Depressing Thought????

[Veronica]

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.

[motochick]

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

[alpinerabbit]

I got passed by a runner up the stelvio. and a cyclist that had no calf muscles.

[Veronica]

Just curious, what gear were you in for that uphill?

Brenda

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.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

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.

[smilingcat]

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

[jobob]

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.

[jobob]

something isn't right when the chain ring is smaller than the cluster gears in the rear...

smilingcat

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.

What isn't right ?

[Grog]

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!!

[maillotpois]

When I saw 1.9 mph on the climb up the back side of Cobb Mtn at the Knoxville double, that was when I decided to get off and walk for a little bit.

[smilingcat]

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.

What isn't right ?

just bit confused. I've never ridden with compact double or triple on the front. Nor have I ever ridden a mtn bike soft or hard tail.So for me its just very strange. my biggest gear on the cluster have been 26 and that was used on Climb the Kaiser ride out of Fresno. The whole 150miles. http://www.fresnocycling.com/kaiser/2007/index.htm

smilingcat

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

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.

What isn't right ?

Yeah....I have a rear cassette of 12-34 and front chain rings of 24/36/48
Works good for me!

And yes, you can stay upright when go 2-3mph- especially uphill. Float like a butterfly....

[Veronica]

I have a compact double on the bike I rode yesterday. It's 46 - 33 in front. 11 - 34 in the rear. I like that I can spin up most anything and stay seated - up to about 20%.

V.

[jobob]

Well, good for you, SC.

[Crankin]

Last fall I was passed by *a guy on roller blades* while climbing Oak Hill in Harvard. I was going around 8-9, not my slowest by any means. He passed my husband, too who was definitely going a little faster than me.

This guy was around my age, and i really thought it was another cyclist passing me because of the whooshing sound he was making and the fact that he was wearing a cycling helmet.
Very discouraging.