Scheidegg

Overview

Scheidegg is a Category 1 climb that asks a lot and gives no easy stretches to hide in. Over 13.1 km it averages 7.76%, dragging you from a start elevation of 423 m up to a summit at 1441 m. That is 1018 m of net elevation gain, with 983 m of total ascent recorded along the way — meaning almost every metre you climb, you keep. There is very little descending or false-flat to reset your legs. On paper the average looks steep enough; the real story is that a 7.76% mean hides a maximum gradient of 29.49%, a wall that redefines what "hard" means on this mountain.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Think of Scheidegg as a long, sustained effort punctuated by one genuinely violent ramp. With a 7.76% average across 13.1 km, the bulk of the climb sits in the range where you can find a rhythm — steep enough to hurt, steady enough to settle into. But the 29.49% max gradient is nearly four times the average, so the difficulty is not evenly spread. Somewhere on this climb the road pitches into a pitch so sharp that cadence collapses and momentum is your only friend. Everything before that ramp is about arriving with reserves; everything after is about recovery. Because total ascent (983 m) is only slightly below net gain (1018 m), you should not expect meaningful respite — this is climbing that keeps climbing.

Pacing Notes

Ride the first two-thirds conservatively. A climb this long at 7.76% rewards patience far more than early heroics, and blowing up before the steep ramp turns the final kilometres into a survival crawl. Anchor your effort to your FTP: on a sustained 13.1 km ascent, holding a percentage of threshold you can genuinely maintain is the difference between finishing strong and cracking. If you are not sure what number to build around, run the FTP estimator before you tackle Scheidegg. Save a match for the 29.49% wall — that section will spike your power well above threshold no matter how disciplined you have been, so bank the freshness to absorb it. Once you clear the steepest pitch, ease back into your climbing rhythm and grind out the remaining metres to 1441 m.

Gearing

Gear for the wall, not the average. A climb averaging 7.76% is manageable on a compact setup, but the 29.49% max gradient demands more range than most riders carry. A 34×32 is the sensible minimum for the sustained sections, and it will let you spin the long 7.76% stretches without grinding your knees. For the steepest ramp, though, a 34×34 gives you the extra security to keep the pedals turning when the road stands up. If your frame accepts it, the lower ratio is cheap insurance against a walk. Aim to protect cadence above all — on a 29.49% pitch, the moment you stall, restarting is nearly impossible.

Summary

Scheidegg is a Category 1 test of both pacing and gear range: a long, honest climb with one savage sting in its tail. Respect the length, fear the ramp, and gear accordingly.

Length: 13.1 km
Average gradient: 7.76%
Max gradient: 29.49%
Start: 423 m
Summit: 1441 m
Net gain: 1018 m
Total ascent: 983 m
Category: 1