Ultra Climber on Fargo Street

[therockkkkher]

baxter street just next to fargo is steeper, anyone know what the actual steepest street in america is?

[Jaebird82]

Someone told me about this street and how hard it was and I couldn't resist trying it out. My dad and I met here and checked it out. Even though I had went riding two days in a row. Its lot steeper than it looks in this video. I just got back, barely made it up on a mountain bike, not clipped in. Almost had a heart attack going from my resting heart rate to my heart jumping out of my chest! Im still recovering, next time I'm going to warm up and not underestimate it!

[CyclistLorax]

I made the same mistake when I tested a prototype for my Ultra-Climber on a 95 degree day last fall. I seriously overheated in addition to having my heart go red-line. Above all else, Fargo has to be respected...

Check out the new Fargo video I just uploaded showing the 2008 Fargo Street Hill Climb

[sandersaz]

What's the location of Fargo Street?

[CyclistLorax]

Fargo Street is just east of the Sliverlake Reservior and west of Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA, USA, between Allesandro Street to the west and N. Alvarado Street to the east. The hill climbs from west to east.

[HalBallard]

Hmmm

We have a street similar to this one that I have found very difficult to climb. Good job holding her steady, Dan.

[CyclistLorax]

Hal,

What is the name and location ofthe street? What is the grade and length? I'm always interested in knowing the locations of ultra-steep hills. If it is challenging enough, maybe I'll come climb it!

[HalBallard]

Dan,

There are 2 actually, both in Washington County.

One is SW Weir Rd, Beaverton that runs E/W into SW Murray. if you want to Google earth it, the stretch between SW 155th and 160th is the area that is steepest.

The other one is even steeper. It's SW Cedar Hills Blvd as it intersects NW Leahy. I've got better maps somewhere, give me a day or two. If I can get you up here for a couple days, that would be great. I'll check with our engineering department.

[CyclistLorax]

Hal,

Google Earth grade calculations:

Steepest Weir Road grade bet. 155th and 158th is 12.9%; H = 719ft V = 93ft D = 0.14 miles

Longer stretch SW Weir Road between 155th and 163rd is 11.8%; H = 2074ft V = 245ft D = 0.39 miles.

SW Cedar hills grade bet. ravine and overpass is 20.4%; H = 225ft V = 46ft D = 0.044 miles

Fargo St. is a monster at 32% for 0.11 miles. So Fargo is 2.5 times as steep as Weir, and is over 1.5 times as steep as steepest part of Cedar and 2.5 times as long!

[HalBallard]

Well then,

It looks like we won't be seeing you her in the Great North West any time soon then.

Too bad for us.

[corpsbum]

Wonderful! Well thought out design for the bike, and I bet it was still an effort to climb Fargo!

[CyclistLorax]

Yes, climbing Fargo is always difficult, as I have to spin the pedals at a significant pedal presure, and stay balanced, making frequent small steering corections to keep upright. Shooting video ups the ante even more, since I must keep my gaze fixed at a specific angle ahead of me and not turn my head side to side or let my shoulders rock too much, else the video goes "jumpy". I purposely looked down near the end so you could see the summit of the climb.