The Dirty Dozen - A 37% Grade Hill Climb in Pittsburgh

[J.R.]

A big cycling event takes place every year in Pennsylvania following Thanksgiving and part of the event includes the steepest public street in the world, Canton Avenue. Canton Avenue is a 37% grade hill and is one of thirteen hills in the Dirty Dozen bicycle competition. The event did contain just 12 hills, but they found one more to make a baker's dozen.

I know, we hear it all the time, "I ride a 40% grade hill and I need a 2000 watt ebike!". Well not true! There aren't any 40% grade streets in the world.

The first video is a professionally made documentary and a bit long at 27 minutes, but very well done and worth the time to watch while sitting in your warm easy chair, digesting all that turkey and stuffing.

A teaser pic of Canton Ave.:

Just your average Saturday afternoon bike ride

Yes I live in Pennsylvania and no I've never taken part in this event

For the fatbike lovers:



A shorter professional, promotional video, 4 minutes:

You know a street is steep when the sidewalk is stepped with a handrail!

 

[JoePah]

I know my single speed wouldn't work.... Canton ave on my 10 speed sounds like a challenge.. But 13 hills? NFW!

 

[J.R.]

I know my single speed wouldn't work.... Canton ave on my 10 speed sounds like a challenge.. But 13 hills? NFW!

I live on a 2.2 mile 800 foot climb with the most severe part being 18% grade and it can't compare to Canton! But I know what you mean about a challenge! I'm old enough to know better, but young enough to do it anyway

 

[J.R.]

37% grade is crazy steep. I think the most I can do without assistance is about a 16% grade. And it's frankly hard, even with a 21 speed bike. And your Canton Ave has cobblestones too...

Yeah cobblestones... slippery even when dry!

I seriously doubt ebikes are allowed on race day, I have been on the lookout for a video of one doing this course though. We have some hills here, this one is in my township.

 

[EddieJ]

I thought that Baldwin Street in New Zealand was in the Guinness book of World Records for being the steepest street in the world.

Crazy steep whatever.

 

[J.R.]

I thought that Baldwin Street in New Zealand was in the Guinness book of World Records for being the steepest street in the world.

Crazy steep whatever.

The hill issue was addressed by the two links in the opening paragraph of this thread. Baldwin St, 35% and Canton St. 37%. I didn't think it worth going into because Canton St. isn't really the toughest hill in this event, just notable. There are several 30% grades that are much longer and include switchbacks. As you say, crazy steep!

 

[Temecularider]

I know my single speed wouldn't work.... Canton ave on my 10 speed sounds like a challenge.. But 13 hills? NFW!

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Well, maybe not a street, but for sure a paved public road is the Waipio Valley access road in Hawaii, and its right at 45 degrees! Only low range 4wd vehicles allowed, but it IS a paved road used by the public to access the beautiful beach at its base. I suspect NO bicycle has climbed it.

I have been up and down it, and its scary for sure. I would likely not walk it now on a dare.

 

[J.R.]

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Well, maybe not a street, but for sure a paved public road is the Waipio Valley access road in Hawaii, and its right at 45 degrees! Only low range 4wd vehicles allowed, but it IS a paved road used by the public to access the beautiful beach at its base. I suspect NO bicycle has climbed it.

I have been up and down it, and its scary for sure. I would likely not walk it now on a dare.

A noteworthy hill for sure, but it's officially listed as a 25% grade. Often gradient and degree are mixed up, a 45 degree hill would be 100% grade.

I would guess the views are much better in the Waipio Valley than in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but that's just a guess

 

[Temecularider]

A noteworthy hill for sure, but it's officially listed as a 25% grade. Often gradient and degree are mixed up, a 45 degree hill would be 100% grade.

I would guess the views are much better in the Waipio Valley than in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but that's just a guess

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I've been on the hill, its very very steep, and some of it is WAY steeper than Fargo St., which I have also been on. I didn't mention grade nor the view, you did. Don't let Google be your source of "education" against folks with firsthand knowledge.

 

[EddieJ]

J.R. Switzerland produced some pretty significant off road steep climbs, but the only hill that has defeated my e-mtb was the one below, which is here in the UK. The grass was damp, and I got halfway up, then lost traction, and even on foot kept sliding down it. It took me nearly 20 minutes to climb the hill which was only about 100 metres long. What you can't see is the cliff drop of a couple of hundred metres. I won't be doing that one again.

 

[J.R.]

J.R. Switzerland produced some pretty significant off road steep climbs, but the only hill that has defeated my e-mtb was the one below, which is here in the UK. The grass was damp, and I got halfway up, then lost traction, and even on foot kept sling down it. It took me nearly 20 minutes to climb the hill which was only about 100 metres long. What you can't see is the cliff drop of a couple of hundred metres. I won't be doing that one again.

View attachment 4909

Eddie (I think your real name is Peter Pan!), my days of trying that are likely done with! Love your pics, keep them coming...

 

[Tara D.]

Beautiful photo @EddieJ

 

[J.R.]

I think this is one of the best videos of the Dirty Dozen I've seen. Real time stats. It offers up facts on just what 200 and 400 watts can do. In any case, it is entertaining.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I think a 90 Nm mid-drive e-bike with MTB gearing would do it.
The programmes of Mitch Boyer are very interesting!

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

I think this is one of the best videos of the Dirty Dozen I've seen. Real time stats. It offers up facts on just what 200 and 400 watts can do. In any case, it is entertaining.

Love Mitch Boyer's videos. He's well-informed, funny in a self-effacing way, has great equipment to ogle (talkin' about bikes here, fellas), and really knows how to tell a story. He's also what I call an ILP (instantly likeable person), and that makes it all that much better.

 

[fooferdoggie]

I think a 90 Nm mid-drive e-bike with MTB gearing would do it.
The programmes of Mitch Boyer are very interesting!

I would need extremely low gearing. then otor will bottom out when the rider puts out a max of about 600 watts.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I would need extremely low gearing. then otor will bottom out when the rider puts out a max of about 600 watts.

I meant the rider provides 200 W and the motor 560 W. That should be enough.

 

[fooferdoggie]

I meant the rider provides 200 W and the motor 560 W. That should be enough.

nope unless really low gearing. to climb a 20% grade on my trek and keep the rpms around 80 I had to put out 550 watts. in turbo you may get up a 20% grade in turbo and only put out 200 watts. but remember that motor will only put out that much torque if you're putting out a s*it ton of torque. not sure maybe if you had a 20t chaining ring not sure then.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

If you watched the video, you'd notice Mitch outputted 700 W for the steepest climb. A 90 Nm mid-drive motor can output around 560 W, and the rest has to be provided by the rider.

Mitch has also climbed the steepest road in the world in New Zealand. He did it in 36-34T gearing. He claims above 20% grade the gearing does not matter, only the raw power.

 

[fooferdoggie]

If you watched the video, you'd notice Mitch outputted 700 W for the steepest climb. A 90 Nm mid-drive motor can output around 560 W, and the rest has to be provided by the rider.

Mitch has also climbed the steepest road in the world in New Zealand. He did it in 36-34T gearing. He claims above 20% grade the gearing does not matter, only the raw power.

he is on a road bike so you're kinda stuck. but if you had a 20t-50 it would make a big difference. on our tandem, we did a 22% grade and we put out 450 watts the motor was bottomed out and we just made it. when I did 550 watts it about killed me but I still found the bosch had not quite reached its peak. you would need the gearing to be able to spin at 70 to 80 rpms to get all of the power out of that motor.