its not a monster stretch at all,acc to strava i think its 4.2% and its only about half, a mile at the bottom theres a bridge /narrow tunnel where the traffic narrows and more often than not i need to stop and let cars/traffic go through cos if i just steam in they will still try and get past pushing me into the kerb,so gen its from no speed to go in with at the start and theres lights at the top and by the time i get there im panting like a fat spaniel ,im running 44*16 its about 72 gi i think (this may be wrong)
What Am I Doing Wrong ?
- Thread starter G-Zero
- Start date
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totallyfixed
Veteran
- Location
- The only county without a McDonalds
That gear is around 74" but shouldn't be causing you a problem on that kind of gradient, assuming you have "miles in your legs" and you are not carrying too much weight. I'm guessing blind here but I see it a lot and I think it might just be technique and nothing more. A common phrase I say to my super duper climbing better half when I'm taking it easy is, "I'm just going to rock up this hill". To me that is just rocking the bike more than usual from side to side in a slower rhythm. when you look down you should be looking at your front wheel, in my case as I'm tall the front third and the steeper it gets the further forward you lean.
GrasB
Veteran
- Location
- Nr Cambridge
Though he was wrong... Hills don't get easier, they get faster & harder! (the faster you can get up them the harder you can push climbing them)
gb155
Fan Boy No More.
- Location
- Manchester-Ish
I'd say you were spot on there mate
gavroche
Getting old but not past it
- Location
- North Wales
Don't worry too much about it. Cavendish is world champion but he still can't ride the hills!Yet, he is fitter than all of us here!
jdtate101
Ex-Fatman
- Location
- Boring Birmingham
I'd actually say that you need to get out of the saddle sooner (depending upon the length of the 20% part). If you leave it until the last second you will be grinding and exhaust yourself before you get to the serious climbing. On the lead up climb, regularly standup, even if just for a few seconds, to allow yourself to stretch out and relax. Keep your cadence nice and high and spin. When the going gets tough, stand up smoothly and keep the rpm in the 70-80's if possible. Over-revving whilst standing will tire you very quickly. Remember to breathe in time with your pedal strokes to keep the O2 high, try not to gasp. If you ride clipless then you can also employ the "pull" technique, whereby you can pull up on the pedals whilst standing too. This can produce MUCH more power but at the expense of energy, so use sparingly.
As others have said the only real way to cure the hill "blues" is practice, practice, practice.
As others have said the only real way to cure the hill "blues" is practice, practice, practice.
GrasB
Veteran
- Location
- Nr Cambridge
Can't climb hills?.. I'd like to see you keep up with him!Don't worry too much about it. Cavendish is world champion but he still can't ride the hills!Yet, he is fitter than all of us here!
gavroche
Getting old but not past it
- Location
- North Wales
I am referring to his fellow professionals. He can't keep up with most of them.
Nearly there
Veteran
- Location
- Cumbria
There's two particular hills I ride that I still can't all the way up without stopping and their not the steepest ones I ride either they've beaten me mentally when I approach them my legs suddenly go then further down the road there are steeper longer hills that I can get up,strange but true
