Not feeling the speed (newbie question)

[Martinm]

Hi all.

Took the new bike out for it's maiden wobble to meet the wife and have a look at some floor tiles (living on the edge ). I think the journey was about 3 miles, mostly downhill with a couple of short uphill bits.

While I was on the uphill bits I felt like I'd lost a lot of speed but had only dropped a couple of gears from top and had a run up to them as well but felt that I was almost at walking pace.

I haven't cycled for years and this is my first geared bike so was unsure what to expect.

Is it usual to feel that you're not going very fast or is it just me?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Martin

 

[Willo]

It's usual for me to feel as though I'm not going very fast up hills :-) When I first started cycling more regularly, any hill saw me struggle up very slowly. Over time, those hills still hurt the legs but I can get up them a little quicker. Just stick at it and give it time.

Not knowing your bike, or the steepness of the hills you're cycling up, you say you only dropped down a couple of gears. Maybe you're trying to grind up in too high a gear. You could try going up the hills in a lower gear, 'spinning' faster with less resistance, if that makes sense.

 

[byegad]

You need to change down enough gears to keep spinning the pedals quickly. I suspect you were pedalling very slowly, which also makes it seem slower. With a bit of riding under your belt you'll soon be climbing faster anyway!

 

[gary in derby]

hills always seem slow to me no matter how fast i pedal. though for some reason i am getting quicker.