Mount Tamalpais

Overview

Mount Tamalpais is a short, honest climb that rewards riders who respect its consistency. Over just 3.3 km it lifts you from a start elevation of 12 m to a summit of 220 m, a net gain of 208 m. The recorded total ascent is 184 m, a reminder that the road isn't relentlessly uphill — there are brief reliefs where the grade eases and the profile flattens before tilting up again.

At an average gradient of 6.38%, this sits firmly in the category 3 bracket: taxing enough to sting, short enough to attack. The maximum gradient tops out at 7.21%, so there's no cruel double-digit wall to break your rhythm. What you get instead is a climb of narrow range — the difference between the average 6.38% and the max 7.21% is under one percentage point, which tells you almost everything about how to ride it.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature here is uniformity. A climb where the max gradient exceeds the average by less than a single percent is a metronome, not a rollercoaster. You won't be caught out by sudden ramps, and you won't get long false-flat recovery either.

Because total ascent (184 m) falls short of the net gain (208 m), the profile isn't perfectly monotonic — expect a couple of short pitches where the road dips or levels, giving your legs a fractional breather before the grade returns to that steady 6% to 7% band. Ride the whole 3.3 km expecting the same effort from bottom to top, and adjust only for those brief flatter sections where you can shift up and carry speed.

Pacing Notes

For a climb this short and steady, pacing is about holding a firm, sustainable tempo rather than surging. Target an effort just below or around your threshold — a good rule is to sit near your FTP for the bulk of the 3.3 km, since the climb is short enough that you can spend a little above sustainable power without blowing up entirely.

If you don't know your threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before your next attempt so your target watts match the effort this 6.38% average demands. Start controlled, settle into rhythm through the middle, and if you have anything left, spend it in the final stretch toward the 220 m summit.

Gearing

For a category 3 climb averaging 6.38% with a 7.21% max, most riders will be comfortable on a compact setup. A 34×32 gives you enough range to spin the steeper pitches without grinding, and it keeps your cadence high across the steady middle section.

If you're carrying fatigue, riding at altitude elsewhere in a longer day, or simply prefer to protect your knees, drop to a 34×34 for a touch more margin. The extra sprocket costs you nothing on a climb where the grade never bites harder than 7.21%, and it lets you seated-spin the whole 3.3 km at a comfortable cadence.

Summary

Mount Tamalpais is a compact, consistent effort: 3.3 km at a steady 6.38%, capped at 7.21%, delivering 208 m of net elevation gain to a 220 m summit. It's a climb to pace with discipline and finish with confidence.

Length: 3.3 km
Average gradient: 6.38%
Max gradient: 7.21%
Start: 12 m
Summit: 220 m
Net gain: 208 m
Total ascent: 184 m
Category: 3