance of the time and the grade(s) of the sections of the climb. Its a littlesubjective but the basics are: Category 4 climbs are short and easy Category 3 climbs last approximately 5 kilometers , have an average grade of 5 percent, and ascend 150 meters Category 2 climbs are the same length or longer at an 8 percent grade and ascend 500 meters Category 1 climbs last 20 kilometers with an average 6 percent grade and ascend 1,500 meters. Beyond category climbs (HC)include an altitude difference of at least 1,000 meters from start to finish and have an average grade of at least 7 percent. That's good to know Cat. I recently rode a circuit that took in a climb that was 8.5km long at an average of over 9% which could be classified as Cat 2. At 280lbs in weight it was a tough experienceand for me and I couldn't imagine a Cat 1 of HC climb. I did manage to complete the climb without stopping (or expiring!) but it did take me close to an hour to complete. Riding at 9km/h is very slow and painfull, let me tell you... |
| 2009-07-09 8:48 PM in reply to: #2274867 |
Champion 26509 Sydney | Subject: RE: Category climbs... Iron_Gus - 2009-07-10 11:40 AM kaqphin - 2009-07-10 11:17 AM Hi - yes you have it right its a combination of both the distance of the time and the grade(s) of the sections of the climb. Its a littlesubjective but the basics are: Category 4 climbs are short and easy Category 3 climbs last approximately 5 kilometers , have an average grade of 5 percent, and ascend 150 meters Category 2 climbs are the same length or longer at an 8 percent grade and ascend 500 meters Category 1 climbs last 20 kilometers with an average 6 percent grade and ascend 1,500 meters. Beyond category climbs (HC)include an altitude difference of at least 1,000 meters from start to finish and have an average grade of at least 7 percent. That's good to know Cat. I recently rode a circuit that took in a climb that was 8.5km long at an average of over 9% which could be classified as Cat 2. At 280lbs in weight it was a tough experienceand for me and I couldn't imagine a Cat 1 of HC climb. I did manage to complete the climb without stopping (or expiring!) but it did take me close to an hour to complete. Riding at 9km/h is very slow and painfull, let me tell you... Oh Ive ridden that pace uphill many time... I dont go uphill very well... and I cant imagine I would even manage a Cat3 climb very well if at all! |
| 2009-07-09 9:01 PM in reply to: #2274694 |
Veteran 288 | Subject: RE: Category climbs... sooo.... if I understand correctly, an HC climb translates into HOLLY CR@P!
Thanks for the info. |
| 2009-07-09 9:03 PM in reply to: #2274915 |
Champion 26509 Sydney | Subject: RE: Category climbs... chudley - 2009-07-10 12:01 PM sooo.... if I understand correctly, an HC climb translates into HOLLY CR@P!
Thanks for the info. hehe excellent definition! |
| 2009-07-10 3:43 AM in reply to: #2274883 |
Master 1688 ALSAGER, CHESHIRE. UK | Subject: RE: Category climbs... kaqphin - 2009-07-10 2:48 AM Positively jet propelled. Try 3.5 mph (5.6 kmph) on a 25%. That's how you get to chew the handlebars Cat. Front wheel starts to lift off the ground. Helpppp!Iron_Gus - 2009-07-10 11:40 AM kaqphin - 2009-07-10 11:17 AM Hi - yes you have it right its a combination of both the distance of the time and the grade(s) of the sections of the climb. Its a littlesubjective but the basics are: Category 4 climbs are short and easy Category 3 climbs last approximately 5 kilometers , have an average grade of 5 percent, and ascend 150 meters Category 2 climbs are the same length or longer at an 8 percent grade and ascend 500 meters Category 1 climbs last 20 kilometers with an average 6 percent grade and ascend 1,500 meters. Beyond category climbs (HC)include an altitude difference of at least 1,000 meters from start to finish and have an average grade of at least 7 percent. That's good to know Cat. I recently rode a circuit that took in a climb that was 8.5km long at an average of over 9% which could be classified as Cat 2. At 280lbs in weight it was a tough experienceand for me and I couldn't imagine a Cat 1 of HC climb. I did manage to complete the climb without stopping (or expiring!) but it did take me close to an hour to complete. Riding at 9km/h is very slow and painfull, let me tell you... Oh Ive ridden that pace uphill many time... I dont go uphill very well... and I cant imagine I would even manage a Cat3 climb very well if at all! |
 2009-07-10 4:01 AM in reply to: #2275251 |
| Subject: ... This user's post has been ignored. Edited by CHR15 TREE 2009-07-10 4:02 AM |
| 2009-07-10 7:28 AM in reply to: #2275252 |
| Master 1688 ALSAGER, CHESHIRE. UK | Subject: RE: Category climbs... CHR15 TREE - 2009-07-10 10:01 AM 4everblue - 2009-07-10 9:43 AM kaqphin - 2009-07-10 2:48 AM Positively jet propelled. Try 3.5 mph (5.6 kmph) on a 25%. That's how you get to chew the handlebars Cat. Front wheel starts to lift off the ground. Helpppp!Iron_Gus - 2009-07-10 11:40 AM kaqphin - 2009-07-10 11:17 AM Hi - yes you have it right its a combination of both the distance of the time and the grade(s) of the sections of the climb. Its a littlesubjective but the basics are: Category 4 climbs are short and easy Category 3 climbs last approximately 5 kilometers , have an average grade of 5 percent, and ascend 150 meters Category 2 climbs are the same length or longer at an 8 percent grade and ascend 500 meters Category 1 climbs last 20 kilometers with an average 6 percent grade and ascend 1,500 meters. Beyond category climbs (HC)include an altitude difference of at least 1,000 meters from start to finish and have an average grade of at least 7 percent. That's good to know Cat. I recently rode a circuit that took in a climb that was 8.5km long at an average of over 9% which could be classified as Cat 2. At 280lbs in weight it was a tough experienceand for me and I couldn't imagine a Cat 1 of HC climb. I did manage to complete the climb without stopping (or expiring!) but it did take me close to an hour to complete. Riding at 9km/h is very slow and painfull, let me tell you... Oh Ive ridden that pace uphill many time... I dont go uphill very well... and I cant imagine I would even manage a Cat3 climb very well if at all! Problem is Tom, even our 25%ers would only class as a cat 3 or 4...  I can go slower. One of these days I'll get to do an HC climb. Not on a double though. Compact with a 27 for company. |
| 2009-07-10 2:09 PM in reply to: #2274694 |
| Master 2379 Alpharetta, GA | Subject: RE: Category climbs... We've got some nice rated climbs here in GA...Tour de Georgia has used many/most of these...(this info/list is courtesy of http://www.sadlebred.com/maps/garatedclimbs.html) The climbs with comments are the climbs I've done... Georgia's UCI Rated Climbs In Road Racing, climbs are rated according to Category. Length of the climb and steepness both contribute to the ranking. Also, the placement of the climb in the stage may play a roll in its ranking. A very rough guideline* is: Edited by LHablas 2009-07-10 2:10 PM |
| 2009-07-10 3:47 PM in reply to: #2274694 |
| New user 38 | Subject: RE: Category climbs... From Velonews (may be dated): RATING THE CLIMBS By John Wilcockson , VeloNews The actual decision on the categories is a subjective one, based on: length of the climb; altitude difference from bottom to top; average (and steepest) grade; summit elevation; climb's position on the stage (early or late); and width and conditions of the road. After considering all these factors, the Tour's director sportif, and former pro racer, Jean-Francois Pescheuz, makes his recommendations after driving over the stage routes a couple of months before the race. He can classify climbs in any of five categories: * Cat. 4: The Lowest category could be anything from a 2km-long hill with a gentle 5-percent grade, or a half-kilometer-long "wall" with a 12-percent average. (In 1997, there were 15 Cat. 4 climbs on the opening eight flat stages; and only four on the remaining 13 stages.) * Cat. 3: This is the first "serious" category, and could mean a 5km climb with 5-percent grade on good roads. (In 1997, there were six Cat. 3 climbs in the Tour; typical was the Cote de Chatillon on the stage to Morzine, which is 6km long with a height difference of 240 meters, 787 feet, on a wide smooth highway.) * Cat. 2: Most racers in North America would consider this one the toughest climb they would be likely to encounter. The former Tour DuPont's Beech Mountain -- which is about 5km long with an average grade of 8-percent, topping out at 5000 feet about sea level -- would be a Cat. 2 at the Tour, even though it was a Cat. 1 at DuPont. (In the 1997 Tour de France there were 10 Cat. 2 climbs. Typical were the first two of stage 18: the Cote de Gueberschwir is 4.5km long, has a height difference of 400 meters, 1312 feet, and an 8.8-percent grade; the Grand Gallon is 24km long, with a height difference of 1000 meters, 3280 feet, but has a grade of only 4.1 percent.) * Cat. 1: This is the classic mountain climb of the Tour, such as the Col d'Aubisque in the Pyrenees, with an elevation of about 1600 meters, 5250 feet, a length of about 15km, and a grade of about 6-percent. (In 1997, the Tour had eight Cat. 1 climbs. They varied from stage 9's Val Louron-Azet, which is 11.5km long, with a height difference of 770 meters, 2526 feet, on a narrow, rough back road; to stage 10's Port d'Envalira, which is 30km long, with a height difference of 1680 meters, 5500 feet, on a wide, smooth highway with easy grades.) * Hors Cat. (or "above category"): These are the most difficult climbs at the Tour. They have a minimum height difference of 1000 meters, 3280 feet, and an average grade of 7-percent or more. (There were five Hors Cat. climbs in the 1997 Tour, including the Col du Tourmalet and L'Alpe d' Huez.) |
| 2009-07-10 3:48 PM in reply to: #2276774 |
| Master 1688 ALSAGER, CHESHIRE. UK | Subject: RE: Category climbs... LHablas - 2009-07-10 8:09 PM Sign me up fr those please. Airline tickets required.We've got some nice rated climbs here in GA...Tour de Georgia has used many/most of these...(this info/list is courtesy of http://www.sadlebred.com/maps/garatedclimbs.html) The climbs with comments are the climbs I've done... Georgia's UCI Rated Climbs In Road Racing, climbs are rated according to Category. Length of the climb and steepness both contribute to the ranking. Also, the placement of the climb in the stage may play a roll in its ranking. A very rough guideline* is: |
|
|
|
View profile
Add to friends
Go to training log
Go to race log
Send a message
View album
CONNECT WITH FACEBOOK