Gillespie Gap

Overview

Gillespie Gap is a Category 2 climb in the United States, running 7.4 km from a start elevation of 435 m to a summit of 866 m. That makes for a net elevation gain of 431 m over the length of the ascent. On paper it reads as a steady mid-length effort, and its category placement is honest: long enough to matter, short enough to attack if you pace it well.

The number that changes the picture is total ascent: 709 m against a net gain of 431 m. That 278 m difference is climbing you do twice, because the road gives some of it back. In other words, this is not a single uninterrupted wall but an undulating profile with descents and false flats between the harder pitches. Expect to lose rhythm, spend energy re-accelerating, and finish having climbed far more than the summit-minus-start figure suggests.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 5.83% average is a blended figure, and averages lie on undulating roads. With 278 m of hidden climbing baked into the ascent, the real gradient swings well above and below that mean. The steepest ramp bites hard, so the challenge is less about grinding a constant slope and more about surviving spikes without blowing up on the flatter recovery between them.

• Flatter and downhill recovery sections where the average drops and you can spin or freewheel
• Repeated short climbs stacked back-to-back, each demanding a fresh surge of effort
• A steepest ramp far above the 5.83% average — the pitch that dictates your gearing choice

Pacing Notes

On a climb this lumpy, chase even effort, not even speed. Holding a fixed pace forces you to overcook the steep ramps and coast the flats, wasting matches you will want later. Instead, ride to a target sustainable power output: let your speed rise on the descents and false flats, and let it fall on the steep pitches while your power stays roughly constant.

If you do not know your threshold number, run the FTP estimator before you go. Anchoring to power keeps the 278 m of undulating extra climbing from quietly draining you a third of the way up.

Gearing

Gearing here is governed by the steepest ramp, not the friendly average. That single pitch is what leaves riders standing and stalling. Fit a compact or sub-compact chainset and pair it with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 low gear gives you a spinning cadence when the road kicks up. Check your setup before the ride: confirm the chain reaches the largest sprocket cleanly and shifts under load, so the steep sections stay seated and controlled rather than a survival grind.

Summary

• Length: 7.4 km
• Average gradient: 5.83%
• Net elevation gain: 431 m
• Total ascent: 709 m
• Category: 2

Gillespie Gap is a Category 2 climb best measured by its total ascent, not its net gain. Ride it on even effort, gear low for the steepest ramp, and treat the undulation as the real test.