Yesterday I rode up Mt Diablo. I was at a pretty steep section, where the grade kicks up to 9% (Burma Rd.) and I was doing about 5 miles an hour. It crossed my mind that 5 mph is just a little slower than my current running pace and I thought, "Wow! I could be running faster up the mountain."Okay, then reality set in and I remembered that I was going up a freakin' mountain.
V.
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Thread: Depressing Thought????
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04-29-2008, 06:16 AM #1
"Ride lots!"
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Depressing Thought????
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04-29-2008, 06:24 AM #2
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You can run 5 mph? I can't run so that sounds really fast to me over a long distance. Like anything over 100 yards. Last week on my first mountain climb, I stopped to eat something and instead of just standing there I started walking. It too was steep like 8% and we were 15 miles into it. I was walking 1 mph! When I stopped I was only doing 4mph. That food break really helped cuz I jumped up to 5 mph when I got back on! Reality is right, uphill is UPHILL. Just curious, what gear were you in for that uphill?
Brenda
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04-29-2008, 06:27 AM #3
wannabe submarine gazelle
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I got passed by a runner up the stelvio. and a cyclist that had no calf muscles.
It's a little secret you didn't know about us women. We're all closet Visigoths.
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04-29-2008, 06:56 AM #4
"Ride lots!"
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Originally Posted by motochick
Probably my 33 (F) - 34 (R) for the 9% section.
I like to spin. My average cadence going up the mountain is usually in the mid 70s.
I'm doing about 11 and a half minute miles in my run, for three miles.
I've only been running a week and a half. I'm hoping to bring it down to 10 minute miles.
V.
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04-29-2008, 07:09 AM #5
listen to the bees
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I think the slowest I have gone up steep hills on my bike is 2.2mph. Almost (but not quite) slow enough to fall over.
Yes, I could have walked up it faster....but wouldn't have been carrying a 30 lb bike along.
Nowadays I can go up the same hills at about 4mph. Hey, progress is progress.
Lisa
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04-29-2008, 07:44 AM #6
like food and cycling
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How can you stay stay up at 2mph?? even at 5mph?
Can both of you do the track stand then?
I can do the track stand for maybe 20 seconds. but riding at 2mph, don't think so.
something isn't right when the chain ring is smaller than the cluster gears in the rear...
smilingcat
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04-29-2008, 07:51 AM #7
back of the autobus
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V, you've ridden with me enough times to know how gawdawful slow I am up hills.
And there have been times when I've been keeping pace with people walking, no less running.
Hardly worth getting all depressed over, IMHO ...
And yes SC, it's entirely possible to stay upright at 2.4 mph. I imagine I've gone even slower than that and stayed upright, but 2.4 is the lowest speed my computer registers.
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04-29-2008, 07:55 AM #8
back of the autobus
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I don't follow you here. I have a 26 small ring and a 28 rear on one bike, and a 26 small and 32 rear on my touring bike. Originally Posted by smilingcat
something isn't right when the chain ring is smaller than the cluster gears in the rear...
smilingcat
What isn't right ?
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04-29-2008, 07:56 AM #9
Northern Amazon
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You can run that fast I'm sure, but it's unlikely that you could have passed yourself running.
On a very very steep incline it can be faster (and much less taxing) to walk than running if the distance is significant.
But I can feel that you'll love the hill repeats on the run. Just wait a bit until you have a base and you'll be in your element!!
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05-01-2008, 02:19 AM #10
TimeTrial Wannabe
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Like anything over 20 metres! Originally Posted by motochick
LOL - one of the two fastest timetriallers in our club (he wins medals at a national level) has no calves... and he can climb too... Originally Posted by alpinerabbit
I'm with you on slow up hills, my lowest is about 4.5kph... thats must be close to 2.2 miles?! Originally Posted by BleeckerSt_Girl
Really low gears on my road bike - can't do it on my TTbike... nope, can't track stand - can track-fall though (what you do when you are trying to track-stand) Originally Posted by smilingcat
Courage does not always roar. Sometimes, it is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying,
"I will try again tomorrow".
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05-01-2008, 12:10 AM #11
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So, yours is a mountain, Veronica, and mine isn't quite that big, but I gotta say, your speed, or what you consider lack of it sure is music to THIS hill slug's ears! (or is it my eyes?)
Grandson Xander calls my Roubaix my "Speed Queen Bike," but it's not real speedy on the way UP the hills!
Karen in Boise
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