Climb categories

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I have always been curious as to the how the powers that be categorise climbs. Do different countries have different criteria? Back in July I climbed a mountain in Spain that the locals said was a category 2, Strava says it is a 3, and I dare say if was part of the Vuelta it would not have a category. FWIW Strava says that all the climbs around me are 4 with very few being a 3, and some are harder than the one I did in Spain.

Can someone with way more knowledge than me, please explain all (I might regret saying that:ph34r:).
 

MikeW-71

Veteran
Location
Carlisle
I don't quite get it either, but I wouldn't necessarily trust Stravas ratings.

There's a road near me that Strava tagged as a 4. It's almost flat :rolleyes:
 

BSRU

A Human Being
Location
Swindon
Basically if the average gradient of the climb is more than 3%, a cat 4 climb would be any climb that gains 80 metres, cat 3 is more than 160 metres, cat 2 more than 320 metres, cat 1 more than 640 metres, HC more than 800 metres.

You can calculate it, distance in metres x average gradient = climb points
Using this table
The minimum percent grade must be 3% or higher.
Cat 4 >= 8000,
Cat 3 >= 16000,
Cat 2 >= 32000,
Cat 1 >= 64000,
HC >= 80000.
 

Rasmus

Without a clever title
Location
Bristol
In pro racing, the category will also depend on the position in the stage. So, the same climb can be category 3 if placed in the middle of a stage, or category 2 if right at the end.
 

buggi

Bird Saviour
Location
Solihull
Someone once told me that in the old days of vintage cars, the way they used to categorise it depending on what gear was needed to get up it in car. ie. if you could get up it in 4th gear it was a Cat 4, but if you had to use first gear, it was Cat 1 etc. If the car wouldn't go up it, it was HC. Then, when cars got better, they started to work it out mathematically.

I'm not sure how true this is, but it's kinda romantic in a cycling kind of way. and it's a good story to tell non-cyclists.
 

Fab Foodie

hanging-on in quiet desperation ...
Location
Kirton, Devon.
Someone once told me that in the old days of vintage cars, the way they used to categorise it depending on what gear was needed to get up it in car. ie. if you could get up it in 4th gear it was a Cat 4, but if you had to use first gear, it was Cat 1 etc. If the car wouldn't go up it, it was HC. Then, when cars got better, they started to work it out mathematically.

I'm not sure how true this is, but it's kinda romantic in a cycling kind of way. and it's a good story to tell non-cyclists.
That's my understanding too.

My own classification is meaured by the depth of teeth marks in the handle- bar tape ....
 

Saluki

World class procrastinator
Someone once told me that in the old days of vintage cars, the way they used to categorise it depending on what gear was needed to get up it in car. ie. if you could get up it in 4th gear it was a Cat 4, but if you had to use first gear, it was Cat 1 etc. If the car wouldn't go up it, it was HC. Then, when cars got better, they started to work it out mathematically.

I'm not sure how true this is, but it's kinda romantic in a cycling kind of way. and it's a good story to tell non-cyclists.
When I asked my Dad about catagories a lot of years ago he told me this too but he said it was the gear selection on a 2CV.

He also said that an HC should actually be DBD catagory (don't be daft) :laugh:
 

buggi

Bird Saviour
Location
Solihull
i categorise them as
4. mmm this is a bit annoying
3. o no, that looks a bit steep
2. even standing up, i haven't got enough body weight to push these damn pedals down
1. i can't fricking breath .
HC. fark it, where's the pub.
 
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