When is a climb too steep? When the pros have to walk

[machew]

link to article

 

[Scoosh]

Ouch !

 

[Rob3rt]

Old news, also it was not the gradient of the climb on its own merit that was the killer, it was the point in the race it was placed and the preceding climbs. Even the race organiser said he took it too far.

 

[Sara_H]

Like my ride home from work.......

 

[montage]

It's worth bearing in mind that most of these guys are already on the limit when they hit the climb. Riding a climb in a RR or TT is very different to riding one in the middle of a club run.

I do wonder at what point it becomes more economical whilst maintaining speed to walk than ride

 

[Herr-B]

Looks no worse than the climb to the finish for the Lincoln Sportive (and Grand Prix the following day!) up Michaelgate. Although I won't just have done 200km beforehand.

 

[Peteaud]

Froome had a 36 /28 and he said that was to hard.

 

[BrumJim]

On the Kidderminster Killer last year on the hill out of Clun, Alberto (of this forum) had a re-think on his "stay on the bike" philospophy when the third member of our group was doing the same speed as him, even though he was pushing his bike up the hill.
Me? I was further behind, already walking, after having fallen over trying to get going again, and had given up the idea of carrying on on two wheels.

 

[Steve H]

Too proud to ride with a triple chainset! ;-)

 

[thegravestoneman]

That was one of the advantages of doing my 100's on a trike never had to get off and push just hold it on the brakes to stop rolling back and wait for breath to come back. But none the less b#gg#r me pro's walking!!

 

[cyberknight]

apex groupset with 34x32 , it will get you up a cliff
Surely the DS of the teams would have let the riders know before hand and thought a bit more about gear choice ?

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Quite a few years ago, during the Tour of Ireland, didn't Sean Kelly come to a halt/fall-off going a hill near the finish, & have to be pushed up by his team-mates, as it was too steep to set off normally??
Now, if that horse of a man couldn't restart..................


Worst climb that I know, that has caused chaos in the 'Tour of Britain', & especially on a damp/wet day (when it's a complete nightmare) is one that's called 'Shibden Wall' (officially Lee Lane)
I'm not sure if that's a local name, or just one that was made-up by the race presenters??

it's in the Shibden Valley, at Halifax (OS 104; SE 095 273), & climbs past the Shbden Mill Inn.
I know that my own attempts to ride it have failed in the wet.




Then, on normal roads, 'The Strines' in South Yorkshire (Mortimer Road) are the hardest I've ridden regularly

 

[User169]

There was quite a bit of walking on the Koppenberg this weekend during RVV, although that's more because the road's narrow and there are too many riders trying to get up at once. Merckx was saying yesterday that the organizers should scrap the Koppenberg.

 

[Hip Priest]

Old news, also it was not the gradient of the climb on its own merit that was the killer, it was the point in the race it was placed and the preceding climbs.

Despite being nothing like a pro, I can relate to that. There's a climb I train on regularly, which is taxing but do-able. When I tried to do it on a recent century, straight after two other big climbs, it nigh on killed me. Only my mate shouting encouragement at me stopped me from climbing off!

Having said that, I couldn't get up the hill in the OP after an hour of rest and three Weetabix.

 

[Hip Priest]

Quite a few years ago, during the Tour of Ireland, didn't Sean Kelly come to a halt/fall-off going a hill near the finish, & have to be pushed up by his team-mates, as it was too steep to set off normally??
Now, if that horse of a man couldn't restart..................


Worst climb that I know, that has caused chaos in the 'Tour of Britain', & especially on a damp/wet day (when it's a complete nightmare) is one that's called 'Shibden Wall' (officially Lee Lane)
I'm not sure if that's a local name, or just one that was made-up by the race presenters??

it's in the Shibden Valley, at Halifax (OS 104; SE 095 273), & climbs past the Shbden Mill Inn.
I know that my own attempts to ride it have failed in the wet.




Then, on normal roads, 'The Strines' in South Yorkshire (Mortimer Road) are the hardest I've ridden regularly

Jesus. I'd need a Stannah stairlift to get up there. A carbon one.