Gold Hill: Cycling Climb

The climb · United Kingdom

About Gold Hill

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Simon Warren’s Another 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs

Gold Hill concentrates its difficulty into a short cobbled street in Shaftesbury. The ascent runs north towards the town centre, with cottages beside the road and the substantial abbey wall forming its other edge. At roughly 150 metres, it gives you very little time to settle into the effort. The slope is already demanding; the uneven stones add another task, making the relationship between a smooth pedal stroke and rear-wheel grip unusually clear.

The close-set buildings keep the climb intimate, even though the familiar view back down opens towards the Dorset countryside. Progress comes in small increments here, each turn of the cranks carrying you past another stretch of wall. Reaching the upper end brings the street back towards the everyday scale of the town. It is a small ascent with a remarkably distinct character.

01 / The ascent

Elevation profile

Start 180 m · Summit 212 m

Gradient by distance0.15 km / 33 m gain

0 km0 km0.1 km0.1 km0.1 km0.1 km

02 / The numbers

Climb statistics

Distance: 0.15 km
Elevation gain: 33 m
Average gradient: 21.5%
Climb category: Uncategorized
Start elevation: 180 m
Summit elevation: 212 m

Current weather

At the climb start

Loading weather…

Weather data: MET Norway

03 / Your effort

How long would it take?

Enter the power you could hold for the whole climb. We calculate a moving time from the elevation profile and the forces you ride against.

Sustained power

W/kg

Use your intended climbing effort, rather than FTP unless you can hold it for the predicted duration.

Rider weight (kg)

Bike + kit weight (kg)

Bike + kit includes clothing, bottles and luggage.

Advanced settings

Defaults represent a road-bike scenario. Adjust these settings to match your tyres, drivetrain and riding position.

Effective drag area (CdA) (m²)

Rolling resistance (Crr)

Drivetrain efficiency (%)

Modelled moving time

2 min

Power throughout: 225 W
Average speed: 4.4 km/h

Based on the 0.15 km elevation profile. Assumes steady power, with no stops, braking or drafting. Rounded to the nearest minute.

The science behind the calculation

For each part of the stored profile, we solve the steady-state cycling power equation for speed, then add distance ÷ speed across the climb. Gravity uses rider + equipment weight; available power is W/kg × rider weight. This uses the profile’s distance and elevation together, without mixing in another route’s metrics.

Power × efficiency = gravity + rolling resistance + air resistance + bearing losses

The resistance equations are adapted from Martin et al. (1998), Validation of a Mathematical Model for Road Cycling Power. Air density changes with profile altitude using NASA’s standard-atmosphere model. This calculator’s adaptation has not been independently validated.

It predicts travel at the power you enter, including on descents. It does not model acceleration, cornering, braking, traffic, wind, changing weather or fatigue. At altitude, choose power you can sustain there: thinner air reduces drag, but this model does not predict its effect on your ability to produce power. Profile quality and assumed equipment settings also affect the result.

04 / On the ground