Vale Street: Cycling Climb

The climb · United Kingdom

About Vale Street

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Simon Warren’s Another 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs

Vale Street puts a steep climb into the everyday fabric of Totterdown. Houses line this short Bristol street, their changing levels making the slope apparent before a wheel begins to turn. The stored segment runs uphill towards the north-east and is less than a hundred metres long. Its brevity leaves little space for a gradual introduction, so the effort belongs to the street almost from the outset.

The setting matters as much as the incline. Doorways, pavements and neighbouring roofs give the ascent a domestic scale, while the bicycle makes every small gain in height tangible. There is no extended middle section in which to settle down; the challenge is compressed into a few purposeful turns of the pedals. Reaching the upper end returns you immediately to the surrounding neighbourhood. It is a striking example of how much character a very short urban climb can hold.

01 / The ascent

Elevation profile

Start 40 m · Summit 57 m

Gradient by distance0.10 km / 17 m gain

0 km0 km0 km0 km0.1 km0.1 km

02 / The numbers

Climb statistics

Distance: 0.10 km
Elevation gain: 17 m
Average gradient: 16.6%
Climb category: Uncategorized
Start elevation: 40 m
Summit elevation: 57 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

1 min

Power throughout: 225 W
Average speed: 4.1 km/h

Based on the 0.07 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