Fording River Pass

Fording River Pass cycling climb profile

Fording River Pass is a category 1 climb in Canada that asks for disciplined pacing from the first pedal strokes. On paper, the headline is straightforward: 10.3 km at an average gradient of 7.72%, gaining 799 m from a start elevation of 1532 m to a summit elevation of 2331 m. In practice, the important detail is the gap between the average and the maximum gradient. A climb that averages just under 8% but reaches 20.68% is not a smooth diesel effort from bottom to top. It has teeth.

That maximum gradient changes how the climb should be ridden. If the road simply sat near its average, a strong rider could settle just below /glossary/ftp and hold a steady rhythm. But with ramps over 20%, the climb rewards riders who leave margin early, keep cadence options available, and avoid turning the steepest sections into repeated anaerobic spikes.

How the gradient shapes the effort

The total ascent is 804 m, only slightly above the 799 m net elevation gain. That tells you the climb is defined primarily by sustained upward progress rather than major losses and re-climbs. The physiological demand is therefore cumulative: there is little reason to expect the climb to give back much of what it takes.

At 10.3 km, the duration will be long enough for poor pacing to matter. The average gradient of 7.72% keeps pressure on the pedals almost continuously, while the 20.68% maximum means the steepest moments can quickly force the effort above threshold if gearing is too ambitious. The mistake is to treat the average as the whole story. The average describes the climb overall; the maximum gradient determines how much reserve you need.

Pacing strategy

Ride the opening with restraint. The goal is not to feel comfortable, because a category 1 climb at this gradient will not stay easy, but to avoid paying for early enthusiasm when the steeper ramps arrive. A controlled start gives you room to respond without having to surge from an already strained state.

A practical approach:

• Settle into a sustainable tempo below your hard limit early on
• Keep cadence smooth on the steadier grades rather than chasing speed
• Treat the steepest ramps as controlled pressure, not attacks
• Stand only when it helps preserve cadence or unload the legs, not as a panic response
• Save the final committed effort for when the summit is genuinely within reach

If you know your numbers, use /tools/ftp-estimator or your recent climbing power to define the ceiling before you start. The key is to let the climb come to you. With 799 m of net gain, repeated spikes above your target will compound quickly.

Gearing notes

Fording River Pass deserves low gearing. The 7.72% average already argues for a climbing-friendly setup, and the 20.68% maximum makes that non-negotiable for most riders. You want a gear that lets you keep turning the pedals when the gradient bites, rather than grinding at low cadence and forcing torque through fatigued legs.

The best setup is one that gives you at least one bailout gear you hope not to use, but are glad to have. On this climb, that extra range is not about comfort. It is tactical insurance against the steepest sections deciding the ride before the summit does.