Steep Inclines.......20 %

I just got my road bike in March2008 and LOVE IT!!! My husband and I put about 120-150 miles on a week and where we live in Northern California we can do a different ride every day if we want. Anyway............we are getting ready to do this VERY HILLY route...........probably about 60 miles round trip with a 10 mile climb.......some of which is at 20 percent grade. Any hints on how to work into this??? We do alot of hills now but the steepest grade is about 12 percent.............sometimes for 10 minutes which I am up to but 20 percent seems..............more then monumental!!!!:eek:

It will be difficult, but remember that it's in the wheels and the gears.

Manage your heart-rate, check your gear, and "spin" - albeit slowly. And drink your water before the big climb!

Good luck and tell us how it goes.

Sit back, spin your way up the hill and celebrate at the top!

if you can do 12% for 20 minutes, you can do 20% already, for shorter distances. keep climbing every day..
and what everyone else said. :D

What's the hill and route, specifically? (I train people on roads in Sonoma, Napa and Marin so I am INTIMATELY and PAINfully familiar with those roads.)

For super steep stuff, I sit and spin or grind, and swear, as appropriate. I swear a lot. We just did Skaggs Springs/Ft Ross loop which has sustained (over a mile each, consistent) of 15+%. Indescribably nasty. But you feel good when you get done.

Anyway, let me know your route and if I have any insight I will let you know.

And remember... there's no road too steep to walk up!

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Originally Posted by Geonz

And remember... there's no road too steep to walk up!

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Love that enthusiasm!!!

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Originally Posted by Geonz

And remember... there's no road too steep to walk up!

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At least in the summertime...

I once lived on a street that was so steep I had to crawl up it when it was icy...

Mimi & MP - did you two call one another before you got "dressed" yesterday? :p

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Originally Posted by IFjane

Mimi & MP - did you two call one another before you got "dressed" yesterday? :p

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no, but I'll bet we were thinking about the same thing!

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Originally Posted by IFjane

Mimi & MP - did you two call one another before you got "dressed" yesterday? :p

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It's too confusing! :eek: :(

Mimi, put back the kitty or the bike painting! I'm getting a headache!

That's funny. I told Redrhodie that the bumper sticker had been on the car for over a year now and it was just time for this as well.

Great minds...

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Originally Posted by BleeckerSt_Girl

It's too confusing! :eek: :(

Mimi, put back the kitty or the bike painting! I'm getting a headache!

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hee hee, are we going to get all the threads closed for having a political conversation? Oh, right. M & M are not saying anything. :p

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

At least in the summertime...

I once lived on a street that was so steep I had to crawl up it when it was icy...

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Ah yes, I do recall hitting a head wind at the top of an icy hill and getting blown into a backwards slide. Had to hang onto a lamp post and then try again between gusts. But then, I don't bike when the roads are that icy, so it's still a matter of walking any hill I can't spin (and that's a big category in my case).

I wish joannofsonoma would come back and tell us which hills she's talking about.

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Originally Posted by mimitabby

if you can do 12% for 20 minutes, you can do 20% already, for shorter distances. keep climbing every day..
and what everyone else said. :D

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maybe a very "newbie" question, but how do you guys determine the grade? Do the bike maps tell you? Curious...

I have a bike computer that figures the grade for me.
it's not so good on short grades though, because the meter is a bit slow.

There are also analog inclinometers, they are "faster" as they read instantly, being analog, but they are hard to keep leveled properly.

thought that was the trick. my cyclometer is basic...all I need for now. thanks!

there IS software online too.
um, i've forgotten the name of it already. you can put in your route.
I'll try to track it down.

fooound it! VELOROUTES.org

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Originally Posted by mimitabby

fooound it! VELOROUTES.org

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THANK YOU!

HA!!! I just mapped my typical 20 mile route...the max grade on the hill that I huff up was 8%!! And I sit...
Hmmmm....I have a lot of lung work to do! :) But, that said, the hill killed me weeks ago! We only get stronger, right!
:p

Today is the day I go pick up my bike. I don't know where, price range is between 150-250$ anyone have any ideas in portland where to find the right bike. I had a friend, who does not ride, tell me Wal Mart I did find that funny.
even though it's still winter in portland it's always fun to ride.
:D

Thanks for the veloroutes website, Mimi! I just figured out that the hill at the end of my commute is 13% grade. I've been wondering about that for a long time.

Ok, I was playing with veloroutes some more and now it says the big hill at the end of my commute has a section that is 17%! No wonder it's so hard!

bperry86 walmart is the last place you should buy a bike let alone anything eles. i would try out craigslist-there seems to always be good used bikes on there each time i get on.

good luck and happy times ahead.:cool:

Just wanted to let eveyone know on TE that I road out and back the infamous "Coleman Valley Road" in Western Sonoma and made it !!! I was so STOKED!!!! Thank you to everyone who gave me tips as to how to attack a long steep incline!!!! A hill is a hill is a hill................although I have to say that my coach has had me doing grinders and personally I have been adding alot of hill work into my rides with DH....................A question........does DH mean "darling hubby"???? I hope so............that is how I used it. Anyway next week I have another steep long hill route called Sweetwater Springs. Sounds pretty but it has some nasty steep areas. Tomorrow thankfully is a 2 hour endurance day then a couple of strength building before next Friday and "THE RIDE". :D

Wow! Good for you!

There's a hill around here at 20% and I was contemplating trying it today... but didn't. :eek:

DH = dear husband .. or whatever else you feel like calling him

Joan- Did you do BOTH sides of Coleman Valley?????????????????? (East to West and West to East.... OR ??)

That's one tough climb either way!:p:p:p:p

Good god! There is a street in my neighborhood with a section that's 24%. I cannot image riding it AT ALL!

Good job on the climb!! I hope there wasn't too much fog on Coleman so you could enjoy the views! :)

Dear Nancy,

Yes, we did BOTH WAYS, out and back. Loved the route and hope to make it one of our bi-weekly rides.......It was so foggy at the top............no views of the ocean but I saw alot of cows.........real ones!!!!

:D:D

The first time I climbed Coleman Valley was with Maillotpois. I was actually able to stay with her because she had pulmonary embolisms. Yes, really. :eek:

The cows were kind of scary that day - all red eyed. Freaky looking. It's a great climb, in spite of the scary cows.

V.

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Originally Posted by Veronica

I was actually able to stay with her because she had pulmonary embolisms. Yes, really. :eek:

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LOL - and because you're a darn good climber. We had the cows crossing the road in front of us last time we did this road a couple weeks ago and I thought of you. :p No freaky possessed bull this time.

Dr Badger & I had cows cross right in front of us when we climbed Coleman Valley during the Holstein century.

I wanted to take pictures but it was so freaking steep I was afraid if I stopped I'd tip over. :p

There is a long hill down home. Like I said, the cars stuggle to go up. I checked the web site is it says 6%!! you've got to be kidding me. I looks more like 25%. Are you sure it's accurate?