Hill advice

[Nebulous]

Hi folks - I'm looking for advice on a hill.

I have a local cycle ride on Saturday- which might become quite competitive, although there is nothing at stake but pride.

I went to scout out the route at the weekend, and it's quite demanding - lots of ups and downs. Anyway there's quite a steep down hill 35 mph ish with a sweeping bend at the bottom which gradually tightens. It's quite possible to take it flat out, although the camber is the wrong way and I wouldn't like to crank. Its very much inside pedal up. You then go into a steep climb, which will be bottom gear for most people, with certainly some people expected to stop and push.

My question is how to carry as much of that momentum into the hill as possible?

At the weekend I got it badly wrong, changing down to the small ring almost immediately, spinning like mad - then changing down the rear cogs too quickly. It seemed only a few seconds before I found myself in bottom gear.

So any ideas?

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Hi folks - I'm looking for advice on a hill.

I have a local cycle ride on Saturday- which might become quite competitive, although there is nothing at stake but pride.

I went to scout out the route at the weekend, and it's quite demanding - lots of ups and downs. Anyway there's quite a steep down hill 35 mph ish with a sweeping bend at the bottom which gradually tightens. It's quite possible to take it flat out, although the camber is the wrong way and I wouldn't like to crank. Its very much inside pedal up. You then go into a steep climb, which will be bottom gear for most people, with certainly some people expected to stop and push.

My question is how to carry as much of that momentum into the hill as possible?

At the weekend I got it badly wrong, changing down to the small ring almost immediately, spinning like mad - then changing down the rear cogs too quickly. It seemed only a few seconds before I found myself in bottom gear.

So any ideas?

If you can hit the hill with as much speed as possible keep pedalling. As soon as you feel your momentum dropping change down a gear and continue to to so until you are at the top of the hill and or out of gears.

 

[gaz]

Would it be possible to see it on google street view?

With only knowing what you have described. I would carry as much speed as possible through the bend and then put some serious power in as soon as possible, changing up the gears as possible. Might be a wise idea to change to the front ring you require on the down hill so you don't have to do that on the up.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Might be a wise idea to change to the front ring you require on the down hill so you don't have to do that on the up.

+1 I keep the bike in the large front cog out of MTB'ing habit but unless you are going flat out it is not needed for road hill descents.

 

[gaz]

+1 I keep the bike in the large front cog out of MTB'ing habit but unless you are going flat out it is not needed for road hill descents.

Flat out down hill only gets you so far, the rest is aero.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Flat out down hill only gets you so far, the rest is aero.

So I gather That said you should be able to get more speed in the highest gear that mid range shouldn't you?

 

[Nebulous]

Thanks guys,

front gear is probably the biggest issue for me. Changing the front ring under power doesn't really work and it can cause a delay, be a bit clunky. Picking the small ring on the way down the hill is certainly worth a try. I think it might be difficult to get just how steep the other side is, but here's a google streetview. It's quite a dramatic setting!

Dubston

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Thanks guys,

front gear is probably the biggest issue for me. Changing the front ring under power doesn't really work and it can cause a delay, be a bit clunky. Picking the small ring on the way down the hill is certainly worth a try. I think it might be difficult to get just how steep the other side is, but here's a google streetview. It's quite a dramatic setting!

Dubston

Looks like a great ride. Let us know how you get on.

 

[Red Light]

Depends very much on the hill. Can you get up it in the big or middle ring and largest cog? Because the main issue is changing down on the front ring under load.

What I would do is crank it as hard as I can once round the bend to carry as much speed into the hill as I can and keep cranking for as long as I can to storm the hill. Standing up towards the end will allow you to keep it going longer. If the hill is not too steep its amazing how you can often crest it still cranking away in top gear. If you start to slow appreciably though you will need to change gears. While you've still got momentum drop it into middle or small ring (depending on what you need to be in to get over the top) and keep pedalling fast then work your way down the rear block until you are finally grovelling up in the granny gear with everyone else.

If there is no room between the bend and the hill then measure your exit speed from the bend then work out on the flat what gear combination in the middle or lower ring corresponds to comfortably fast pedalling at that speed. Then just put it into that gear on the descent and as you come out the corner you are optimally set up for starting pedalling up the hill.

There is a double chevron short hill on one of my favourite rides that has a long fast descent with a sharp hairpin bend at the bottom to rob you of all your speed with the hill starting on the bend so no alternative but to grovel all the way up. Doesn't look that steep on Streetview but its double chevrons and steep.

 

[Nebulous]

I'm on a compact 50/34 at the front, and I've no chance of getting up it in the big ring. In fact I'll almost certainly end up in 34/25 which is my lowest gear. Its how quickly or otherwise I get there that is the issue.

If you follow the road and see the sign to the left it says 17% I'm sure the perspective is strange, it doesn't look anything like as steep on steeetview as it does when you are underneath it! You also go up over a rise, then very quickly climb again.

I think I'll change into the small ring on the way down, tuck down as much as I can to let gravity take its course, then try to time my cranking to come in at the right point.

thanks