Ruhestein

Overview

Ruhestein is a Category 2 climb in Germany, running 10.6 km from a base at 282 m to a summit at 915 m. Over that distance it delivers a net elevation gain of 633 m at an average gradient of 5.99 percent. That combination of length and pitch puts it squarely in the range where a climb stops being a warm-up and starts demanding a real plan.

The headline number to watch is the gap between net gain and total work. While the net elevation gain is 633 m, the total ascent is 819 m — a difference of 186 m. That means the road does not climb in one clean line; it gives back roughly 186 m through descents and flat sections, then makes you re-earn every one of those metres. On the ground this reads as an undulating climb, where momentum is repeatedly built and lost, and where your true effort is higher than the average gradient alone would suggest.

How the Gradient Unfolds

An average of 5.99 percent is a moderate figure, but it flattens out the reality of the profile. Because 186 m of descending is folded into the ascent, the pitches that actually count are steeper than the mean — the road banks up sharply, eases, then banks up again. The steepest ramp reaches 16.41 percent, so there is at least one section where you will be well out of your comfortable rhythm.

• Flatter and recovery sections where the road gives back elevation — use them, but don't coast away all your speed
• Repeated short climbs stacked through the middle, each one resetting your cadence
• A steepest ramp of 16.41 percent that dictates your gearing choice more than any average does

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like Ruhestein, chase even effort, not even speed. Hold a steady, sustainable power output through the steep ramps and let your speed drop; on the flatter give-back sections, keep the same effort rather than surging to hold a number. Trying to ride an even pace here forces spikes over threshold on the 16.41 percent ramp and wasted energy on the descents. If you don't know your ceiling, run the FTP estimator first and set a power cap you can hold for the full 10.6 km.

Gearing

The 16.41 percent maximum governs your setup. Fit a compact (34-tooth inner) or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 low gear will let you spin the steep ramp instead of grinding it. Check your chainset and cassette before the ride, not at the base: the difference between a 28 and a 34 sprocket is the difference between climbing and walking on that ramp.

Summary

• Length: 10.6 km
• Average gradient: 5.99%
• Maximum gradient: 16.41%
• Net elevation gain: 633 m
• Total ascent: 819 m
• Category: 2

Ruhestein rewards riders who respect its undulation. Pace by effort, gear for the steepest ramp, and treat the 819 m of total ascent — not the 633 m net — as the real measure of the day.