Hill Speed

I am exactly like you in this regard, and basically it is why I sold my very nice mountain bike about 5 years ago. I knew I could never bunny hop or get over a big log, and I often ended up walking a lot. Part of it was skill and part was just being a wuss. I am not weak compared to other 62 year olds, but for the life of me, I could not figure out how to do this stuff and stay upright. I love being in the woods, so it was sad. I am getting a bit interested in gravel road riding (would have to travel for this) or even to ride some tamer trails, but that would require a new bike now. I may be getting a fat bike in the fall, so that would make me feel secure, although I would need something else for gravel riding.

Crankin, you can do very well on gravel roads with a road/touring/cross bike with 700x35 or 700x40 tires. You don't have to go MTB, again, unless you plan to do some very rough gravel roads. 700x35 or 40 is the typical tire width for gravel road racing bikes. I have such a bike in a Salsa Warbird that came with 700x35 tires and, to be honest, it takes a really deep sand or gravel trap to stop it. It will handle any of the gravel roads in our area that my larger tire bikes will do. Just need to be a bit more selective about picking a trail though the gravel.

Where the 700x35 drop bar bike shines, though, is as a pavement of any kind bike. I used a cyclocross bike with 700x35 tires for most of my commuting in my Chicago biking days, even for some riding in the snow. Those bigger tires did a much better job of handling some of those nasty Chicago streets than my 700x25 standard road bike.

As far as average speed on pavement, there is really very little difference between my Domane 700x25 and my Warbird 700x35. I like the option of taking a gravel road, now and then, so I ride the Warbird more than the Domane, plus the bigger 700x35 tires don't hurt as much with those darn road cracks.

As for the fat bike, there is no such thing as a gravel road that will stop one. You can definitely do gravel with a fat bike and do it in great comfort. I do it all the time. I actually ride my fat bike all year long, even out on pavement, though mostly on the unpaved shoulder along the pavement. (Definitely get some looks from motorists. :)) Those big lugged fat bike tires for snow or off trail riding will drive you nuts on a paved surface, though, and they sound like a tractor. The good news is that there are fat bike tires with shallower, less aggressive tread and I may opt for these for my summer fat bike riding. Would be ideal for gravel riding. Some of our local fat bike riders actually prefer these shallower tread tires for riding in the sand because they don't dig down in the sand as much as the heavy tread tires.

For sure, fat bikes are much more than bikes for riding in the snow. The only drawback for me is that these aren't really a good choice for doing a lot of miles at a decent speed. Ten miles on a fat bike is a real workout compared to a road bike. :)

Yes, I agree with it all. I would really like a road/cross bike with wider tires AND a fat bike for snow and/or other stuff. It's not going to happen now, but probably within the next year.

I'd second the advice about breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth. I have my very first sportive this weekend, 35 miles over a hilly route and have joined a women's cycle club to learn the best way to tackle the 2700ft of elevation I'll face. I was told about the breathing thing, also sit well back in your saddle, it puts more power through your legs. Relax, use your mantra and a low gear and spin up the hill in your own sweet time. It works.... it's improved my climbing and I'm finding the more I do it the faster I get, almost without trying. I live in a hilly area and its great to face a hill and not be thinking ' OMG I'll never get up that'
Although there are a few steep 15-25% stinkers that await the time when I'm even stronger and can tackle them with confidence. Good luck!

Did anyone mention what I read here when I first started? "Smile on the hills". I have tried to do this and it helps- the explanation was that it helps you relax. Maybe it's a placebo effect, but I think it helps me.

As for being defeated by hills- I've really just had 3 or 4 that I couldn't finish by pedaling. One hill was ieast of Oakland California that on a ride with friends who live there. I made it slightly further the second time we rode it, but still just couldn't quite get to the top. Another time I got stopped was at Madera Canyon- riding on my touring bike with my panniers loaded up for a camping trip. I think it wasn't the grade but the fact that we didn't eat dinner and was bonking, but I walked for a while. (and it is steep- up to 10%). The other hill that really got me was in Ireland last summer. The directions mentioned "steep undulations" and suddenly, we descended into a little valley with a stream at the bottom. As we climbed out of the valley, I saw 15 or 16% on my Garmin and realized i was not going to be able to keep turning the pedals so I got off and walked to the top of the hill.

Kernowcyclist- 15-25% ??? For how long?

I can ride up hill for a long time (with rest stops) but I'm also super slow. I have gone up Mt. Lemmon twice already this year- climbing from 2500-8200 feet over 30 miles (with a flattish approach for 5 miles at the bottom, and some downhill near the top, but mostly climbing)... but it takes me about 5 hours. Only 1 1/2 hours coming down. So at 5-6% grades I go 5-7 mph. Slower when it gets steeper.

This is why we should eventually meet up and ride together... sounds exactly like me. Though, I don't do well at elevation. Not sure how a ride up Mt.Lemmon would be for me. I used be sick every time I went to Flagstaff.

Crankin,
We have a guest room now that the kids are out of the house. You're welcome any time you want to escape the Massachusetts winter.

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Originally Posted by azfiddle

Did anyone mention what I read here when I first started? "Smile on the hills". I have tried to do this and it helps- the explanation was that it helps you relax. Maybe it's a placebo effect, but I think it helps me.

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actually smiling can exercise and relax facial muscles too :)....thinking it's also the thoughts that make the smile that can help in relaxing.

Having positive mental strategies, getting into a cadence and breathing flow, focusing on efficiency and being able to instinctually make the right shifts makes climbing easier for me. I like the challenge of a hard non-stop climb, especially ones with good mind/body/mechanical connections.
I can see stress and discomfort causing more problems from our view of them. I know how my body works well enough that I can redefine discomfort as my muscles working hard and a necessary aspect of exploring my potential. Things like concentrating on just the next mile and form and pace can divert my attention from a negative and get me focused on efficiency and positivity rather than stress and anxiety. Some rides can be psychologically harder than others. Having thought out mental strategies before a hard ride allows me to use them when first needed and take charge of what could be a negative and tell it that it won’t deter me.

……but then i also don't have a problem with stopping to stretch and drink some water if I just feel like it. :)

AZ, we might take you up on that for a couple of days. We are thinking of a late winter/early spring (March, early March) trip to Phx, more specifically Cave Creek, for some riding and hiking, some visiting in Tempe, and then down to Tucson. I will keep you informed.

Crankin- that would be great!
I have two weeks off mid-March- March 11-24 to be specific - if your travel plans could work with that I would be "free" to ride etc. Keep me posted. You can send a message here or on facebook and I'll send you email / phone.

I hope it happens. We'll smile on the hills together!

Hopefully, it will be under 90 degrees in mid March! Last time, we hiked in Cave Creek County Park around the 8-10th of March. It was in the upper 70s to low 80s, which isn't really hot, but we were coming from 30-50 degrees at home. It was still nice and cool at night, so that helped.
I have bad memories of my younger son's birthday parties in mid April. Always over 100 degrees. One year we had a gymnastics breakfast party in the backyard. The people came and set up the equipment at 7:30 AM, kids did the fun stuff from 8-9:00, and then we had them come inside for pancakes, cake, and presents in the AC, after that.

Had a similar thread going awhile back, but it's always a good topic to discuss.

On another thread, I mentioned that I do stand in the pedals, sometimes, even though I wasn't sure if it was considered the "correct" thing to do on a road bike. I was happy to hear that it was accepted practice. There is a knack to it and you do have to practice it a bit to gain strength, but if it hurts your knees, do NOT do it. It can put a huge amount of stress on the joint. (I mostly lock my knees and pedal with my thighs and hips.) Most of the time, I just work the gears and spin up hills, anyway. I mostly stand when I'm at the crest or taking on a small hill and don't want to mess with working the gears.


I don't worry about speed, either. Even when I'm down to 4 mph or so, it's still a lot faster than walking. (I am a slow walker.:))