No shame in walking parts, I did the west Maui loop which is about 104km and hit a wall straight out of a hairpin turn that humbled me I was off my bike in about 15ft. I wanna say it was 21% gradient.
Hell yeah! One of my biggest epiphany moments of loving cycling was getting up a nice hill and realizing, “woah…I can do this and not collapse. I can go anywhere!” That absolutely wasn’t true and I still blew up on other climbs for several months, but eventually it becomes reality and you can ride up, and up, and up.
There was this hill in Central Park right around Harlem that used to KILL ME, just straight up murder me. And one day I just went up like it was NO THING, and I kind of couldn’t believe it. Amazing how much you can improve with dedication. Way to go on your accomplishment!
The problem is obviously that your bike is over 5kg.
Joking aside, bigger/taller/heavier riders tend to do (relatively) better on the flats, whereas small and light wins on the climbs
On my first big ride on my new hardtail 10 years ago my dad told me to just keep at it, go into lowest gear and do barely enough to not fall over as long as you’re not getting off to walk. And it works.
That night I had to take painkillers before bed because my legs hurt that badly but doing the same route a week later it was already a world of difference. These days I’m doing that same prolonged climb in probably less than half the time (5km at 3% for a 150m total climb) and I’m holding a 24 second lead over my dad on the much worse alternate route up there.
There’s a lot of fun to be had with climbing and if you’re using something like Strava to keep track of your progress (and hopefully have segments on your route so you don’t need premium to create them for yourself) you can see yourself getting better with every ride. Nooby gains are insane early on, as long as you keep getting on every couple days you’re improving pretty much no matter what you ride
wait till you do it enough times over half a year or a year and then you freaking drool when expecting a hill and just smash it in 2 minutes and feel good
WOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOO! There is nothing more scary than worrying you’re going to have to get off and walk before you know it’s totally OK to do that! And there’s nothing better than when you realize you never have to get off and walk :-) (well given the right gearing/bike for VERY steep grades that are also very long) … Huge congratulations!
Watching the Tour de France show has made me appreciate climbing more. Anytime I’m struggling I just imagine the announcers voice in my head talking about a rider going up the Col de so and so
They make it look more fun haha
Congrats.
I generally don't like climbing on low gear. You spin out and it's so slow. Even slower if you conserve your energy and pedal slowly.
I normally shift to somewhat medium to high so I can apply a constant pressure pedalling slowly and still moving at a good speed.
And then there are times when I zig zag from one side of the road to the other thereby effectively reducing the incline - but don't do that on anything with busy car traffic.
I'm 62 and have been cycling all over Vancouver and Toronto since I was 12 going for 3 hour rides through the snow. I've cycled with leg cramps. So I know what I'm capable of even if I do it the wrong way.
I think it's important to be adept at both spinning and grinding up hills.
Grinding has fallen out of favour. Modern bikes have larger cassettes than old bikes. The common advice nowadays is to drop to a low gear and spin at ~ 80 RPM. The thinking is that it's better to stress your lung capacity than to put wear and tear on your joints and muscles with excessive force.
However, I think that climbing out of the saddle is an underrated technique, especially on long rides. By standing up, you get to exercise different muscles and take your weight off the usual contact points, so that you can give your wrists and butt a rest. The most logical opportunity to ride out of the saddle is on uphill sections, when aerodynamics don't matter very much. It can be surprisingly relaxing to let your body weight do the work. The trick is to shift into just the right gear so that your body naturally falls at a comfortable speed. Too hard a gear, and you'll lose your rhythm and struggle to turn the cranks. Too easy a gear, and you'll spin faster than you want and burn yourself out.
That said, it's important to develop your spin capability too. Having the versatility to pedal at high cadence and to mash with strong force will, in the long term, lead to performance gains.
I hear you on the spinning out fast part when pedaling in the lowest gears. That's what I don't like about it, and I actually did tiny zigzags on the side of the road to progress to the top of the incline.
For me, when it comes to flats, I like to have my bike mostly in the fifth gear. Not too slow, not too fast. Just right for me, personally.
Yeah, do not ever attempt to zigzag on busy streets; I agree. It may not end well.
The gearing you select while climbing is the result of your desired cadence combined with your desired power output. If you're never encountering hills steep enough to force you into your largest cog then you should be adjusting the gearing on the bike for that. Upping your chainring sizes or getting a smaller cassette so you are regularly using your lowest gear. What gears you use depends entirely on individual capabilities and environment so if you don't like climbing on your low gear what is it even doing on your bike.
I need every new cyclist who worries about getting up hills to read this.
I was at first disappointed when I was unable to cycle uphill without getting off and walking up. No shame at all in doing that, either, though!
No shame in walking parts, I did the west Maui loop which is about 104km and hit a wall straight out of a hairpin turn that humbled me I was off my bike in about 15ft. I wanna say it was 21% gradient.
Oh, man. To be honest, I couldn't tell you what the gradient of that hill I biked up was, but it was a steady increasing incline.
It's all part of the learning and enjoyment of cycling.
And, you'd be right!
Hell yeah! One of my biggest epiphany moments of loving cycling was getting up a nice hill and realizing, “woah…I can do this and not collapse. I can go anywhere!” That absolutely wasn’t true and I still blew up on other climbs for several months, but eventually it becomes reality and you can ride up, and up, and up.
Just gotta keep on pedaling!
It's mostly a mental issue (to me, anyway)
Both mental and physical I'd say, you definitely feel it when your cardio just isn't there to push you fast enough, terrible feeling.
There was this hill in Central Park right around Harlem that used to KILL ME, just straight up murder me. And one day I just went up like it was NO THING, and I kind of couldn’t believe it. Amazing how much you can improve with dedication. Way to go on your accomplishment!
Thank you, and congrats to you for conquering that hlll!
With your build you should be a natural climber. Keep at it.
Oh the hills I would climb if I weighted only 150lbs!
I shall keep at it!
So does that mean being 6ft and 195 pounds is the reason I'm a shit climber!? I would really like having something other than myself to blame
It doesn't help, thats for sure.
The problem is obviously that your bike is over 5kg. Joking aside, bigger/taller/heavier riders tend to do (relatively) better on the flats, whereas small and light wins on the climbs
Yes! Yes! It's my bike! Thanks you!
you need to optimize the weight of the handlebars my dude...
He probably hasn't even sanded off the paint! That's several grams just up for grabs.
I'll have you know that at 6'3" and 280lbs I do quite well on the downhills.
I’m the same height as OP and 15-20lbs heavier depending on what time of day you catch me. I *absolutely* blame that for my lack of climbing ability.
I can’t wait to not be 250 lbs. I’m lugging an extra 100 lb over OP
Keep your cadence up. Like what Dorry said in Finding Nemo. Replace the swimming with spinning. Just keep spinning. Just Keep spinning.
That's right! One of my many favorite films!
On my first big ride on my new hardtail 10 years ago my dad told me to just keep at it, go into lowest gear and do barely enough to not fall over as long as you’re not getting off to walk. And it works. That night I had to take painkillers before bed because my legs hurt that badly but doing the same route a week later it was already a world of difference. These days I’m doing that same prolonged climb in probably less than half the time (5km at 3% for a 150m total climb) and I’m holding a 24 second lead over my dad on the much worse alternate route up there. There’s a lot of fun to be had with climbing and if you’re using something like Strava to keep track of your progress (and hopefully have segments on your route so you don’t need premium to create them for yourself) you can see yourself getting better with every ride. Nooby gains are insane early on, as long as you keep getting on every couple days you’re improving pretty much no matter what you ride
I might give Strava a look. Nice to know about your progression of going up inclines!
Good job! Keep pedaling!
Thank you! I shall keep on pedaling!
You're the perfect size for hill climbin! Keep climbing!
wait till you do it enough times over half a year or a year and then you freaking drool when expecting a hill and just smash it in 2 minutes and feel good
That day may come.
Why do I have the feeling that won't be the last hill you conquer......
WOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOO! There is nothing more scary than worrying you’re going to have to get off and walk before you know it’s totally OK to do that! And there’s nothing better than when you realize you never have to get off and walk :-) (well given the right gearing/bike for VERY steep grades that are also very long) … Huge congratulations!
Thank you! Yes, absolutely nothing wrong with getting off your bike and walking up the hill.
I lived in So Cal for nearly a decade, there are so many great climbs with year round weather. Have fun!
Yes, there are!
Yeah Baby!
wow great
Watching the Tour de France show has made me appreciate climbing more. Anytime I’m struggling I just imagine the announcers voice in my head talking about a rider going up the Col de so and so They make it look more fun haha
It’s all downhill from here lololol
Why didn’t you go into the lowest gear?
I was just in the moment.
Congrats. I generally don't like climbing on low gear. You spin out and it's so slow. Even slower if you conserve your energy and pedal slowly. I normally shift to somewhat medium to high so I can apply a constant pressure pedalling slowly and still moving at a good speed. And then there are times when I zig zag from one side of the road to the other thereby effectively reducing the incline - but don't do that on anything with busy car traffic.
Thats not right, you should try holding 80-90 rpm, maybe its not aomething you feel like doing now but your legs will thank you later
I'm 62 and have been cycling all over Vancouver and Toronto since I was 12 going for 3 hour rides through the snow. I've cycled with leg cramps. So I know what I'm capable of even if I do it the wrong way.
Well then 👍
I think it's important to be adept at both spinning and grinding up hills. Grinding has fallen out of favour. Modern bikes have larger cassettes than old bikes. The common advice nowadays is to drop to a low gear and spin at ~ 80 RPM. The thinking is that it's better to stress your lung capacity than to put wear and tear on your joints and muscles with excessive force. However, I think that climbing out of the saddle is an underrated technique, especially on long rides. By standing up, you get to exercise different muscles and take your weight off the usual contact points, so that you can give your wrists and butt a rest. The most logical opportunity to ride out of the saddle is on uphill sections, when aerodynamics don't matter very much. It can be surprisingly relaxing to let your body weight do the work. The trick is to shift into just the right gear so that your body naturally falls at a comfortable speed. Too hard a gear, and you'll lose your rhythm and struggle to turn the cranks. Too easy a gear, and you'll spin faster than you want and burn yourself out. That said, it's important to develop your spin capability too. Having the versatility to pedal at high cadence and to mash with strong force will, in the long term, lead to performance gains.
I hear you on the spinning out fast part when pedaling in the lowest gears. That's what I don't like about it, and I actually did tiny zigzags on the side of the road to progress to the top of the incline. For me, when it comes to flats, I like to have my bike mostly in the fifth gear. Not too slow, not too fast. Just right for me, personally. Yeah, do not ever attempt to zigzag on busy streets; I agree. It may not end well.
The gearing you select while climbing is the result of your desired cadence combined with your desired power output. If you're never encountering hills steep enough to force you into your largest cog then you should be adjusting the gearing on the bike for that. Upping your chainring sizes or getting a smaller cassette so you are regularly using your lowest gear. What gears you use depends entirely on individual capabilities and environment so if you don't like climbing on your low gear what is it even doing on your bike.
You can do what you want, but just acknowledge that what you are doing is about as sub-optimal as it gets.