A few weeks ago I rode the “Seven Hells [Hills] of San Francisco” (typically 25-30% grade, some steep enough to have steps cut into the sidewalks).
It was harder than I expected, and I almost gave up at Russian Hill, on Jones between Filbert and Green – I was in my lowest gear, could barely turn the pedals, had to lean forward to keep my bike from tipping backwards (the front wheel came off the ground at one point), and my heart was pounding against my ribcage. But in the end I managed to make it up every hill without walking, standing up, or needing to ride a gradual side-to-side “switchback” pattern. Whew!
A map and some photos from various people are below:
[source: Ken E. ]
People racing up Leavenworth just North of Broadway. This didn’t even count as one of the seven hells because it’s not long enough.
Climbing Dalewood near Twin Peaks [ source: Frank Chan ]
Another hill [ source: Frank Chan ]
“Fleeing Alcatraz”, about to climb another steep hill [ source: Frank Chan ]