Stony Clove Notch

Overview

Stony Clove Notch is a Category 4 climb in the United States, running 7.4 km from a start elevation of 395 m to a summit of 645 m. Over that distance it delivers a net elevation gain of 250 m at an average gradient of 3.37%. On paper that reads as a steady, moderate ascent — a climb you could tempo up without drama — but the average alone undersells what the road actually does under your wheels.

The gap between the numbers tells the real story. While the net gain is 250 m, the total ascent is 386 m. That extra 136 m of climbing comes from undulation: the road dips and rises repeatedly rather than tilting up in one clean line. Every metre you descend is a metre you have to reclaim, so the effort is higher than a simple point-to-point gradient calculation suggests. Expect to spend energy that never shows up in the net figure.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 3.37% average is a blend of near-flat stretches and pitches well above it. With a maximum gradient of 12.19%, the steepest ramp is roughly three and a half times the average — that is where the climb bites, and it is easy to get caught in the wrong gear. Between the hard pitches, the recovery sections and short descents keep resetting your rhythm.

• Flatter and recovery sections where the road eases well below average and even drops
• Repeated short climbs that account for the 136 m of undulation above the net gain
• A steepest ramp reaching 12.19% where you will need your lowest gears

Pacing Notes

Because this climb undulates, even-speed pacing will wreck you — holding a fixed pace over the 12.19% ramp means burning matches you cannot afford. Pace on effort instead. Anchor your climb to your sustainable power output and let your speed rise and fall with the terrain: ease back on the descents and flats, hold steady through the steep pitches, and never chase a number on the downhills. If you do not know your threshold yet, run the FTP estimator before you ride so you have a ceiling to pace against rather than guessing on the road.

Gearing

The steepest gradient governs your gearing choice, and at 12.19% you want margin to spare. Fit a compact (34-tooth inner) or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 gives you a low enough gear to spin the ramp rather than grind it. Check your setup before the ride: confirm your smallest chainring and largest sprocket, and make sure the drivetrain shifts cleanly under load. Being over-geared here means muscling a 12% pitch out of the saddle, which is exactly what you want to avoid.

Summary

• Length: 7.4 km
• Average gradient: 3.37%
• Maximum gradient: 12.19%
• Net elevation gain: 250 m
• Total ascent: 386 m
• Category: 4

Stony Clove Notch is a modest climb by category, but the undulation makes it work harder than its 3.37% average implies. Pace on effort, gear for the steepest ramp, and treat the extra 136 m of total ascent as effort you have already agreed to pay.