Ascent Factor

[Fisan]

G'afternoon Hubbers

 

While browsing Strava pondering about bragging rights and such, I was wondering: is there a format for measuring total elevation gained over a distance? Something in the line of elevation / distance? (Kinda like a gradient measurement over the incline of the whole route)

 

Example:

Route A

Distance: 50 km

Total Elevation Gain: 1000 m

"Ascent Factor": elevation / distance = 1000 / 50 000 x 100 = 0.02

 

This gives an "ascent factor" of 0.02 ^m/_100m or 2 ^m/_100m

 

Route B

Distance: 50 km

Total Elevation Gain: 1500 m

Ascent Factor: 1500 / 50 000 = 0.03

 

This means route B has an "ascent factor" of 3 ^m/_100m

 

While excluding a lot of external factors this provides a quick measurement of the relative climbing difficulty. It would be nice to have this kind metric for my running and cycling activities.

 

The Trail Grading is a bit more complicated, subjective example for running-trail grading.

[Rapunzel]

There's a format out there for anything (how much bumf you use on each trip to the loo?) but maybe you're over analysing your workouts. If you were to take vertical:horizontal distance covered into account, you'd probably also need to factor in wind, riding surfaces and all sorts of other parameters.

Personally, I find time and perceived exertion the best measure for a workout (the latter most important as it teaches me to how to pace, how to push the limit as well as to take it easy - things that your bike computer and strava cannot fully calculate).