hilldweller
03-12-2009, 08:26 PM
I live on a ridge. When I moved here there was only one sealed road up the hill, but a couple of years ago a second route was also sealed, providing the possibility of a loop ride down the hill, along the flat, back up the hill and along the top on a road bike. That was when I started wanting to get back into biking again :)
Finally got a bike at Christmas, but it needed repairs so didn't actually get going until a month or so ago. After a few practice rides on the flat and a small foray up part of the hill last week which sent me screaming off to the bike shop for brake lever adjustments, this morning I decided that today was the day for the whole loop :D. It wasn't pretty, I was puffing like a steam train, on the steepest section going up I had to stop three times in the space of a couple of hundred metres :o, but I did ride the whole way (not much choice in cleats ;)) and didn't fall out of the pedals :D It's scary when you're in your lowest gear, can barely keep enough speed to stay upright, and desperately need to get your feet out before collapsing to a halt:o Clipping back in was equally hairy. Just as well it's a quiet road. Going down was completely un-nerving. Was trying to remember to keep my weight back and feather the brakes rather than clamping them on the whole way, but it was just so steep and I'm a complete wuss! I actually checked the brake pads when I stopped at the bottom to un-cramp my fingers, to make sure there was still some rubber left :o
It's only about a 15k loop but it's a fair-sized hill for an out of condition newbie - 300m (1000 ft approx) altitude, very very steep on the route I took down, not quite as bad on the other road back up. No way was I going to attempt it in reverse LOL. So now the plan is to improve fitness over the next month or so and then try the loop again. It can only get easier.... ;)
Finally got a bike at Christmas, but it needed repairs so didn't actually get going until a month or so ago. After a few practice rides on the flat and a small foray up part of the hill last week which sent me screaming off to the bike shop for brake lever adjustments, this morning I decided that today was the day for the whole loop :D. It wasn't pretty, I was puffing like a steam train, on the steepest section going up I had to stop three times in the space of a couple of hundred metres :o, but I did ride the whole way (not much choice in cleats ;)) and didn't fall out of the pedals :D It's scary when you're in your lowest gear, can barely keep enough speed to stay upright, and desperately need to get your feet out before collapsing to a halt:o Clipping back in was equally hairy. Just as well it's a quiet road. Going down was completely un-nerving. Was trying to remember to keep my weight back and feather the brakes rather than clamping them on the whole way, but it was just so steep and I'm a complete wuss! I actually checked the brake pads when I stopped at the bottom to un-cramp my fingers, to make sure there was still some rubber left :o
It's only about a 15k loop but it's a fair-sized hill for an out of condition newbie - 300m (1000 ft approx) altitude, very very steep on the route I took down, not quite as bad on the other road back up. No way was I going to attempt it in reverse LOL. So now the plan is to improve fitness over the next month or so and then try the loop again. It can only get easier.... ;)