Steepest grade you ever pulled or went down.....

I can assure you that's not the steepest road in America.

 

Agreed.

Quebec has lots that are 13% and 15%, as does Ontario, as does BC, as do some other areas in the US, I'm sure. 10% is a fun hill, but not the steepest.

I loaded a set of Super-Bs in northern"ish" Quebec, and had to climb a 13% grade coming out of the lumber mill. No run at it. Bull-Low the whole 2km climb. Them peoples behind me weren't too happy, me thinks.

 

-Mcdonald pass, Helena,MT US-12

EB......10% for 8 miles
WB......8% for 9 miles


-Granite Pass, Graybull,WY US-14

7% for 30 miles with 20mph switchbacks


-Lewiston grade, Lewiston,ID US-95

7% for 6 miles


-Whitebird pass, Whitebird,ID US-95

7% for 12 miles

 

does anyone downshift mid way thru going down a hill?
or are you too scared that you might miss the gear?

if you stayed in the same gear you might pick up too much speed.

 

if its my first time on the hill, i'm usually extra carfull and start off the top a few gears lower than what is needed.....just in case. The only time i downshift while on a grade is in an emergency, or if i know i'm using too much brake the first mile down the hill.

 

I can assure you that's not the steepest road in America. I never said it was , just posted a LINK to a site that GOOGLE said it was

 

I thought you were saying that it was.

 

It can be done, but its not advisable. I'd wait until I found a section of the grade that has leveled out. The "downside" to downshifting on a downhill grade is that if you don't make it, you'll pick up so much speed quickly that you won't get the transmission back in gear. Then you only have so much braking availble before the air runs out.

Best advice, once you've started down you're in the gear you will ride down to the bottom.

 

7%-8% colorado, straight creek canyon, rabbit ears pass, vail pass

 

Im still a rookie but for me so far it was Cabbage in a snowstorm at night too!