Walk or wait. . . What to do?

[Lifesgreat]

OK fellow bikers, here's the situation.
You are going up a long hill and you are in your granny gear. Your heartrate has going through the roof-95%+ and you are pedalling so slowly that you are afraid you may tip over while attached to your bike. You stop. :eek: Do you wait until your heartrate is where it is supposed to be and start riding again, or do you start walking up the hill until your heartrate is where it is supposed to be. What would you do? Are there advantages or disadvantages (physical/psychological) to one way or the other?


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Our doubts are traitors,
And make us lose the good we might oft win
By fearing to attempt-William Shakespeare

[yellow]

Great question!

Some random thoughts from my brain:

1) You don't have a low enough granny gear! What's your largest cog in the back? Are you riding a double? See my Ode to my 30X27 (http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=3944). There is no shame in having a really low granny, esp if you ride in hilly areas a lot.
2) Starting on hills is tough. If the hill is super steep, walk to a flatter spot where you know you can start, clip in, and not splay yourself on the road (speaking from experience here). And even if it's not steep consider your gearing and whether or not you'll be able to start easily enough. If you can't, walk to a flatter spot.
3) Finally, if it were me, I'd walk. That keeps the lactic flush going (still moving, not standing still) and your heart rate will come down.

Just my $0.02.

[Nanci]

I stop, wait until I can breathe, then ride again. If it's that steep, it takes a while to recover, even walking. Walking gives me a sense of defeat, recovering to ride again makes me feel like I conquered the hill.

If you have trouble getting started again, ride crosswise or slightly downhill until you get going.

It doesn't take very long, maybe only a minute, to lower your heatrate enough to continue on.

I usually get out of breath long before I feel lactic acid build up, on a hill.

Nanci

[mainerider]

Having been in a similar situation, when I was going 4 mph, and almost fell over because I couldn't get my feet unclipped fast enough, I walked until I could get back on my bike and finish the climb. I did feel defeated for walking that small section and still have that climb "to do" over again. (Crawford Notch, NH).

[snapdragen]

I think it takes more energy to walk, than to just wait a bit and get back on the bike.

[Deanna]

I believe in stopping. I like to say I rode the whole hill, even if I have to stop a few times. If it's a climb I plan on doing repeatedly, it's motivating to aim for one less stop the next time I go up it.

[alpinerabbit]

Kinda hard to walk in road shoes. So I tend to stop.

[Dianyla]

I believe in stopping. I like to say I rode the whole hill, even if I have to stop a few times. If it's a climb I plan on doing repeatedly, it's motivating to aim for one less stop the next time I go up it.
Yeah, what she said. :)

[SadieKate]

Everybody is different, but I walk. If I stop and stand, the muscles in my legs won't continue to pump and keep the circulation going, otherwise everything pools in my feet. For long straight downhills where I don't care about gaining speed, I'll even keep my legs gently turning over so that circulation and flushing is maintained. If I'm riding a familiar route and know that a particular hill is going to be a problem, I try to get my heart rate down by riding at a very low effort for quite a while before.

Good recovery after a ride includes putting your feet up, not standing still, so it just seems that walking is better than standing. Only time I stand is when I've stopped at the flattest place and couldn't get started elsewhere. I kind of view it as a mini-cooldown period like you should do at the end of a ride.

There is no rule that you have to ride the whole thing. In a mtnbike or cyclocross race, the racers take the most efficient means of locomotion. If that means getting off the bike and running up a hill with it, fine.

Fitness, gearing and confidence will help you conquer the hill one day.

[bcipam]

Unfortunately this happens to be more than I like... I stop, catch my breath and start walking. Problem with a steep hill and ultra granny is it's tough to get started again. Takes alot of technique and skill. I look at it this way. I'm still exercising. It's not easy pushing a 25 - 30 pound bike up a steep hill. It's still work. Once the ground levels out a bit, then I try and get back on the bike. It's all good.

[Trek420]

what bcipam sez

"I look at it this way. I'm still exercising. It's not easy pushing a 25 - 30 pound bike up a steep hill. It's still work.... It's all good."

It's all under your own power, it all counts, it's cross training! But my goal is to do it fewer times and less.

I think it was the great Eddie M. who said something like "You're faster going than not going" so I keep moving. That's probably not what he meant but...

Trek-never met a hill I'm ashamed to walk-420

[MomOnBike]

I'm with the walkers. In my little mind, the important thing is that I get to the top of the hill, by whatever means. Defeat is giving up, turning around and not making the top.

Also, especially with my recumbent, walking helps stretch out the muscles in the top of my thighs so that when I get back on and ride, I'm actually stronger.

And furthermore...somewhere back in the mists of time, I read that you are stressing your heart more by suddenly stopping excercise (stopping & resting) than by loafing along in a cool-down walk. This might be bunkum, but I choose to believe it.

And don't forget the keeping the blood moving thing, either.

Yeah, I walk when I need to - less and less as time goes by.

[annie]

Hmmmm - there was a time when I'd have said I would NEVER walk a hill. I've become older and wiser. :rolleyes: If I am on the mtb, going up a steep, gnarly climb and don't make it, I will definitely walk. Most likely I won't get up otherwise. Or else go back down and try again, 'cause some of that is technical skills that I just don't posses and the only way to learn it is to keep trying. On the road bike, tho', its still a matter of pride for me. I may go slow - I may use that granny gear - but I will ride up the hill. If I meet a hill that I can't do that on - I think I would start to walk, rather than waste time standing there. No point to that. And I agree that it is not good to simply stop. Got to keep the heart pumping and the blood flowing. When I've pulled a loaded BOB trailer, and not made a wise route choice, I have definitely walked up hills. I simply couldn't keep pedaling and I don't think resting would have made any difference. If the hill is too steep to keep going, might as well walk. If its a long hill, and the grade lessens, then by all means, get back on and try to ride. I agree with MOB - the important thing is to get up the hill. Next time on the same hill, you try to go farther. It's a good gauge of judge progress. Hills are SUCH good training. Automatic intervals. I always try and think of them in a positive way.

annie

[Hell-uv-a-job]

Your heartrate has going through the roof-95%+ and you are pedalling so slowly that you are afraid you may tip over while attached to your bike.

The way I look at it, and I am greatly out of shape, if I'm still breathing and not about to pass out I will go down pedaling!!:cool: :cool: If i can do it, anybody can.

[Aint Doody]

I walk--I had a really good cyclist tell me one time, "If your hands are on the bike, it counts!" That's my mantra and I'm sticking to it.

[bcipam]

I walk--I had a really good cyclist tell me one time, "If your hands are on the bike, it counts!" That's my mantra and I'm sticking to it.


I like that! Mine if I borrow it??;)

[Geonz]

I haven't met the hill my granny gears couldn't handle.

Of course, Illinois really doesn't have that many hills :-)

I do try to pace myself so I'm not in the heartrate roof, resisting the urge to "charge" up the hill (like I can on anything local - but not once I get to, well, actual hills).

If it gets to that point, though, I'd want to walk. Stopping cold (or hot, as the case may be ) just doesn't sound like a good idea.

[DebW]

Gee, I've never tried bailling in the middle of a hill. Don't know if I could do it. I'd probably fall over and hurt myself. The idea is too scary to contemplate, so I just keep mashing away in my 42/23 (lowest) gear, alternating between standing and sitting while my legs slowly turn to rubber. Good thing the hills here are all under 1/2 mile long.

[CR400]

Personally I just get back on the bike and keep going. In fact I wouldn't even stop (get off) until I got to the top, you are just prolonging the eventual pain. The only time I have ever or will ever again get off and walk is if I can't turn the crank over at all no matter how hard I try. As far as heart rate unless you have reason to believe you'll have a heart attack if you go above your "max" it's ok for a seconds. Most likely you won't be able to get that close anyway. Now if you start to get lightheaded, dizzy, or see stars, stop and sit right away.
I had an expirence back before I had my heart rate monitor and was in totally horrible shape (240lbs and no training) tried to maintain only 17mph for a long time and blacked out while riding. I really don't know what happened except everything went black for a second and then I came back and kept on going, I did slow down a few seconds later though. It all happened so fast that the group I was with didn't even know what happened apparently in those few seconds I kept my balance and pedaling. So I guess we can ride our bikes in our sleep.

[SadieKate]

Wow, CR400, you must ride road only if you won't get off until then.

[Veronica]

I have yet to meet a hill on the road that I can't get up. I've got really small gears though - 24 x 27. The slowest speed I've seen was like 2.5. I don't remember it exactly, but it was on DMD two years ago - Patterson pass into a headwind.

Off road - I walk if needed. Depending on the ride I may turn around and try again or just walk up the hill.

V.

[bcipam]

There is a distinct difference between road and off road hill climbing. I never walk on road. I have low gearing and so far have not have any issue getting up even the steepest of hills. I've had to stop and catch my breath a couple of times but can alway get started again and do. In fact, I have this mentality - I will not walk my bike - while on road!

Off road; tough, steep, rutty, rocky, gnarly terrain is different. If in super low granny, it's tough to get the traction to start climbing again which is why I'll walk. Again, pushing a heavy mountain bike up steep terrain is still alot of work. Once the trail levels out, I'll try my climb again.

[CR400]

No, I was just totally humiliated and felt like a failure the one day I struggled to get up even the smallest hill. Becuase I was so fat. And a few I had to walk on because I couldn't even turn the crank over. From that moment on not again. Plus I ride with guys and I just have to beat them. It all depends on what a persons definition of success is.

[Nanci]

It's not like it takes very long to be able to ride again, even a minute will make a huge difference, if you're in pretty good cardiovascular shape. Plus it feels good on the feet and undercarriage to give it a tiny break.

I've noticed, riding like in a Century or whatever, when you see the same riders over and over again, you always beat the "walkers" up the hill/mountain if you stop, rest, ride again. It's more efficient.

Now on trails, no way, if I have to stop, it's all over for that hill. I'm walking.

Nanci

[sarahkonamojo]

I have met a curve I couldn't get up on my road bike. There were a couple of really steep switch backs after a long extended climb. I walked a turn and was able to get back on and ride the next switch back. Was I supposed to feel bad? It was part of an 84 mile day, so I felt proud anyway.

Walked way many times with the mtb. Usually it is skill not heart rate stopping me. So I'll run (if possible) up with the bike. I've had enough meetings with rock and dirt to feel ok with a less painful path. And there were some sand hills that stopped the 4wd truck as well as me...

I find walking or running up a hill keeps my riding partners waiting less. And my legs stay warm. Doesn't seem like you should feel bad about walking/riding your bike. You are still out there doing it!

SKM

[latelatebloomer]

The seldom-seen latelate here. I just want to put in a reminder about us new riders - we often don't have the leg speed yet - or can't keep it going long enough - to granny-gear all the way up a hill. At first, I walked up - afraid that if I didn't keep moving, I'd lose my nerve all together. As I improve, sometimes I can make those hills - spinning, maybe with a little standing thrown in. Sometimes I have to stop until my heart goes back inside my shirt - I get a swig of water and stand there like I know what I'm doing (hoho) and try again. Also, as I start to feel spent, my form deteriorates, and it's good to center a minute in that regard, too. So, my 2cents is at first, just keep moving and be very proud of yourself, and as your fitness improves, work on your cadence. Even gradual improvement (the only kind I get, or even believe in any more :rolleyes:) will make a big difference. And mostly, don't give up. You are doing something WONDERFUL!

[ladyjai]

i'd also suggest something to those who have to stop. this only works for the road, though. Weave up the hill if you feel you can't make it going straight. I have a psychological panic freakout (with tears) that gets triggered if my heartrate goes to high. I can fight through it, but it stinks crying in panic as I fight my way up. so last time, I tried weaving. 10 feet width of a weave was sufficient to turn the hill into a baby. I felt silly zig-zagging, but the method could probably render any steep hill into nothing. this is more difficult if you are riding with many other cyclists or a narrow car-bound road. but it is something to try.

[Crankin]

I have done quite a few steep climbs, especially in Europe. Probably not that long (1/2 a mile or 3/4), but 15 % grades. I just slow down ahead of the climb and spin up. I don't care if I'm going 4 miles an hour. My goal is to get up. I ride with someone who is a slower rider than me. But she can get up anything! I have learned from her. So while my average speed on the flats goes up, I don't really care about improving my climbing speed. Standing hurts my knees, so I only do it on short small hills. I use my lowest granny gear when I need it and if others make fun of this, I say "so what?" I have thought about getting a compact double, but even losing one gear scares me. I live on a street that is a 14% grade and my driveway has one point that is about 18%. Knowing that I face this at the end of every ride has changed my perspective on going fast up a hill.

[RoadRaven]

For what its worth... I with some of the others here... although I used to walk, I NEVER walk now.
Its true that walking/pushing bike is slower than even your lowest gear up a hill...
Its true that you still get to the top

But for me its psychological
There was one hill I had to keep stopping and walking, and each time I'd aim to get further than the last time before I hopped off to walk...

BUT
The first time I hopped off and rested for about 3-4 minutes and then got back on and rode another third, and rested and rode to the top... that first time also signalled the end of me walking up hills... because when I tackled that hill again, I knew I could cycle to the top because I had already and I cycled the whole way without a rest...

While I was building my strength and endurance (lol... while... I still am... :rolleyes: ) I would sometimes still stop for a rest, but I never do now.

For me, the psychological knowledge that I can ride is HUGE and never walking (except for a flat or broken spoke) works very well for me.

[Duck on Wheels]

I'm with Aint Doody here. And bcipam. And Trek420. I'm a beginner to this, or a re-beginner. But back when I was a seasonal commuter my season would progress through stages: 1) walk half the hill on the climb home. 2) stand half the hill. 3) sit and spin the whole hill in granny gear. 4) spin up the whole hill in a mid-gear. 5) first snow, put the bike away and fall out of shape again til Spring. :rolleyes: :o So now I figure I'm starting again at step 1. If I don't make it up a hill, I keep walking (I'm good at that, do it all Winter!) and figure I'll be further up the hill before I bail next time.

Did two tries on a small hill while out on a training ride under Trek420's tutelage last weekend. First try, chain fell off. :eek: Personal victory of the day was unclipping fast enough not to fall. :D Next try I got maybe halfway up, tried gearing up and standing the rest, but didn't hit a gear that worked for that, so walked. Oh well. I was doing bigger hills in the Fall. Outa shape, I guess. Or maybe it was all that weeding in Mom's garden the day before. Anyways, now it's back to -20 and spin class, upping the resistance and hoping to do better next time on the road. But if I make it through the Cindy walking every darned hill, I'm still keeping my hands on the bike and going on my own power. It counts.

[RoadRaven]

Hey there bikless, I think you nailed it... you have to get the gears right and the only way to do that is to practice practice practice

Change on flats and on hills, watch where your chain goes so you get really familiar with it all...

The other thing that might help is learning how to stand when climbing - its taken me a year but now I am starting to master it. But remember if you try standing - try it out first to see what its like and play around with it - like getting used to your gears.

Initially, when i stood I could do it for a few rotations of the pedals and then when I sat my legs felt exhausted and I would be going even slower. Now i can climb small hills standing and bits of longer ones standing.

Why am I perservering? Because when I stand I am faster and i don't enjoy climbing and want to get to the top asap...

The downside is I am heavy, and that means more energy from my body to hold myself up in the standing position as well as climbing... For me, it is worth it... have a go and see how it feels.

Again, gearing is crucial and you have to have a go a few times to sort out which gear to be in to allow you to stand effectively.

Good luck

[roughingit]

I walk it. It's really hard for me to get started again uphill once stopped and I want to keep my legs warm and noncrampy. I'm scared to try angling upwards and all those other fun tricks because I'm afraid a car cresting the hill might not see me and there isn't room out of the lane for those techniques.

Just think of it as "stretching your legs" ;)

[bcipam]

Bikeless:

Good job really. Hill climbing and proper gearing is an art form. You really need to know your bike and you also have to be prepared and think ahead. Many a time I wasn't paying attention and I got caught short on a steep hill. Couldn't gear down with fear of dropping or sucking up the chain so I had to gut it out. No fun. If you are paying attention and the hill looks steep, drop down to granny (if you know you're going there anyway) and then gear back up if needed. That way, no chain droppage.

I remember on a particularly difficult century I was grinding slowly but steadily up a very steep road. Towards the top, it got very steep (probably around 10 -11%). I came up on this guy, with only a double, probably a 11-23, who attempted to swift down and dropped his chain. I yell "... DROPPED YOUR CHAIN!!!" Too late! Over he went. I would have stopped to help out but I was so close to the top and didn't want to lose my momentum. I made the top, turned around to see him getting back on the bike. Whew! 'cause I didn't want to go back downhill to help him out! Once was enough!

[Duck on Wheels]

I think I also need to adjust the gear wire. I noticed the chain was whirring and clicking back and forth between gears much of the time. I'll definitely get that checked before the Cindy.

[Trek420]

bikeless in WI "I think I also need to adjust the gear wire."

yes, I'll take the bike to Chris and get the "gear wires" aka cables checked and more important, you're getting slicks.

You will thank me later :)

[Duck on Wheels]

bikeless in WI "I think I also need to adjust the gear wire."

yes, I'll take the bike to Chris and get the "gear wires" aka cables checked and more important, you're getting slicks.

You will thank me later :)

OK. Thought I'd found a road bike on Craigslist that I could use here after. But it was already sold. :( Oh well. I'll keep looking. Meanwhile ... howdya like my new avatar? :rolleyes:

[Trek420]

bikeless in WI "OK. Thought I'd found a road bike on Craigslist that I could use here after. But it was already sold. :( Oh well. I'll keep looking."

a rule of thumb is "don't make major changes to the bike before a big ride" although I certainly violated that by getting my bike less than a month before ALC 3.

But I'm not sure we want to look for a whole new bike at this point. Also Craigs list? Not always the best place for bikes mostly because it takes effort to not only find the right bike (which is never easy to do) but avoid the bad karma of buying a "hot" bike.

How tall are you? 5'9-5'10? Stay tuned.

Looooove new avatar.

[Duck on Wheels]

bikeless in WI "OK. Thought I'd found a road bike on Craigslist that I could use here after. But it was already sold. :( Oh well. I'll keep looking."

a rule of thumb is "don't make major changes to the bike before a big ride" although I certainly violated that by getting my bike less than a month before ALC 3.

But I'm not sure we want to look for a whole new bike at this point. Also Craigs list? Not always the best place for bikes mostly because it takes effort to not only find the right bike (which is never easy to do) but avoid the bad karma of buying a "hot" bike.

How tall are you? 5'9-5'10? Stay tuned.

Looooove new avatar.

Well, thing is, either I have to take the bike back home with me as checked luggage Mar 26 (costs $80 and involves finding a box and packing it) or rent another bike here for May & June (costs about $150-200 and is likely to be another knobby-tired "urban jeep" type bike) or ... what? I can sell the one that's in Sonoma now, either here or there, or leave it at Mom's for recreational use on later visits. It's got good gears and fits nice, but I prob'ly won't ship it home come July. I already have a bike back home that's just as good. With slightly narrower tires. And a full diamond frame. So better. But if I come across a road or touring model for 100 or so then that would do for my last 2 months here, including a ride or two. Right? Then the Giant could stay at Mom's for training on later visits.

'Course, they do rent out old clunker road models here for I think $30 a year at Budget Bike. I could sign up for one'a those. I've seen 'em around. You can imagine. But I guess they roll. People use 'em. But yeah, I'm 5'9". The bike you've seen has a 19" frame, the one back home has a 20". I was looking for 19" when I bought it, but they said try it out anyway and it fit pretty well. So, thereabouts.

As for the avatar. Shall I stay with the Munch original version or switch to the Warhol version? I've finally got that one formatted so it should work. Colors are sharper. As a graphic artist, whaddaya think?

[Trek420]

Munch original version gets my vote :)

[tjodit]

Even though I'm still pretty new to cycling I've never had to stop on the small hills we have around here (road). I don't think my pride would let me walk up the hill though. I'd be too embarrassed as drivers went by. I'd probably just fiddle with my bike like something was wrong while I caught my breath. :o Am I the only one that would admit to that? humm Mtn. biking is a different story though. I've seen the pros pushing their bikes up the hills so I have no qualms doing that when I need to.

[Duck on Wheels]

Even though I'm still pretty new to cycling I've never had to stop on the small hills we have around here (road). I don't think my pride would let me walk up the hill though. I'd be too embarrassed as drivers went by. I'd probably just fiddle with my bike like something was wrong while I caught my breath. :o Am I the only one that would admit to that? humm Mtn. biking is a different story though. I've seen the pros pushing their bikes up the hills so I have no qualms doing that when I need to.

I'm too old to worry about image any more. Once your hair starts showing grey, who cares. Anybody seeing me push a bike up a hill may be thinking that's pretty good for an old lady just to be out there coasting down again. :rolleyes: And hey, if they think otherwise ... I'm a professor. I've got status to spare, and I'm s'posed to be an out-of-shape nerd anyway.