Standing hills

[ragbrai40]

We've discussed cadence, now I'd like some feedback on standing hills.

Last year was my first full year w/new road bike and I felt too awkward to tackle any standing hills. So this year when doing hills, I've been standing but am finding my pedal stroke is very jerky, not a smooth motion. Am I in too high/easy of a gear?

And I also seem to get very winded, heart rate sky rockets and I end up sitting before the top of the hill. What's up with that? Obviously I'm doing something way wrong.

In spinning (I know - no comparison) when we did hills, it was hard pedaling, but I could keep my breathing and heart rate steady.

I'm going out tonight to tackle a couple of "monster" hills to celebrate my 41st bday and really would like to "own" them 1st time out!!!!!

Appreciate any comments......

[Veronica]

My heart rate also tends to skyrocket when I stand on hills, especially on the tandem, less so on my single, if I don't think about controlling my motions. I try to be in a gear that's enough to support my weigh, but where I can still keep a fairly high cadence when I stand. I typically wait until I know I can crest the hill while standing, before I stand up. Although on some long climbs - Mount Diablo for example - standing is just a nice change of pace.

Veronica

[ragbrai40]

ok - makes sense. Another question and maybe it's a personal thing, would you be more apt to stand on a shorter steeper hill vs. a longer gradual hill?

I think I was standing too soon into the hill and between nervousness of expermimenting and all other factors, I overexerted and rode the crest seated instead of standing.

What/where is Mt. Diablo?

Thanks.

[Veronica]

I tend to stand on shorter, steeper hills personally. Maybe at the end of a long one, I'll stand. Depends on how tired I am. Mt Diablo is about 3400 feet up, ten miles by road, in the SF Bay area. Here's a link to some pics.

V.

http://tandemhearts.com/Mount-Diablo/index.html

[ragbrai40]

Great pics! We're in corn country here, but it isn't flat - contrary to popular belief! We have some nice views, but nothing quite like that!

[Veronica]

BTW Happy Birthday! I hope you whip those hills into shape!

Veronica

[ragbrai40]

Thanks - the weather isn't quite cooperating, it's 50 degrees w/15 -20 mph winds......BUT I will keep my date with the hills! :)

[Veronica]

So dress warmly - keep your knees covered. Forget about the wind, it will make you stronger! And go ride anyway. If you're not having fun 30 minutes into it - turn around and go home.

Veronica

[ragbrai40]

I do have warm gear packed - thanks!

The ride won't be a long one, the primary purpose is a vengance ride - to conquer the hill that I couldn't get up last year on my birthday! I got up it later in the year but decided that every spring I will ride that hill for the first time of the year on my birthday to redeem myself! And I have every bit of confidence that I will OWN it today! Wind or no wind! Grrrrr!

(Can you tell I'm getting pysched!) :D

[Veronica]

Yippee! You go girl. I have my own ride that I do to challenge myself. It's this coming Saturday. Sometimes... I think I'm nuts. Have fun!

Veronica

[Dogmama]

Approach the hill at a fairly good pace. You don't want to be winded, but you want your momentum to help you up the hill. You don't want to be spinning, but don't be mashing either. How's that for ambiguity?

Once you start up the hill, stay seated as long as possible Get your butt back towards the rear of the saddle so you can push with your gluteal muscles. Don't forget to pull with your opposite leg. Shift before you have to stand and while you're keeping a fairly good cadence.

If you start to run out of gears ;) stand. Again, focus on pushing with your gluteal muscles. That means you'll be bent over rather than standing straight up. You may have to shift to a harder gear once you stand. That's OK.

If you can avoid it, you never want to start a hill standing & have to sit before you crest it. When you sit, you'll need to shift to an easier gear. If you don't have an easier gear....timberrrrr!!!

Short steep hills - I mix it up. Sometimes I stand & other times I practice sitting for as long as I can.

When you're sitting, don't hunch over. You want your ribcage expanded as much as possible so that you can suck in the air you need!

And repeat after me: Hills are my friends. Hills are my friends...

[KTeach]

Great pics!

[Veronica]

Dogmama, I love you advice about a mantra. My upcoming ride is actually a series of several climbs, the first being Mount Diablo at 3800 feet, next up is a county park at about 2200, then comes a pass that actually has, "Oh my God" painted at the base. That's about as far as I got last year - 91 miles, 9,000 feet of climb in about nine hours total riding time. I was unhappy about the time. This year I'd like to get to mile 115. It'll add about 2,000 feet of climb. I'll obsess about the time later. :D


Veronica

[ragbrai40]

Thanks dogmama, from your description I have some work to do on my form.

[SadieKate]

then comes a pass that actually has, "Oh my God" painted at the base
Veronica, what pass?

One of the hills near Berryessa says "You're almost home! Dig deep!. I really didn't think it was that big of a hill until I remembered it is part of the Davis DC.

I kind of like collecting quotes from "the road." Makes me feel like I'm just following in my Tribe's footsteps.

Ragbrai40 - so how was the Bday ride? Where I live is pancake flat except for the invisible hills which other people call the wind. Real hill training is done by sprinting over the freeway bridges.

[Veronica]

Patterson Pass near Livermore.

[ragbrai40]

Well ladies, I'm happy to report - I OWNED the hills on my bday ride! I ended the season last year riding hills w/o shifting into granny gear and was hoping all the winter spinning helped and it did! No granny gear hills for me - yah! Next bike will only have two rings!

Unfortunately the "hills" in Iowa are not close to comparing to the Mt. Diablo pass and others that veronica has referred to - but don't let anyone tell you the midwest is flat, cause it's not!

Thanks ladies!

[Veronica]

Don't be so quick to give up a triple. :p

It's nice to have those low gears when you want them. And, hey there may be mountains in your future!

V.

[ragbrai40]

Yah, you're probably right. I'd love to ride in some of the passes that you guys have talked about! Mountains hmmmmm.........

Might have to think about a biking vacation somewhere other than Iowa! :cool:

[Veronica]

I highly recommend a circum cycle of Hawaii's Big Island for a bicycle vacation.

V.

[SadieKate]

Even if you're a roadie only, you'd probably enjoy the Telluride to Moab tour by Western Spirit Cycling. 200+ miles in 6 days all on dirt roads. This is one fabulous trip and you'll feel like you're on top of the world. And, you'll do enough climbing to satisfy any mountain goat.

[ragbrai40]

Sounds like both you girls might have some interesting bike travel stories to share!

Question - veronica from other threads I see that you and your husband both ride, but what about other couples out there? I love the idea of going somewhere else in the country to bike, but my husband has just started riding this year and I'm not sure he shares my riding "passion" enough to take something like a tour of the Hawaiian islands as a vacation.

I went on a week long ride last year (here in our home state) by myself and absolutely loved it, he's going with me this year, but I'm just not sure he shares my love of the open road.

Maybe this is another thread......

[Irulan]

my hubby and I mountain bike together. Even tho he got me into it, I'm the ones that's a liitle more hooked.

irulan

[SadieKate]

Now, my husband and I both share the passion so. . .

But, does your husband like the great outdoors? Many tour companies have 2-4 day trips, both road and mountain, both inn and camping. Lots of options. Tour company carries all the gear.

For a mtb bike trip where you camp, all you have to do is ride and set up your own tent. Horse duvers are served every evening. There will be tours for every fitness and skill level. They'll rent bikes. Some guest can usually be talked into a card game or something every night.

Check out Western Spirit, Rim Tours, Escape Adventures, etc.

Because they have experienced guides, it's also a good way to get some coaching from a non-spouse person!

[Irulan]

heh heh, derailing the thread.

Yes, we are very outdoorsy...camp, hike, backpack, ski, climb, bike, whitewater. Usually he's boating when I'm biking!! But we do all our own vacations.. no tours, no guides. Just us and maybe a few friends. Why pay for some one to plan what you can easily do for yourself? Maybe we are jaded from my hubby's years as a river guide, setting up tents for paying customers...

There is so much great information out there.. guidebooks, maps, web sites.

There's only one mtb tour company that I would EVER consider going with
http://www.dreamride.com This is because I know one of the guides and know that the trips are very small and personal, and not cattle call rides. They have an great, very education web site. If anyone is considering a mountain bike tour, this company's site is wealth of information about what to look for in any tour.

do I sound biased? :eek: you can surf aorund my persoanl pages to see what kind of stuff we do
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/penny/penny.asp

Irulan

[ragbrai40]

Irulan just checked your specialty site - all I can say is wow. Cool pics - you guys aren't just sitting around waiting for something to happen - you're out there doin it! That's very, very cool.

Great to see the kids involved, looks like a whole way of life for you all!

[pedalfaster]

Originally posted by ragbrai40
No granny gear hills for me - yah! Next bike will only have two rings!


Great to hear that you had a good b-day ride ragbrai40!

I wanted to chime in about "granny gears" and triples vs. doubles though, since we have a lot of new riders on the board.

Last year some of the women I started coaching had been "shamed"(by men--go figure!) out of using the small rings on their triples when climbing steep hills. I pointed out that with a double my inner chainring is a 39...the middle ring on *most* standard triples is a 42. So if you are staying in the 42 and your largest cog in back is a standard 23 you are working much much harder than I am in my 39/25. Just some food for thought. Most cyclists are kinda fond of their knees :D

As far as riding mountains...I've ridden in CA, CO, NM and west TX(yes they have mountains there!) and had no trouble at all with the gearing (39/25) mentioned. It was only when I moved here (the midwest) and also started riding in the East (WV, PA etc) that I really felt I might like a triple! The west may have big mountains...but those roads were built by "modern" civil engineers. I find the grades in the Eastern half of the country to be terribly steep.

San Fransisco is in a league of it's own of course! ;)

[ragbrai40]

Thanks pedalfaster, your feedback is appreciated! I'm glad you pointed out the ring size difference cause I was wondering what would happen when I tried that monster steep hill without "granny" to fall back on. Hmmmm might have to reconsider my thought process. Thanks.

[ChainsOflove]

I'm at ground zero with hills :(

I can barely do them with my new racing bike which only has a double. Wondering if I should change it out to a triple.

[pedalfaster]

ChainsOfLove:

Changing from a double to a triple can be $$$. If you have a standard (Shimano) 11(or 12) 23 ask your LBS if you can swap to a 25 or 27 on the rear cassette. Mucho cheaper. No need to change the front (left) SIS shifter, rewrap the bars etc etc.

Good luck

:)

[Adventure Girl]

Originally posted by pedalfaster
If you have a standard (Shimano) 11(or 12) 23 ask your LBS if you can swap to a 25 or 27 on the rear cassette.


My LBS has done this for many people who find out they're geared too high with a double and have trouble with the hills. It is a lot cheaper than all that is required to change to a triple. They call it a "cripple".:p