When was the last time you had to get off and walk up a hill
Discussion
I thought I hadn't been defeated by a hill for ages, because I like climbing and you tend to blank out those ignominous defeats. Then I remembered there was the MTB ride not so long ago, close to home, when the combination of South Downs gradient and terrain - a stream runs down it, so it was rutted, chalky and flinty and also muddy - got the better of me. Starting in the granny ring is very hard, so I had to push a few metres to a more flat surface. Sometimes the line you pick is the difference between success and failure.
There was also this summer in Italy, on Il Muro di Guardiagrele. Parts of this are 30% and I had to catch my breath half way up; I didn't know the hill so thought if I could make it to the corner it eased off and I would be ok. It does ease off but I attacked the first bit and had nothing left. Would like another crack at it, maybe now I know it, that would be enough. A proper compact and a 30 tooth cassette would also help, as would zig-zagging but you are going so slow and if a car comes round the corner at Italian speeds, it could be nasty.
There was also this summer in Italy, on Il Muro di Guardiagrele. Parts of this are 30% and I had to catch my breath half way up; I didn't know the hill so thought if I could make it to the corner it eased off and I would be ok. It does ease off but I attacked the first bit and had nothing left. Would like another crack at it, maybe now I know it, that would be enough. A proper compact and a 30 tooth cassette would also help, as would zig-zagging but you are going so slow and if a car comes round the corner at Italian speeds, it could be nasty.
Since taking up road cycling in 2012 I will admit to unclipping and taking a breather (that was 3 years ago) and then recommencing, even if on something at 25%. But I haven't walked up anything yet I have tackled a few short and very steep hills as well as some longer drags.
I will be trying for a place in the Fred Whitton next year, so ask me in 6 months time and I may have to admit to walking!
I will be trying for a place in the Fred Whitton next year, so ask me in 6 months time and I may have to admit to walking!
Messing around on the MTB occasionally has me miss-judge it and need to do a very quick un-clip and foot down.
On a road bike it would have been the PH trip to Wales a few years ago, going up "Hellfire Pass". I had a mechanical before the climb started, so had no rear derailleur, and was in the third from easiest cog as a single speed. I nearly made it up doing a lot of tacking / zig-zagging, but not quite. The long flattish ride home spinning out at 13mph was not fun.
This was the segment:
https://www.strava.com/segments/6670984
On a road bike it would have been the PH trip to Wales a few years ago, going up "Hellfire Pass". I had a mechanical before the climb started, so had no rear derailleur, and was in the third from easiest cog as a single speed. I nearly made it up doing a lot of tacking / zig-zagging, but not quite. The long flattish ride home spinning out at 13mph was not fun.
This was the segment:
https://www.strava.com/segments/6670984
Pretty sure it was Weston Hill in Bath and I had the unenviable combination of 39/25 and weak legs whilst also carrying a big rucksack on my back...
Ah Hellfire Pass, I think we learnt some new combination of swear words that day....
Ah Hellfire Pass, I think we learnt some new combination of swear words that day....
okgo said:
Never happened. I've not ridden anything stupid steep, 25% is about as steep as I've done I guess which was only a sharp bit of a longer climb, or a short clim in itself.
I don't think I'd have to walk up the tough ones in the lakes with 39-25 but I doubt it would be very enjoyable.
Done a fair few 20-40% short climbs or climbs with 30%+ sections on a 39-25 and they aren't too bad, because my legs were doing all the effort my lungs were doing nothing! In winter its a pain as your back wheel slips and you cant stay seated , also after 50 miles of steep climbs my legs were buggered, other than that I preferred climbing steep stuff on a 39 to a 34 and found I was quicker with a 39! I don't think I'd have to walk up the tough ones in the lakes with 39-25 but I doubt it would be very enjoyable.
I cramped up on Hardknott during this years Fred.
I had to stop for a breather and a few wine gums on the Col de Madone this Easter but never actually pushed, just needed a minute to think over rule #5.
A couple of years ago on the PH weekend, I too was beaten by HellFire pass. I reckon I could do it now though so if any other failures fancy a go at it in the spring, should we have a meet and knock it on the head. Followed by Sunday's cheeky climb?
Steve
I had to stop for a breather and a few wine gums on the Col de Madone this Easter but never actually pushed, just needed a minute to think over rule #5.
A couple of years ago on the PH weekend, I too was beaten by HellFire pass. I reckon I could do it now though so if any other failures fancy a go at it in the spring, should we have a meet and knock it on the head. Followed by Sunday's cheeky climb?
Steve
When I had my first TT bike back in 2013 it came with a double which must have been 53/39, added to which I had a 10sp cassette with 23t as the biggest cog. Went out on a 50 mile loop which was fine until I tried to come up Snap Hill, not sure how steep it is? Must be +20% in places, but I had to jump off, firstly I was spent, and the gearing was not suitable.
Where do I hand in my proper cyclist status?
Where do I hand in my proper cyclist status?
whatleytom said:
When I had my first TT bike back in 2013 it came with a double which must have been 53/39, added to which I had a 10sp cassette with 23t as the biggest cog. Went out on a 50 mile loop which was fine until I tried to come up Snap Hill, not sure how steep it is? Must be +20% in places, but I had to jump off, firstly I was spent, and the gearing was not suitable.
Where do I hand in my proper cyclist status?
Surely that is the first rule when riding a TT bike with that gearing, know the terrain! Where do I hand in my proper cyclist status?
I recall having to walk up a fairly innocuous road climb when I first started cycling in 2011, and that was on a MTB with a triple.
I've not had to stop or walk since, including some pretty tough climbs including Hardknott and Rosedale Chimney. The closest I've come to stopping was climbing the Fluela Pass in Switzerland this summer (8 miles and 3000 ft). I started the ride far too hard, didn't eat enough and was bordering on bonking all the way up. Utterly horrendous experience which should have taken under an hour but ended up taking 90 minutes.
https://www.strava.com/activities/335470901/segmen...
I've not had to stop or walk since, including some pretty tough climbs including Hardknott and Rosedale Chimney. The closest I've come to stopping was climbing the Fluela Pass in Switzerland this summer (8 miles and 3000 ft). I started the ride far too hard, didn't eat enough and was bordering on bonking all the way up. Utterly horrendous experience which should have taken under an hour but ended up taking 90 minutes.
https://www.strava.com/activities/335470901/segmen...
whatleytom said:
When I had my first TT bike back in 2013 it came with a double which must have been 53/39, added to which I had a 10sp cassette with 23t as the biggest cog. Went out on a 50 mile loop which was fine until I tried to come up Snap Hill, not sure how steep it is? Must be +20% in places, but I had to jump off, firstly I was spent, and the gearing was not suitable.
Where do I hand in my proper cyclist status?
haha our club had our hill climb up there last year and I can view the hill out my office window now!Where do I hand in my proper cyclist status?
Tis a killer but one of my faves, I keep thinkin to have a crack on it using my single speed with a 45/16!
TwistingMyMelon said:
haha our club had our hill climb up there last year and I can view the hill out my office window now!
Tis a killer but one of my faves, I keep thinkin to have a crack on it using my single speed with a 45/16!
Don't. Unless you want to leave some lasting damage on your knee.Tis a killer but one of my faves, I keep thinkin to have a crack on it using my single speed with a 45/16!
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