Do you have a 'Mantra' while on your bike?

[shootingstar]

For hills: Just go around and around on that granny gear if you need to.

[deedolce]

I'd love a black cycling tank with that written on it in hot pink 'Toughen Up Princess' Although at almost 50, I'm much to old to be a Princess, but I sure like how it sounds, when I my inner whiner starts complaining!

[DebTX]

For hills: Just go around and around on that granny gear if you need to.

When I first looked for help learning to climb, experienced riders would tell me that all the time (just use the granny gear).

But as an out of shape newbie, I'm already in the granny gear on most hills. And it's not like I'm spinning my way up with a cadence of 120. I'm lucky to maintain a cadence of 40-50 on my 6% grade nemesis hill. For me, if the mantra doesn't work to keep my feet peddling, I'm gonna have to hop off the bike and walk it.

But progress is progress: During season 1, I walked every hill.
Last season I rode them all (not elegantly, mind you) - but I made it to the top "upright and on the bike", which was glorious

My goal for next season is a climbing cadence of 50-60.

"I am strong and gettting stronger all the time..."

[martaw]

When I first looked for help learning to climb, experienced riders would tell me that all the time (just use the granny gear).

But as an out of shape newbie, I'm already in the granny gear on most hills. And it's not like I'm spinning my way up with a cadence of 120. I'm lucky to maintain a cadence of 40-50 on my 6% grade nemesis hill. For me, if the mantra doesn't work to keep my feet peddling, I'm gonna have to hop off the bike and walk it.

But progress is progress: During season 1, I walked every hill.
Last season I rode them all (not elegantly, mind you) - but I made it to the top "upright and on the bike", which was glorious

My goal for next season is a climbing cadence of 50-60.



"I am strong and gettting stronger all the time..."

I am so much like you I just started and so far I walk most hills up!