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Showing posts from October, 2016

How steep can you climb?

Ganapathy and I attempted climbing Basavanabetta using single speed ratio of 43:16. On the way, we two were calculating the maximum gradient one can do using a given gear ratio or the amount of force required to climb a given gradient. I tried googling for any such existing article or formula. Since I couldn't find one, I'm writing it down here if anybody wants to refer. What is gradient? It is height gained divided by distance covered horizontally multiplied by 100. gradient = (height gained / horizontal distance) * 100 What does it take to climb or push an object? Many articles seem to be confused between power and force (linear) or torque (rotational). Power helps in moving faster. Torque helps in rolling against a resistance (gravity or wind or whatever). Of course, power and torque are related. But the problem comes when people try to use a power meter and calculate their max power on a flat road and then try to deduce how much gradient they would be able t