what do YOU call a hill????

[mom2twins]

and that's all I have around here. I don't know about grades but I do know about going so slow you fall over I'm getting better about hills. The first 3 times I rode this year all I did was go down this 2 mile hill that I live on top of and then struggle back up. I had to walk up the last 1/8 of a mile or so to the top the first 2 times. The 3rd time I was able to stay on my bike the whole way and that is when I knew I could branch out. Now I have 3 additional big hills in my normal morning ride and each one I just tell myself the whole time that even 4 miles an hour up hill is faster then walking and pushing a bike up hill so I keep going.

I might have to look into one of those new polars with altitude. My husband will probably kill me if I buy another gadget but a girl has to know what grade the hill is...right???

[alison_in_oh]

A sprinter's hill is a short bump in the road, usually something you stand and mash over. Rollers are a series of short uphill bits, or any incline up to a half mile or so.

A climb lasts a mile or two, we have a bunch of climbs around here that I'm told are in the 3-6% range, in the 8% range, and even a couple with stretches of about 12%.

A mountain lasts many miles! I got to ride in the mountains in Vermont on our vacation at the end of last month! Whoo-ee, that was crazy, of the longest climbs I did I would guess that one averaged 6% with stretches up to 12%, for about 7-8 miles! Another was a little longer and a little shallower, maybe 5% steady.

bouncybouncy, look into a computer with altitude. Replace your average speed stats with vertical gain stats, and stay proud!