I do better uphill than on the flat .

[Banjo]

When I ride with other people I find it hard to keep up on the flat and downhill bits yet usually pass them all again on the climbs.

I think on the decsents its just due to me being a cautious rider but on the flat thats not an excuse .

 

[summerdays]

Well we wouldn't do well cycling together... you would be infront on all the uphills and me on the downhills... - I wish I had the ability to climb hills well - I envy you.

 

[potsy]

Well we wouldn't do well cycling together... you would be infront on all the uphills and me on the downhills... - I wish I had the ability to climb hills well - I envy you.

I'm with you there summers,every time I feel like I've cracked it and am flying along (for me) on the flat I soon get my come-uppance when I get to a hill,then I realise how much work I still have to do.

 

[PK99]

When I ride with other people I find it hard to keep up on the flat and downhill bits yet usually pass them all again on the climbs.

I think on the decsents its just due to me being a cautious rider but on the flat thats not an excuse .

let me guess: you are light weight compared to your companions?

= you have an advantage going up hill = gravity

= they have an advantage on the flat = raw power

I'm the opposite

= 100kg = hills are a struggle no matter how fit or strong i am

= but as i am fit and strong = on the flat i can match most i cycle with and zoom ahead of some who find hills easy

 

[Plague]

let me guess: you are light weight compared to your companions?

= you have an advantage going up hill = gravity

= they have an advantage on the flat = raw power

I'm the opposite

= 100kg = hills are a struggle no matter how fit or strong i am

= but as i am fit and strong = on the flat i can match most i cycle with and zoom ahead of some who find hills easy

Thats a really interesting point. One of my reasons for getting back into cycling is to shed some pounds and really hadnt considered the effect of my own weight when it came to inclines, flats or declines. And there was me obsessing over a kilogram here or there on my yet to be decided new bike!

 

[potsy]

Thats a really interesting point. One of my reasons for getting back into cycling is to shed some pounds and really hadnt considered the effect of my own weight when it came to inclines, flats or declines. And there was me obsessing over a kilogram here or there on my yet to be decided new bike!

Me too plague,I'm currently 92kg (used to be 102) and am convinced once I get down to 85ish I'll notice a big difference especially on the ascents.
My 2 bikes are about 5kg different weight wise,and I can certainly tell the difference.

 

[Moodyman]

It also depends on what other exercise you do Banjo.

I find hills a doddle too. I put it down to my running. I run 2/3 times a week and can't avoid the hills due to where I live. This helps with my cycle climbing.

I think hills are also phychological. You know you're going to find it hard so you dig deep and give it that extra 10%, wheras on the flat you know that if you ease off you can still maintain a decent pace.

 

[palinurus]

I go uphill better too. On a flat time-trial the faster guys in the club go two minutes quicker than me over 10 miles, on a hilly course- over a longer distance- I can get to within 30-40s of the best times. I don't put out that much power, but I'm relatively light- not climber light, but lighter than the average club cyclist I expect.

 

[palinurus]

Me too plague,I'm currently 92kg (used to be 102) and am convinced once I get down to 85ish I'll notice a big difference especially on the ascents.
My 2 bikes are about 5kg different weight wise,and I can certainly tell the difference.

I swear I can notice a fairly small difference in bike weight even when commuting with my courier bag with clothes and laptop in it.

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

Although they were talking about bike weight, according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_performance#Weight_vs_power

"The formula for power suggests that 1 lb saved is worth 0.06 mph (0.1 km/h) on a 7% grade, and even a 4 lb saving is worth only 0.25 mph (0.4 km/h) for a light rider."

Presumably that meant 10 kg of "body mass handicap" equates to 1.4 mph, 20 kg is 2.8 mph, 30 kg is 4.2 mph...

 

[GrasB]

As PK99 said, my guess is that you've got a higher PWR compared to your companions but a lower power output. The result is you can climb faster but can't push the pedals as hard when you're on the flat.

As for weight when climbing at 80kg I'm one of the first to the top & I'm fairly handy on the flats too

 

[HLaB]

When I ride with other people I find it hard to keep up on the flat and downhill bits yet usually pass them all again on the climbs.

I think on the decsents its just due to me being a cautious rider but on the flat thats not an excuse .

I'm very similar although my speed on the flat has improved with practice I think.

 

[Banjo]

Thanks for the replies,some interesting stuff I hadnt thought of.

I think it may also be due to my commute from work which allthough less than 3 miles contains a couple of serious climbs on the way home.Maybe if my commute was all flat it would be the otherway round.

I also did a lot of long distance running but gave that up over 20 years ago , maybe your lungs still retain the extra capacity.Whatever the reason Im not complaining :-)