Ashamed of myself...

[pawl]

Don't be ashamed

I remember reading somewhere (I can't rember where) a hill walked in the morning of you ride is one ridden in the evening.

 

[mjr]

Who cares? Walk it if needed. A bike's meant to make travel easier, not be a way to torture yourself.

 

[kiriyama]

I got off on winnats. I was extremely hangover though! Still haunts me. When I was on one of my lowest gears on the flat(ish) bit near the start I knew it would end badly!

 

[Gatters]

I nearly holed a piston on my DT175 on Winnats!

 

[Turdus philomelos]

You know what, get your stamina built back up then go back and show that brae who's the boss.

 

[G3CWI]

I failed on Winnats Pass. I give no excuse other than that I'm a crap cyclist. I revel in my failure. No need to be ashamed.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

i've only ever been down it on a bike (twice), and that's bad enough. i used to drive up and down it regularly in my old job and wind the windows down and yell encouragement to those on the 17% section…

 

[Justinslow]

Who cares? Walk it if needed. A bike's meant to make travel easier, not be a way to torture yourself.

I need to remember this when I'm doing a TT..........

 

[EasyPeez]

Many, many people who try it have to get off and push. A strong headwind makes it even harder. I went up it recently on a still day (being a local I avoid it when there's a headwind)

That's good to hear

Here is a good tip; the really steep bit starts at the salt bin but the climb has been a good km at about 10% average already. Take it very easy until you get to the salt bin, then hang on for grim death. The biggest mistake first-timers make is going too hard on the 10%, then you hit the 17% and it's game over

Yep, that was me all the way - going hard on the early part to get away from my mate so that I could go nice and steady on the really hard part without danger of him catching me. Backfired big-time!

However once in the distant past with a tail wind i suceeded when riding a steel frame Dawes on 39 / 26.

Either that was some tailwind or an excellent bit of riding; let's go with the latter

"Ashamed" is a bad word to use, it suggests that to get off a bike and walk is a shameful thing to do. It isn't. And suggesting it's shameful buys in to a mindset that makes it OK to mock people who get off and walk sometimes.

My tongue was firmly in my cheek when making the original post. I don't buy into mocking anyone else*



*Apart from my rubbish mate on his rubbish bike, obviously.

 

[tommaguzzi]

I live in Sheffield so WP is fairly easy for me to ride out to. I was 20 years younger and a stone and a half lighter. There was a very strong Easterly blowing so I knew it was a good day to try it.
Both times when I have failed i was using compact 34/26 into a westerly headwind which stopped me just after the steepest bit. But have succeeded a couple of times on calm days also on 34/26.
I fear I,m too old and fat to try it on anything other than MTB gears now so I,d rather not bother.

 

[Moon bunny]

You obviously need to spend loads of money-£6,000 minimum or you are just not serious-on a super light bike just for climbing this hillock. Of course it will be too fragile for the rest of your riding, so you will need a "caddy" to drive it in a van to the foot of the climb, cycles exchanged he or she roars off to the summit in order to have your descending machine (reinforced tyres, dual disc and rim brakes) ready for the 60+ mph drop that follows.

 

[OskarTennisChampion]

Very embarrassing, I would hang up your helmet, hang your head in shame and give up cycling for good!

Apart from about half a dozen times a year on average for the last 24,I have never ever bailed on a hill.
Time to put your helmet away mate.

 

[lutonloony]

Not sure I could walk up the 17%

 

[mjr]

Not sure I could walk up the 17%

It's when it's over 20% and covered in moss that pushing a bike up a hill gets interesting!

 

[EasyPeez]

It's when it's over 20% and covered in moss that pushing a bike up a hill gets interesting!

That's just reminded me, this was actually the second time in my life I've had to get off and push. I did the same last year on a 15%er near Bath. But that was covered in slimy cowshit and mud and my back wheel lost all traction halfway up so I'm not counting that as a fail!