Bishop Pass

Overview

Bishop Pass is a US climb rated HC (hors catégorie) — the hardest classification, reserved for ascents that sit beyond normal categorisation. It runs 6.9 km from a start elevation of 2685 m to a summit at 3643 m, delivering a net elevation gain of 958 m. At those numbers it is short by mountain-pass standards, but the length is deceptive: the vertical it stacks into that distance is what earns the category.

Look closer and the effort is harder than the net gain suggests. Total ascent is 1057 m against a net gain of 958 m, a 99 m gap. That difference is undulation — you climb, give some height back, then climb again. Every metre of descent inside the climb is a metre you have to regain, so your legs do more work than a single 958 m headline implies. Treat this as a 1057 m day, not a 958 m one.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 13.83% average is punishing on its own, but averages flatten the story. A climb this steep on average almost never holds a constant grade; the mean is dragged down by brief lulls and dragged up by ramps well into the twenties and beyond. The steepest recorded pitch hits 37.38% — a wall, not a gradient you ride through smoothly.

• Short recovery or flatter sections where the road briefly eases and lets you reset cadence
• Repeated re-climbs created by the 99 m of undulation — expect to lose and regain height
• One brutal maximum ramp near 37% that will force you out of the saddle or into your lowest gear

Pacing Notes

On an undulating HC climb, chase even effort, not even speed. Your pace will swing wildly between the flatter lulls and the near-37% ramp, and trying to hold a fixed speed will blow you up on the walls. Anchor your effort to your sustainable power output and let velocity float. On the steepest pitches you will unavoidably spike above threshold — accept it, then recover on the eased sections rather than surging. If you do not know your ceiling, run the FTP estimator before you commit to a number, and ride the first kilometre conservatively; there is no recovering a blown effort on 13.83% average grades.

Gearing

Gearing here is governed by the steepest ramp, not the average. A 37% wall demands your lowest possible ratio. Run a compact or, better, a sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — think 34×32 or 34×34 as a minimum, and go lower if your drivetrain allows. Check your actual setup before the ride: confirm the cassette, confirm the chainset, and shift into the bottom gear at home so there are no surprises when the road tips vertical.

Summary

• Length: 6.9 km
• Average gradient: 13.83%
• Maximum gradient: 37.38%
• Net elevation gain: 958 m
• Total ascent: 1057 m
• Category: HC

Bishop Pass is short, steep, and unrelenting. Respect the undulation, pace to power, and bring gearing built for the walls — get those three right and the HC rating becomes a challenge you can ride, not one that rides you.