Long rides

[RoadRaven]

Doing a 100km ride is significant, and having a steep hill or set of climbs at the end is demanding.

I havent had to walk to come home (we have two significant short bet very steep climbs to get back to our place) but I have had to ride very slowly.

Eden... I have walked up Baldwin Street in Dunedin (last year in our South Island holiday) - and is damnedly steep - they have steps running up the side of it because steps are easier to walk than the grade - and anyone who has climbed much will know steps are usually more tiring to walk up...

How cars drive up it defeats me, and I think you would kill yourself if you biked down it (uni students have killed themselves in uni parties when they put each other in wheelie bins - for rubbish - and push each other down for "races")

[Eden]

Eden... I have walked up Baldwin Street in Dunedin (last year in our South Island holiday) - and is damnedly steep - they have steps running up the side of it because steps are easier to walk than the grade - and anyone who has climbed much will know steps are usually more tiring to walk up...

How cars drive up it defeats me, and I think you would kill yourself if you biked down it (uni students have killed themselves in uni parties when they put each other in wheelie bins - for rubbish - and push each other down for "races")

Canton Ave (the one in the photo) is one way going up, mainly because it is too dangerous even in a car to go down.... I would think if you tried to descend it on a bike you might have your rear end come around on you or even tip over forwards no matter how slow you tried to go. Funny thing is I used to live around there and I never even knew about it until after I moved.

[RoadRaven]

I'm gonna load this thread later today at work - my connection is too slow at home - so I'll have a look at Canton Ave than, thanks Eden.

[ladyicon]

I am glad to hear that others have had to walk up hills cause I always feel like a loser when I do. Now I feel better about it and will proudly walk up my next hill with pride Living here is San Diego, I can not go 1 block without climbing a hill. I have always had triple chain rings, but found that in my lowest gear I was working hard to pedal fast, but going nowhere . My new bike has a compact double and I am still learning the shifting method. I just hope I do not have to climb a big steep hill to find that I need more gears. Practice makes perfect.

[Fredwina]

I've found that after 20% , the bike will start to pop wheelies. I was in AP when I found this out.
also you may want to look at Fargo Street in LA. a Bike club here has a competion to see who can do the most # of climbs in a day:
http://www.lawheelmen.org/fargo.htm