Demoralising

[ianrauk]

I wouldn't worry about it. Everyone is different.
If you can, one summer get to Richmond Park in London on a Sunday. There are cyclists that have all the gear and no idea. Cyclists that have all the gear and all the idea. Cyclists with no gear and all the idea and cyclists with no gear and no idea. Point is that there is always someone better then you as you are always better then someone else.

 

[Fab Foodie]

i love hills and i love rideing i dont care who i pass or who passes me im doing the best my legs and lungs allow yipeeeeeeeee ps i often feel sick too but have at last gone sub 30 YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Hills are also about technique and in particular relaxing, especially relaxing the upper-body and just using the muscles you need. Also, don't carry unnecessary weight and make sure your osition on the bike is effective.
Finally, practice, run the same hill in different ways, spin, honk etc.

As for clubs, contact a few and see how you get-on. Club riding is the best way to get speedier and a good club will encourage even the slowest. I joined my first club when in my 40s and have not regretted it once.

 

[peelywally]

i always considered myself a good climber yet ive been left feeling like i was only stopping myself slide backwards at times ,

some guys train on hills they can almost generate enough momentum to freewheel up hills , if i get to the top in a fit state to keep my pace i consider it job done now .

i know i can turn on the power and give a decent show for myself but im not getting paid to knacker myself out so why bother let him do that and i,ll pass him him later (maybe )

 

[I like Skol]

I live in Glossop, we're surrounded by hills, if I want to travel further than a mile in any direction I have to climb a hill. The fact is, I enjoy climbing the hills, I get a real sense of achievement/satisfaction when I get to the top.

Chunal is a grueller for sure, I have ridden it 2 or 3 times in the last couple of months to get to the Grouse pub for car club meetings. I leave Ashton and climb from Stalybridge to Mottram Cutting which barely registers but by the time I reach the bottom of Chunal I have covered about 8 miles and just plod up Chunal at speeds of around 6mph which is half the speed I manage on the climb out of S/B. As has been suggested, repetition may be the answer. The first attempt of Chunal required me to use the granny ring while subsequent assaults have been in the middle chain ring.

If you want to practice hill climbing at a more reasonable pace then try riding to Snake Pass summit a few times. It might be a longer climb but the gradient is much more acceptable.

 

[Ticktockmy]

Last year I was cycling up pebblecombe hill, in Surrey on my MTB plodding like a old chap should, when these two young things past me at a fair rate of knots.. but somehow I passed then near the top, still plodding along, as they pushed there bikes up the last part... its the tortise and hare thing, so dont worry if people pass you, you ride for enjoyment not seeing how quick you can give yorself a heart attack. Often peeps will try to impress by racing pass you to, then get round the corner and die..lol

 

[MacB]

It's just about what you want to do and there's only the one way, hard work. Ride plenty, mix it up but always aim for the tough hills, set yourself little targets and then just take it as far as you feel happy with. A bit of single speeding helps, you don't need a specific bike, just choose a gear and stick with it. Do this for a week and the next week I'd expect you to be able to twiddle up the hills at your previous tempo but in a higher gear.

 

[byegad]

OR gear down and potter up the hill enjoying the views, the birdsong and arrive at the top breathing not much harder than you do on the flat. Either way is good.

 

[Rob3rt]

No-one is slower up hills than me, a couple months ago, I was overtaken by a woman walking with her very young daughter (must have been no older than 2 year old).

 

[raindog]

 

[barney5286]

I started cycling in June, and almost gave up straight away. The slightest incline had me gasping and legs shaking (I'm 60 btw). However I'm now 5½ stone lighter and managing all the hills around me. The Westbury White Horse has 3 hills leading to it and that was my goal. I have managed all 3 albeit at ½ mph at the top with my heart coming out of my chest. That achieved, I'm now happy to pootle around Wiltshire, forgetting self made challenges. It's all about enjoyment.
Stick at it.
Barney

 

[sparty69]

Chunal is a grueller for sure, I have ridden it 2 or 3 times in the last couple of months to get to the Grouse pub for car club meetings. I leave Ashton and climb from Stalybridge to Mottram Cutting which barely registers but by the time I reach the bottom of Chunal I have covered about 8 miles and just plod up Chunal at speeds of around 6mph which is half the speed I manage on the climb out of S/B. As has been suggested, repetition may be the answer. The first attempt of Chunal required me to use the granny ring while subsequent assaults have been in the middle chain ring.

If you want to practice hill climbing at a more reasonable pace then try riding to Snake Pass summit a few times. It might be a longer climb but the gradient is much more acceptable.

The first few times I tackled Chunal I was in the lowest gear possible, I'm now using a bigger gear, so there is progress. I've done Snake Pass once and you're right, it is easier but longer. I think I might just have a bash at going up and down that a few times to see how I'm getting on. Thanks everyone for you words of encouragement. I might even join the local club and overcome my fears of them.

 

[Wobblers]

The more hills you do the better you get at them. Just change down to a gear that's comfortable (or bottom gear if it's steep!) and concentrate in spinning the pedals round in a fluid motion. Don't be afraid to get off and walk if you have to - the next time you'll get further! Doing that improved my hill climbing no end.

Certainly dont worry when a total stranger passes you on the road. Just tell them your not fully recovered from your heart transplant yet.

This I have to remember!

 

[numbnuts]

I'm so slow up hills other cyclist think I'm doing track stands

 

[ComedyPilot]

Who gives a flying toss how 'slow' you are?

You are not slow, you're just admiring the scenery that was a blur out of a car window before.

If you want any reassurance, I have been riding regularly for 5-6 years now, and I guarantee you are faster than me.

I just eat too much and don't try hard enough.

I don't give a toss what others think, the main thing is 'I'm riding'

 

[ColinJ]

If you want to go faster uphill, then remember that it's all about power-to-weight ratio.

If you are overweight, then the easiest way to climb faster is to shed some of that weight. Some of that surplus weight could be on the bike, but most people spending lots of money to lose a couple of pounds off their bikes could lose much more than that off themselves at zero cost! (In fact they would save money by eating and drinking less!)

If you are already skinny and have a nice light bike, then your only remaining option is to gain power, which is much more difficult! Basically ride your bike a lot, allow enough recovery time between hard rides, and eat a healthy diet.

(And fairly obviously - don't smoke anything at all, and only drink booze in moderation or cut it out.)

I surprised myself back in 2001. I lost lots of weight (about 45 pounds) by eating a bit less and giving up alcohol for 18 months. At the same time I did lots and lots of riding, and round here, that naturally involves climbing. By the end of the summer I was climbing very well for a man of my size and age. Not super, but pretty good. Put it this way - I was finding it easier to ride up steep hills in a 39/23 gear than I do now in my 30/28 at the same cadence. (A 58% harder gear felt easier so I take it that I was more than 60% better at climbing than I am now!)

Who gives a flying toss how 'slow' you are?

...


I don't give a toss what others think, the main thing is 'I'm riding'

I don't care what other people think of my climbing speed either, but I do care what I think! I used to get a real kick out of cycling quickly and I want to be able to do it again. Not for anybody else - for me.