How Steep is That Hill? An Inclinometer App for Your Phone

For info about my books: www.robertberiault.com
I often had to encounter hills that were too steep for towing my bicycle camper and was wondering how I could measure the steepness of such hills, or any hill for that matter. It dawned upon me that the smart phone comes with a gizmo that tells it its spatial orientation, and I checked Play Store to see if it offered apps for measuring the incline or slope of a hill. And this is how I found this excellent app: Clinometer.
Sprit level and ruler: • Measuring steepness of...

[@roberthodgins8856]

Thanks That was interesting I can think of a lot of useful things in farming and construction.

[@RobertBeriault753]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Tania-ye3te]

Thanks this video, that app looks like exactly what I am looking for. Can you provide more information on the specic app? I am having trouble finding something comparable to what you showed.

[@RobertBeriault753]

I think what I was using is this: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.plaincode.clinometer&hl=en_US Hope it works for you.

[@robertovelarde354]

I don’t really understand the percentage. Why don’t they measure roads in degrees instead. A percentage visually tells me nothing. 16 percent slope makes no sense. 16 degree slope does. I can visually picture that slope. Degrees seem better, no ?

[@RobertBeriault753]

I get what you are saying. Think of percentage as your reward for your pedalling effort. When going up a 16% hill, for each 100 feet of forward pedalling, you've gained 16 feet of height, whereas with a 2% slope, you're only two feet closer to heaven.😉

[@robertovelarde354]

Thanks that makes more sense.

[@SFCRambo60]

Hi, Robert, I was watching another cycle video and it has me wondering. Is there any type of an App. For like down trees on a patch or other obstacles? I would think it would be an outstanding app for cyclists, hikers, walkers or even runners. I have an app called fuel buddy that finds gas stations or fuel stations and has an area where you can report the price at the time you get it to let others know. Something like that would help everyone using the trails.

[@RobertBeriault753]

Thanks for your comment and question. My impression is that since you couldn't find an app for obstacles on on bicycle trails is that there isn't enough demand to justify the cost.

[@DavidASelby]

"26%, a grade that you'd never see on a public road" - are there really no roads that steep in Canada? In England there are plenty of 25% (1:4) and even 33% (1:3) gradients

[@RobertBeriault753]

Oups! I've never experienced that steep a hill, but I guess I'm wrong about that.

[@leapnlarry]

My garmin 1000 tells me the percent of inclination. We can use that app for leveling our fifth wheel. We live in our RV full time, so we level a lot. Larry

[@RobertBeriault753]

Thanks for that info. I really need a bicycle GPS. Knowing the hill grade in advance could help me plan my route around these difficulties.

[@gomitch2]

Which app tells you the grade while actually riding?

[@RobertBeriault753]

I wish I knew! The app I used only works on solid ground. Let me know if you find out. [e-mail] Thanks for your interest.

[@alfarosiarsita]

Mount your phone on the bike handlebar

[@timdowney6721]

I have an inclinometer on a compass. It’s likely not quite as accurate as a calibrated smartphone app. But, outside of a few measurements of steep parts of hiking trails, to be able to brag to friends, I just don’t use it.

[@RobertBeriault753]

Now you'll something else to brag about!