Climbed a mountain yesterday...by accident!

[Starfish]

I know that Starfish is training for a very hilly century next summer, so some of her posts/threads might be really useful reading.

There is lots of great info about using gears, shifting, and so forth which you can likely find with a search. (Warning, this got long...but, it was important for me in doing hill training.)

The one thing I could perhaps add to the discussion is to get whatever gearing you need in order to just be out riding hills. The bike I had when I started riding had a triple, and the lowest gear was 30 (teeth on the smallest ring in front) and 27 (teeth on the biggest ring in back). Now, that is a fairly low gear.

But, I am overweight (working on that) and I live in a very hilly area (not rolling hills)... climbs everywhere. I was finding that going out for a ride always became a test of strength, and my muscles were always sore, and I could NEVER spin up a hill. It got discouraging.

Now, I know it is possible that if I had just kept at it, I probably would have gotten that much stronger, faster. But, I am also riding this bike for fun, and I wanted to enjoy it! So, I went out and got a mountain derailleur for the back, and switched out my cassette for one with 32 teeth on the back.

Those lower gears gave me just enough extra help that I could go out and do long rides on hills all day. I was still sore the next day, but I was able to train without being crippled, and I had a LOT more options for ride routes. This kept it all a lot more fun, so I found myself riding hills all the time and enjoying it. I know those gears helped me do my hard ride this past summer. And, I know they will help me do next summer's hard ride, too.

My goal is to complete that hard ride with this setup, and then next Fall get myself a fancy new bike with compact double gearing. I know there will be a big adjustment, and I might be "two steps back" in what I can do. But, I will have done a LOT of climbing in the past two years, and gained a lot of confidence and strength.

I caught some flack from local friends who literally do Ironman Triathlons, and told me I would get stronger if I just kept the normal gearing. But, I listened to what I intuitively knew would give me what I needed to get out there and really train in the hills, and it has worked for me. And, I'm still having FUN!!!

[jobob]

I caught some flack from local friends who literally do Ironman Triathlons, and told me I would get stronger if I just kept the normal gearing. But, I listened to what I intuitively knew would give me what I needed to get out there and really train in the hills, and it has worked for me. And, I'm still having FUN!!!

Well done, Starfish.

It so irks me when people insist that "tougher gears will make you stronger".

Well, from my perspective, tougher gears would just frustrate me, and wear me out. Better to get to the top of the mountain slowly than never get there at all.

And eventually I get stronger and I use the tougher gears. But it's still nice to have the low gears to fall back on.

[Bike Goddess]

With regards to what Starfish is saying in her last post, I couldn't agree more.

When I started riding in the summer of 2003, I had a triple with a 23 on the back and standard gears on the front (whatever those are!). As I became more interested in longer rides, I also had a goal- climb Mt Diablo (3,849 ft) a bemoth of a mountain around here and one that many people train on.

So, with that in mind, I got a mountain bike gear set up-an XTR 34. The folks who put in on for me told me that I'd be able to walk up walls with that kind of gearing. Well, I did do Mt Diablo the next summer (2004) plus many more hilly rides AND I became more confident in my ability to ride just about anywhere. I also started to really like hill climbs. In fact, I'd rather do hill rides than flat rides anyday.

In December 2005 I purchased a carbon bike and put on a cassette with a 25. This was quite a change for me. Although the bike is about 5lbs lighter, with the different gearing (yes, I have a triple on this bike as well) the hills were just as hard if not harder. I've gotten stronger on this bike and love the aerodynamics as well as how it handles the road.

As an experiment, I took it up Diablo a couple of months ago and did just fine until we hit the last segment- a 17% climb to the summit. I just about died- it was extremely hard.

Now when I climb Diablo I use my other bike. It's more fun as I have more options gear wise and I don't have to kill myself to get to the top. I get in good hill training which pays off on all of my rides regardless of which bike I choose to ride.

Point here is, it's not about the bike! It's about the rider. Hills will make you stronger, but you've gotta be able to do them and still feel like you could do them again. If the gears you have make hills tough, don't tough it out. Set your bike up to work for you. Later when you feel stronger you can always switch back.

[KathiCville]

Wow, the last posts by Starfish, Jobob, and Nancy make me realize how darned little I know about the mechanics of my bike! I bought it (a Schwinn) about two months ago, on sale, at my local Performance Bike shop, with the help of my cycling BF, who then tinkered with fitting it properly.

I know I have three rings and nine options on each of those rings, but that's ALL I know, LOL! (And I use 'em all, at some point or another.......) My previous bike (still used as a commuter bike) is a 27-year old, lever-gearshift, 10-speed. That's what I started riding on last February when I took up cycling after several years "off". The difference between the two bikes is, as you might expect, amazing!......

Looks like I ought to learn more about what I have----or don't have----so I can make the most of my options! Thanks for the education!

[IFjane]

I have considered the option of mountain bike gearing on my bike as well (I don't do well on hills) but have not done it. My first try at "helping" myself with the gearing (I, too, have a triple - 52/42/30) was with a 12/27 cassette on the rear. I swapped out the rear cassette last spring and it did help, though not as much as I would have liked.

This fall I rode a friend's compact double (50/34) with an 11 or 12/25. Climbing the same hills on that bike seemed easier - would someone please explain to me why?? I am confused but now considering switching to a compact double with a 12/27 cassette.

Kathi - you and I both have a lot to learn!

[aicabsolut]

KathiCville,
It sounds like you found the Wintergreen hill climb road, or at least something very similar. You started around the top of Afton mtn, yes? I avoid elevation gains like that like the plague, but my friends tell me that most of Skyline really isn't that brutal. It's just that the time of year when you'd really want to ride out there, it's littered with all sorts of tourists getting in the way.

Do you do much riding immediately around Charlottesville or do you prefer to ride out in the Blue Ridge? I'm in town all the time (right now, actually), and I can always use some company. I've been a real weather weenie lately though and am getting quite off my training schedule. Still, I like to punish myself on the area's hills as much as I can. Let me know if you ever want company or want some contact info for others to ride with (I know a few people who just get out for 20-30 miles at a fairly casual pace--mostly Tri Club folk). When the weather warms up and sunlight returns, though, I'll be attempting to put in some more serious mileage when I'm in town.

[aicabsolut]

I have considered the option of mountain bike gearing on my bike as well (I don't do well on hills) but have not done it. My first try at "helping" myself with the gearing (I, too, have a triple - 52/42/30) was with a 12/27 cassette on the rear. I swapped out the rear cassette last spring and it did help, though not as much as I would have liked.

This fall I rode a friend's compact double (50/34) with an 11 or 12/25. Climbing the same hills on that bike seemed easier - would someone please explain to me why?? I am confused but now considering switching to a compact double with a 12/27 cassette.

Kathi - you and I both have a lot to learn!

It's all about gear ratios. I doubt you're in the 30/27 much at all. Then, just keeping enough speed can be a challenge, right? But compared to a 34,36, or even 39, the 42 middle ring seems just HUGE on climbs, right? Plus, with compacts you're shedding weight. It's not THAT hard to crawl up a hill with a compact (even with a 25 cog), and it will feel easier, because it's going to take you fewer pedal strokes to get to the top.

I've got a 50/36 with 12-27, and it's pretty good. There are some places where a 34 would be nicer, but for most of my riding, I can stay in the 36 a long time more comfortably than the 50 (I've been trying to spin around 90-110rpms a lot of the time on flatter ground), but I'd run out of gears too early in a 34. I think if I were to do *serious* climbing, I'd go with a triple, but I don't like to do any serious climbing. Even so, I'd like to try a 34T ring first.

[Fredwina]

I'll agree with everyone, run what you need and don't worry about being a "wimp"
On front rings - I had a Standard triple (52/42/30), until I actually wore out the middle ring and switched it to a 39 - much better, but I still like have th 30 just in case Much more of a difference than going from the 11/25 that came stock to a 12/27

[Kristi]

I just want to say thanks.

I know very little about my bike and what I'm doing because my BF is a bike mechanic. He just takes care of everything. I have to remind him to fill me in on the details.

I find the gear information very helpful. I will have to keep all of that in mind as I'm training.

I did ride a hill on Christmas day. I had ridden this one ride only on my mountain bike before (before I got my road bike). I wasn't able to get up it at all before. I wasn't able to get all the way up, but I got a lot farther than I thought I would. I think the posts I read here not only helped me but made me believe that I could do it.

Thanks. I'll keep you posted on how I do.

[IFjane]

KathiCville,
It sounds like you found the Wintergreen hill climb road, or at least something very similar. You started around the top of Afton mtn, yes? I avoid elevation gains like that like the plague, but my friends tell me that most of Skyline really isn't that brutal. It's just that the time of year when you'd really want to ride out there, it's littered with all sorts of tourists getting in the way.

Do you do much riding immediately around Charlottesville or do you prefer to ride out in the Blue Ridge? I'm in town all the time (right now, actually), and I can always use some company. I've been a real weather weenie lately though and am getting quite off my training schedule. Still, I like to punish myself on the area's hills as much as I can. Let me know if you ever want company or want some contact info for others to ride with (I know a few people who just get out for 20-30 miles at a fairly casual pace--mostly Tri Club folk). When the weather warms up and sunlight returns, though, I'll be attempting to put in some more serious mileage when I'm in town.

Please let me know when you are coming back to Ch'ville!!! I would love to ride with you - and hook up with Kathi at the same time. I have been off the bike for some time because of surgery & other issues, but have been back on the trainer this week and in a couple weeks hope to be back out on the road - weather permitting.

I think Kathi drove up to the gate a the Skyline Drive at Afton and did not go up Reed's Gap at 18% at the top.... I have been down that road but never up!

Hope to hook up sometime in '08 - let me know when you are coming through - I am 5 miles off Rt. 29 in Madison....

[Geonz]

This makes me miss the Blue Ridge... I can see it, smell it, feel it... want to go to our little cabins in the woods (in Madison County ) ...
... most commendable - alongside the gettin' out and doin' - is the idea of taking a "mistake" and making it a joyful opportunity. How many chances do we miss measuring things by what We Planned?

[KathiCville]

Precisely, Sue! As I was grumbling my way up the Interstate I nudged myself to shift my perspective and turn a navigational error into a positive experience. And, boy, did I ever, LOL! It IS amazing what can happen when you simply decide to make lemonade out of the lemons you've been handed. Attitude is everything! (Well, not everything! But it sure helps.)

As for the Blue Ridge, oh, yeah, I'm soooooooo glad I'm here! I moved here ten years ago, and the beauty of the area NEVER fails to enthrall, inspire, soothe, energize me---all four seasons of the year. Whenever I fly in to the local airport, I always smile as the Blue Ridge comes into view and think: "Yeahhhh....There are MY mountains! I must be home......"

[IFjane]

Precisely, Sue! As I was grumbling my way up the Interstate I nudged myself to shift my perspective and turn a navigational error into a positive experience. And, boy, did I ever, LOL! It IS amazing what can happen when you simply decide to make lemonade out of the lemons you've been handed. Attitude is everything! (Well, not everything! But it sure helps.)

As for the Blue Ridge, oh, yeah, I'm soooooooo glad I'm here! I moved here ten years ago, and the beauty of the area NEVER fails to enthrall, inspire, soothe, energize me---all four seasons of the year. Whenever I fly in to the local airport, I always smile as the Blue Ridge comes into view and think: "Yeahhhh....There are MY mountains! I must be home......"

I couldn't have said it better, Kathi.

And Sue - I'm counting on hearing from you the next time you are headed to Madison - bring your bike!

[aicabsolut]

Please let me know when you are coming back to Ch'ville!!! I would love to ride with you - and hook up with Kathi at the same time. I have been off the bike for some time because of surgery & other issues, but have been back on the trainer this week and in a couple weeks hope to be back out on the road - weather permitting.

I think Kathi drove up to the gate a the Skyline Drive at Afton and did not go up Reed's Gap at 18% at the top.... I have been down that road but never up!

Hope to hook up sometime in '08 - let me know when you are coming through - I am 5 miles off Rt. 29 in Madison....

Hey, I drive right past you all the time! I am not sure when I'll head back there, as race season starts in just a few weeks! I'm sure I'll be back for the Jefferson Cup RR in March and I'll probably spend some extra days around then. I'll definitely need some lower key rides (well, relatively, with all the hills). I tend to ride a lot down near that course and maybe up to Monticello, but I do spend a bunch of time out around Free Union/Earlysville/White Hall etc. I've never ridden from White Hall area out to Afton, but I've seen routes that go out that way to Skyline (the last climb up to Skyline is supposed to be horrible--at least by my reading of the route maps). That's probably why I've never done it. I prefer to drive over that beast .