Steep Inclines.......20 %

**joannofsonoma** · 06-03-2008, 07:09 PM

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** · 06-03-2008, 07:12 PM

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** · 06-03-2008, 07:48 PM

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

**mimitabby** · 06-03-2008, 08:01 PM

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** · 06-03-2008, 08:55 PM

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** · 06-04-2008, 11:26 AM

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

**violette** · 06-04-2008, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by Geonz

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

Love that enthusiasm!!!

**OakLeaf** · 06-04-2008, 12:27 PM

Originally Posted by Geonz

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

At least in the summertime...

I once lived on a street that was so steep I had to crawl up it when it was icy...

**IFjane** · 06-04-2008, 05:42 PM

Mimi & MP - did you two call one another before you got "dressed" yesterday?

**mimitabby** · 06-04-2008, 05:58 PM

Originally Posted by IFjane

Mimi & MP - did you two call one another before you got "dressed" yesterday?

no, but I'll bet we were thinking about the same thing!

**BleeckerSt_Girl** · 06-04-2008, 06:02 PM

Originally Posted by IFjane

Mimi & MP - did you two call one another before you got "dressed" yesterday?

It's too confusing!

Mimi, put back the kitty or the bike painting! I'm getting a headache!

**maillotpois** · 06-04-2008, 06:05 PM

That's funny. I told Redrhodie that the bumper sticker had been on the car for over a year now and it was just time for this as well.

Great minds...

**Trek420** · 06-05-2008, 06:13 AM

Originally Posted by BleeckerSt_Girl

It's too confusing!

Mimi, put back the kitty or the bike painting! I'm getting a headache!

hee hee, are we going to get all the threads closed for having a political conversation? Oh, right. M & M are not saying anything.

**Duck on Wheels** · 06-05-2008, 06:35 AM

Originally Posted by OakLeaf

At least in the summertime...

I once lived on a street that was so steep I had to crawl up it when it was icy...

Ah yes, I do recall hitting a head wind at the top of an icy hill and getting blown into a backwards slide. Had to hang onto a lamp post and then try again between gusts. But then, I don't bike when the roads are that icy, so it's still a matter of walking any hill I can't spin (and that's a big category in my case).

**maillotpois** · 06-05-2008, 07:28 AM

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

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