Steep or Long?

[SlowerThanASluggishSloth]

A friend has invited me to join him for some cycling in the Lake District in April. It is probable that Wrynose and Hardknott are on the agenda.

I have read very closely the advice given to Florence about her machine and to Plodder.

I am in my late fifties, just a bloke on a bike. If it helps inform your advice, this week's run was 60 miles, about 5000 ft elevation, at an average 12mph.

I would welcome any advice at all but specifically whether you think it would be better for me to spend more time doing reps on short, steep hills or concentrate on long, less aggressive hills?

Many thanks.

 

[yashicamat]

I'd suggest a bit of both. If you want some practice for the extra 'legwork' (as some Lakeland passes are steep AND long), I'd suggest picking a long steady climb and then either try and get up it progressively faster, or turning a taller gear. I'd mix that in with some actually very steep ground to get used to that too.

Another thing you could do is, if you have the capacity, to load up your bike when doing your training ride (with anything; books etc., in panniers), so when you actually do your cycling, you'll be used to pushing a heavier bike around so will find it easier to work up hills.

My 2ps worth.

 

[ColinJ]

I'd suggest fitting the lowest gears that you can, and on the day, make sure that you are wearing shoes that you can walk in!

As for riding advice - if you get fit enough to ride up the steepest climbs, you will definitely be fit enough to ride up the longer ones so don't worry about the latter. To cope with the steep stuff - get yourself that lower gearing (if you haven't done so already) and then go and practice climbing some very steep hills!

Even after you've done that, you are still going to find Wrynose and Hardknott extremely hard, so I wasn't joking about being able to walk in your shoes. The first time I tried climbing Ewden Bank near Sheffield I ground to a halt and pretty much fell off my bike. I then had to take my shoes off because I couldn't walk up the steep slope wearing shoes with Look cleats on! I then suffered the ignominy of being overtaken by a very slow moving car full of young children who were leaning out of the windows and laughing at me!

 

[PpPete]

All good advice
But also practice your steep hills out of the saddle.

I fitted my bike with a very low gear (23" FWIW) before tackling the big Lake District climbs, thinking that if nothing else I could just twiddle my way up the steepest bits at 2 mph.

Wrong!

Them there hills are so steep my front wheel was lifting off the deck when I remained seated, and I just didn't have the muscles and cardiovascular fitness to tackle them standing up.

Fortunately I was wearing MTB shoes and could walk up the steepest sections.

 

[phil_hg_uk]

I used to hate hills so last year I did loads of rides with hills in them (not difficult in North Yorkshire) again and again and again.

Then I devised a ride one sunday to do a circle through the towns a villages surrounding harrogate taking in all the steep hills I hated, 86 miles of them. I managed all the hills except the one in Patley Bridge which always gets me. Just near the top my lungs just run out of air, so I have to rest for a couple of minutes before carrying on, but I will get it one day (or will it get me).

As a result of that work last year I now find that routes that I used to hate because of the hills I dont really think about anymore so I just go where I like rather than avoiding the hilly routes.

 

[Garz]

Steep or long?

Severe

 

[661-Pete]

Not really an answer to your question, but make sure the bike is in tip-top condition too. Very steep gradients put a lot of strain on the chain especially, also the spokes, hub, cranks. I have (in my youth) managed to shear a screw-on block clean off the hub, piling up a 1-in-5: my legs could do it but the hub couldn't! And breaking a chain while you're standing is - er - unpleasant.

Of course this climbing stuff is long in the past, for me! I remember two hills in Yorkshire which I tried, way back in my 20s. Both of them 1-in-4's. Both of them beat me. One was Park Rash near Kettlewell. The other was Sutton Bank. I think I could have pulled off Park Rash if it hadn't been for loose gravel.

 

[ColinJ]

Very steep gradients put a lot of strain on the chain especially, also the spokes, hub, cranks. I have (in my youth) managed to shear a screw-on block clean off the hub, piling up a 1-in-5: my legs could do it but the hub couldn't!

And breaking a chain while you're standing is - er - unpleasant.

I have nightmares about something like that happening!

Of course this climbing stuff is long in the past, for me! I remember two hills in Yorkshire which I tried, way back in my 20s. Both of them 1-in-4's. Both of them beat me. One was Park Rash near Kettlewell. The other was Sutton Bank. I think I could have pulled off Park Rash if it hadn't been for loose gravel.

I managed to get up Park Rash on my killer 200 from Hebden Bridge, but if the road had been wet or there had been any gravel that day, I definitely wouldn't have.

I normally sit down for climbs, only standing if I'm forced to by my legs giving way. I got to the foot of Park Rash, looked up and instantly leapt to my feet - it was an intimidating sight!

There's a car park on the left at the top of the really steep bit. As I was grovelling past it a couple of families got out of their cars and all the kids starting cheering and their parents applauded, That was pretty cool! Unfortunate though - I'd been about to dismount and felt like I had to carry on after that!

I was really glad to have my triple on that day. I think my climbing gear was 30/26 and I really needed it.

 

[Garz]

I was really glad to have my triple on that day. I think my climbing gear was 30/26 and I really needed it.

Oh. Good job I have now in my arsenal a 34/27 as before I was managing on a 34/23