need some inspiration

[patel_shital]

i tried to go to work few times till now. my commute is around 16 miles one way with lots of uphill. there is one hill i can not ride on bike still. i have to walk

is this too much to ride ? (32 miles one way) i use Trek WSD. i love my bike.
i have been riding bike around my house since last summer.

any advice or tips anything ?

Thanks

[Grog]

Hi! and welcome to TE!

Your commute is on the longer side of things but certainly not impossible! After all, you have been doing it, no?

Keep hitting that hill. If you do it every day, or most days of the week, you'll find yourself going further and further up before you have to walk. Gear down to the easiest gear and just spin your legs away, one turn of the cranks at a time. Soon enough you'll make it to the top!

And remember that if there's a lot of uphills on the way to work there must be lots of fun downhills on the way back!!!

[Starfish]

I don't have much to add, except to keep training, and give your sore muscles rest (if you have any soreness from the hills), and you will get stronger.

I mostly wanted to say Welcome To TE!

[Melalvai]

It might help to consider your mindset about that hill. Is it really that you can't make it up that hill--or that you can't make it up that hill as fast as you want to? Maybe if you let yourself go up that hill super slow, in the lowest gear you have, you can make it.

I hate telling someone it might be all in their mind. So, I have a couple other suggestions. Get a smaller chainring on the front, a granny gear. I love my 22 tooth granny gear; I've heard of even smaller, 12 tooth chainrings.

Consider driving part and biking part of your commute. That may or may not cut out that hill, but it might make it easier to ride every day.

[patel_shital]

thanks a lot all replies. I will consider about smaller chainrings. i am riding at lowest possible gear on my bike on that hill.but one day i will climb that hill, that s my target. its all mental i know, i am working with my mind for that challenge.

right now i started like 2 days a week to ride to work, then workout in gym for 2-3 days, eventually my target is ride to work at least 4 days a week.

Thanks again

[tulip]

If you keep doing it, it will get easier. Some people also commute part way by bike, part way by other means (transit or car). Perhaps that option will help you.

[stacy]

Hi...I have the same problem for my commute, its only 10 miles but big hill at the end on gravel road. My co-workers stop and heckle me as I walk my bike up the hill. One day I will conquer it! I am impressed at the length of your commute...wtg!
Stacy

[Melalvai]

i am riding at lowest possible gear on my bike on that hill.

You might ask your bike shop about getting an even smaller gear installed on your bike. It makes a world of difference.

[F8th637]

Welcome, Patel! Like you, my commute is 16 miles in one direction as well. I tend to only ride one way. For example, one morning I will drive my car and bring the bike with me. I will ride home that afternoon/evening. The next morning I ride my bike IN to work and then drive home that afternoon/evening. Maybe that is something you should consider if possible. Just work at those miles little by little and the same with those hills and you'll be able to do it. This forum is a great place for inspiration.

[indigoiis]

I have the same issue on my commute. Last year part of this route was my "neighborhood" route and that hill stopped me dead. But I kept at it. Now it is a regular part of my day and while it's still a pain on certain days (I don't know why that is - on other days it's fine) I go back to the simplest of hill-climbing techniques: Look just ahead of you (NOT UP) and recite the alpahabet or count. It really helps.

[mimitabby]

my coworker lives 30 miles from our office. He drives in one day takes the bus home. Then the next day he rides in and drives his car back home. There are lots of ways to do this; like parking part of the way.
About that hill, if you keep trying you're going to get up it some day; guaranteed!