Steep Inclines.......20 %

[joannofsonoma]

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!!!!

[Mr. Bloom]

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.

[makbike]

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

[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.

[maillotpois]

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.

[Geonz]

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

[j.nurse63]

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.

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

[mimitabby]

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.

[maillotpois]

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

[bperry86]

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.

[divingbiker]

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.

[divingbiker]

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!

[clarson1178]

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.

[joannofsonoma]

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".

[berkeley]

Wow! Good for you!

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