Clipping in and out on hills

[Trekhawk]

Hi New Rider here with question.
I have only been riding for about three weeks and seem to have gotten the handle on getting off with one foot still clipped in on the flats ( after a few hideous falls) at stop signs etc. The hills are a different story. In pretty much every direction there is a hill of varying difficulty and as I am not very fit yet I sometimes need to walk up part of them. There is the problem getting off on a hill with most times no bike lane seems hard and scary - also once off it seems I have buckleys of getting back on again until Im at the top even if I feel fit enough after a short break. Please if anyone has any good tips for me bring them on.

[bikerchick68]

trekhawk.. this was posted by Corsair Mac on another post:

Just as an aside: if you stop on a hill, ride partway Down the hill to get yourself clipped in then turn around and go back to your climb.

wish someone had told ME this when I was new too! And welcome to the forums...

[cindysue]

if you stop on a hill, ride partway Down the hill to get yourself clipped in then turn around and go back to your climb.

yep - i *still* have to do this. Is there a better way?

[Trekhawk]

Thanks for the tip.
I will give it a whirl tomorrow and see how I make out.
Trekhawk

[RoadRaven]

I agree... I think turning and clipping in as you go slowly down, and then turning back up once clipped in is the only way to do this.
You have to be able to move the pedals as you clip in, and you just can't get the momentum if you start up hill.
Everyone I know, female/male... old/young... beginner/elite... does it this way...
Good luck for tomorrow Trek

[Trekhawk]

Thanks Roadraven I will let you know how I make out.
Hopefully I will manage without getting personal with the asphalt again. My poor husband looks more nervous than me when I head out for a ride.
Thanks again for the info and support.

[caligurl]

saturday i forgot to downshift after coming down the hill and encountering the gate to the next section of road.... climbed the gate... and tried to start UP the hill... UH OH! no hill to go down.. so i just shifted.. lifted the back tire of the road.. and spun the pedals! you can be sure... next time i will remember to downshift before getting to that gate! (maybe.... knowing me... i'm sure i'll do that same exact thing again!)

[Trek420]

Lorri Lown, coach of the Velogirls team once showed me to start on a hill you pick a gear a notch or two up from what you'd ride the hill in, start with your "strong side" pedal up, clip in with that foot and just go-baby-go.

She said the key is to commit.

Haven't been able to pull it off yet.

Still doing things like find a driveway or intersecion where I can swing out and back in a loop or..more often...crosstrain till a flat or near flat section. yep, I'm a wimp. I do not do the ride downhill than back up thing due to you have to do 2 u-turns.

No problems unclipping on a hill, just can't get going again. Guess I better ride to the top then.

[bikerz]

(Trek - what a guru you are - this is the third post I've seen today where you have answered a question I hadn't even thought about asking yet...)

I ran into this exact issue yesterday riding in Marin - stopped in my granny gear on that big (to me!) hill that heads up then down into Olema, and couldn't get started again in that gear - I'd get the first pedal going around, and move about 2 inches forward! No time to get the other foot up and going, and I didn't think I could go down the hill then back up because it is a bit narrow and trafficky there. So after three tries, and feeling a bit dopey, finally got the brain cogs turning and realized I could just lift the back tire, gear up a bit, then start, and it worked great. The other couple of hills I stopped on I geared up just before gasping to a stop, and was able to start right up.

[julbee]

Thanks to all!

I learn so much by reading through the posts!

I was able to use these tips while out riding this weekend!

TE keeps me informed and motivated!!!

I'd started here ... not too long ago... just getting back on a hybrid after 20 years. I'm now on a road bike and riding "clipless" on road trips with my husband. We are having a blast! Hope to participate in organized rides in the near future (still building speed and stamina)!

With Appreciation,

Julie

[Trek420]

bikerz "(Trek - what a guru you are - this is the third post I've seen today where you have answered a question I hadn't even thought about asking yet...)"

Yep, I am a guru!

So I'm starting a cult, y'all quit your jobs and sign over your worldy goods and 47 cm bikes to me. Just kidding, really!

Besides it was Lorri's tip, I can't even pull it off. I just am a veritable font of worthless trivia.

[RoadRaven]

.
Besides it was Lorri's tip, I can't even pull it off. I just am a veritable font of worthless trivia.

LOL... trivia is NEVER NEVER worthless!!!!!

I forget how many times I have managed to weave into a conversation why giraffes make no sound, or what the name of the dot over the "i" is... never worthless... it can't be... that would be half my conversations gone

[DirtDiva]

What is the name of the dot over the i?

[RoadRaven]

It's a "TITTLE"

Go figure... but there it is!