Fandango Pass

Overview

Fandango Pass is a Category 2 climb in the US, running 6.8 km from a start elevation of 1,394 m to a summit at 1,873 m. The net elevation gain over that distance is 479 m, which sets the tone: a sustained mountain climb that sits solidly in the middle of the difficulty categories rather than a short punchy effort or an all-day epic. You start high and finish higher, in thin-enough air to notice on the harder pitches.

The number to watch is the gap between net gain and total ascent. The climb gains 479 m net but requires 650 m of total ascent to reach the top — 171 m of that climbing is spent regaining ground you gave back on descents and false flats along the way. That undulation means the road does not simply tilt up and stay there. You will pay for the descents twice, and the effort of re-accelerating out of each dip is not captured by the net figure.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 7% average gradient is a blend, not a constant. Because 171 m of the total ascent is undulation, the average is dragged down by recovery sections and pulled up by pitches that bite well above 7%. Treat the average as a planning number, not a lived experience.

• Flatter and downhill recovery sections where the road gives back elevation before demanding it again.
• Repeated short climbs that follow each dip — the re-acceleration cost stacks up.
• A steepest ramp that runs into the high teens, far above the average, and dictates your gearing.

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, even-effort beats even-speed. Chasing a constant speed forces you to spike hard over every ramp and coast the recoveries, burning matches you will want near the summit. Instead, hold a steady sustainable power output and let your speed rise and fall with the gradient — fast on the recovery sections, slower on the steep ramps.

If you do not know your ceiling, run the FTP estimator first and set a target you can hold for the full 6.8 km. Ease slightly on the flatter dips rather than sprinting; save the effort for the pitches that count.

Gearing

The steepest ramp governs your setup, not the 7% average. Ramps in the high teens will overgear anyone on standard rings. Run a compact (50/34) or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 gives you a bailout gear that keeps your cadence up when the road stands up. Check your chainset and cassette before the ride; discovering you are undergeared mid-climb is not a fixable problem.

Summary

• Length: 6.8 km
• Average gradient: 7%
• Maximum gradient: 19.63%
• Net elevation gain: 479 m
• Total ascent: 650 m
• Category: 2

Fandango Pass reads as a moderate Category 2 on paper, but the 171 m of undulation between net gain and total ascent is where the real work hides. Pace by effort, gear for the steepest ramp, and the climb rewards you.