09-02-2022, 09:30 AM
(This post was last modified: 09-02-2022, 09:47 AM by Bob Culver.)
Some time ago the topic strayed to gradients. I mentioned an exceptional driveway in a neighbouring suburb. So today, bored with my usual circuit, and having just converted my 1970s bike from 10 to 15 speed I subjected my aging body to the 50 metre altitude switchback and plodded to investigate.
A private drive alongside a common 1/5 acre or so section, is constant grade, and terminates in a platform with a car parked there. I placed my level on the ground and it promptly commenced to slide away! The gradient a staggering 1 vertical in 2.75 horizontal. This slightly exceeds Baldwin St in Dunedin, South Island, claimed by Guiness Book as steepest in world woth a pinch at 1 in 2.86.
As the platform is on a hilltop close to the sea the sea appears to be the fate of any runaway, strangers driven down must be absolutely terrified and especially if knowingly in a single circuit car. Presumably the car at bottom was not fwd. I wont be trying my constant velocity Jazz although a hc Seven probably would (up), but the fabric universal would be even more short lived than is now usual. Sevens negotiate Baldwin Street but the exceeding steep part is not prolonged..
The expression of gradients as % is very confusing. It is the tangent x 100, so 45 deg is 100%!! it would seem far more logical if it was 90 deg.
A private drive alongside a common 1/5 acre or so section, is constant grade, and terminates in a platform with a car parked there. I placed my level on the ground and it promptly commenced to slide away! The gradient a staggering 1 vertical in 2.75 horizontal. This slightly exceeds Baldwin St in Dunedin, South Island, claimed by Guiness Book as steepest in world woth a pinch at 1 in 2.86.
As the platform is on a hilltop close to the sea the sea appears to be the fate of any runaway, strangers driven down must be absolutely terrified and especially if knowingly in a single circuit car. Presumably the car at bottom was not fwd. I wont be trying my constant velocity Jazz although a hc Seven probably would (up), but the fabric universal would be even more short lived than is now usual. Sevens negotiate Baldwin Street but the exceeding steep part is not prolonged..
The expression of gradients as % is very confusing. It is the tangent x 100, so 45 deg is 100%!! it would seem far more logical if it was 90 deg.