Hoosier Pass

Overview

Hoosier Pass is a category 3 climb in the US, covering 8 km from a start elevation of 3,194 m to a summit of 3,534 m. On paper it reads as a moderate effort: a net elevation gain of 340 m over the full length, at an average that never looks alarming. The numbers place it firmly in the medium-distance, high-altitude bracket, where the thin air matters as much as the slope.

The more revealing figure is the total ascent of 462 m against that 340 m net gain. The 122 m difference is elevation you climb and then give back, meaning the road undulates rather than rising in a clean line. For your legs, that mismatch means the climb costs more than the net gain suggests. You pay for every roller twice, and short descents interrupt any rhythm you try to settle into.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 4.23% average is a blend, not a description. Because 122 m of the ascent is offset by intervening downhills, the sections that actually go up are steeper than the average implies, and the steepest ramp reaches 14.97%. Read the average as a budget, not a forecast.

• Flatter and recovery sections where the road eases or briefly drops, letting you spin and reset.
• Repeated short climbs stacked through the middle, each one adding to the total ascent.
• A steepest ramp near 14.97% that demands a gear in reserve and a controlled, seated effort.

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, even-effort beats even-speed. Chasing a constant speed forces you to surge over every steep pitch and coast on the descents, spiking your cost and draining reserves early. Instead, hold a steady sustainable power output and let your speed fluctuate with the terrain, easing on the rollers and pushing just above threshold only on the 14.97% ramp.

Know your ceiling before you start. Use the FTP estimator to set a target band, then ride the climbs to power and treat the short descents as free recovery rather than places to attack.

Gearing

The 14.97% maximum gradient governs your setup, not the average. At altitude, with 462 m of climbing to absorb, you want a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette. A 34×32 covers most riders here; a 34×34 gives you margin on the steepest ramp when your legs are already loaded. Confirm your chainring and cassette combination before the ride, not at the base of the climb.

Summary

• Length: 8 km
• Average gradient: 4.23%
• Maximum gradient: 14.97%
• Net elevation gain: 340 m
• Total ascent: 462 m
• Category: 3

Hoosier Pass rewards riders who respect the gap between its gentle average and its real cost. Pace to power, gear for the 14.97% ramp, and treat the 462 m of total ascent as the honest measure of the day.