I'm getting worse! Newbie time in saddle and hill advice

[Reddragon]

I know speed and distance etc are not important and it's getting out on the bike that counts but I am getting slower and having to get off the bike more!
My first few rides, I put the bike in the car and went to the coast as it was flat and traffic free! But I don't want to rely on the car so have now been riding from home, trying to avoid the main roads as I try to build confidence on the bike. The main problem is hills, no matter which way I go there is loads and my legs are burning and I am having to get off the bike more and more and it's getting me down. Today I rode for 7.1 miles in 52 mins but had 565ft elevation and I struggled. I realise that elevation is probably piddling to most! but I am trying to get more time on the bike but my legs couldn't go for much longer today.
How did people who live in hilly areas go about increasing time in the saddle without killing their legs? I will do some routes on strava and see if I can get some fairly level circuits from home but happy to hear any advice.

 

[zizou]

As a beginner its simply a matter of getting out on your bike consistently and gradually improving, you dont need a strict training plan or anything. It may take a few weeks to notice the improvements but they do come!

If it is a particular hill that is defeating you then take a note of where you get off....next time you try the hill aim not for the top but just on going further than you managed the last time. It's a good way to measure progress and also lets you focus on the improvement you are making rather than on the 'failure' of not reaching the top without stopping.

 

[Reddragon]

Would you recommend picking a route and just doing that route for a few weeks (I am getting out 2 or 3 times a week and running 2 or 3 times a week so 5 days total a week) and just concentrate on getting more confidence and strength on that route rather than going a different way each time?

 

[The_Weekend_Report_Guy]

Sounds like you are fit..!

5 workouts a week is a fair amount of exercise...

Just curiosity.. What sort of gearing do you have on the bike.. and how steep are those hills...

I think you might have the wrong set up for what you are trying to do..

 

[Nigelnaturist]

As @zizou says its just a matter of keeping at it.
80ft/mile isn't piddling to put it into context my avg is about 37ft/mile I struggle to find a rout with that sort of elevation gain, the closest is into town and back, and that is basically down hill up hill about 90ft, and back about the same, and its 2 miles there and back, as @The_Weekend_Report_Guy says the gearing might be a tad high, let us know what you have.

 

[screenman]

What sort of pain?

 

[Reddragon]

Thanks all, I have a norco vfr3 hybrid with 27 gears, I have never ridden a road bike and the drops scare me so I went for a hybrid as my first bike in many years!
I have only got in to exercise since 4th July when I started the couch to 5k, I am feeling a lot fitter, I wouldn't say I am fit but I do a little often. 5k on my runs but 5 mins start and end are walking.
The pain is a burning sensation above my knees but below my thigh muscles.
This is my ride from today
https://www.strava.com/activities/397814016

 

[Sittingduck]

Have you checked the saddle is up high enough? Leg should be slightly bent at the bottom of the stroke but not much. If your hips rock and hamstrings hurt, it's too high but quads hurting can point to it being too low. Just a thought and worth checking.

Other than that - you just need to get used to cycling more. Sounds quite lumpy round there, so try to spin a lower gear and stay in the saddle most of the time until you get used to it anyway.

 

[Reddragon]

Interesting @Sittingduck when I got the bike mid august the bike shop said that I would need to raise the saddle slightly when I got a bit more confident, maybe my riding has developed quicker than my confidence and I should look at raising it up a little.

 

[Tankengine]

Keep trying! It's building it up bit by bit. Each time you try a hill see how far you get and try and beat it next time. Eventually you'll get to the tops! Keep going!

 

[Sittingduck]

If your leg is quite bent and you can easily reach the floor when you are fully seated I would suggest it is too low. Try moving it up (slightly) minor adjustments here can feel quite extreme.

 

[Reddragon]

I can fully bend my toes on the floor when sat on the bike, so maybe a slight increase in height is needed.

 

[Sittingduck]

Give it a try - remember not to goo too much - should be a slight bend at bottom of the stroke.

 

[Reddragon]

Now to work out how to raise the saddle, doesn't look straightforward, I shall have a Google and go visit my dad, a leisure cyclist and generally better at doing stuff like that than my husband

 

[Citius]

I can fully bend my toes on the floor when sat on the bike, so maybe a slight increase in height is needed.

Set your saddle height in relation to the pedals - not the floor