Flipping Hills

[Shaula]

I live in southeast Georgia and have been riding seriously for about 6 months. I have an OCR 3, WSB. I usually ride flats but yesterday, I tackled a hill. Even though we have small to moderate inclines that I can do ok, this one about killed me. I experienced weakness in my legs as I climbed to the top and I thought my heart was going to beat out of my chest. Yes, I geared down to the lowest possible. Does it get better? Have you experienced the same?????

[Grog]

I live in southeast Georgia and have been riding seriously for about 6 months. I have an OCR 3, WSB. I usually ride flats but yesterday, I tackled a hill. Even though we have small to moderate inclines that I can do ok, this one about killed me. I experienced weakness in my legs as I climbed to the top and I thought my heart was going to beat out of my chest. Yes, I geared down to the lowest possible. Does it get better? Have you experienced the same?????

It gets immensely better. Practice, practice, practice, go back to that hill every week or even every other ride. You will improve quite fast... You probably will never fly up at 25 km/h, but I predict that you will soon become addicted to it, get to the top and say: "Yah! Let's do it again!"

I know it's hard to believe.

There has been many threads through the Summer on climbing. Just browse through "New Riders" or search for "climbing" for more details on gearing and hills and climbing.

Enjoy!

[tatormc]

In February I moved from flat Houston to hilly Oklahoma. In Houston I was slow and didn't have much strength. Moved here and it was really hard at first but now my speed has increased and I can see some nice leg muscle. I'm still the last one up the hill but who cares, I made it.

[kaybee]

Hey Shaula! Yes, it will get better. Not only will you get stronger, you will learn how and when to shift (there really is a method to the madness!). Hubby and I live in northwest Georgia, where it's impossible to find a flat route, and are noticing that, after 2 months of riding, the hills are getting much easier. You might also want to consider going with clipless pedals, if you haven't already. It makes a world of difference.

[latelatebloomer]

Oh yes, it does get better, and what a feeling!! I live in easter Pa, so there's nothing but rolling hills in my ride. Even if it LOOKS flat, it never is! This spring, my heart used to just about come out of my chest at any incline, and if anyone could have heard my breathing, they would have dialed 911. So I walked when I had to. But I didn't give up, and my lungs and legs are so much stronger. I often switch between standing and sitting - standing seems to let my heart catch up a for a few beats.

[Madizell]

I'm so glad you posted this question. I'm new to the website and relatively new to biking. I live in Central Arizona and it's nothing but mountains here. I started riding to work a few years ago then stopped because I changed jobs and the commute was much longer and the I started again and stopped because of "lack of daylight" and . . . . well -- anyway -- I started up again about 3-4 months ago. Anyway --- the hills just don't seem to be getting any easier, especially at the end of my work day. The commute home, while it has its ups and downs, is essentially a 10 mile climb and always into a head wind. I make it, but by the end of the week, I'm destroyed!! Any suggestions on building my strength/endurance/speed? Thanks -

[CorsairMac]

first - welcome to the board! I know I was out for a few weeks so if you've already done this sry for the re-peat:

there's a thread under the open titled "getting to know you" - gives you a chance to get to know us better and tell us more about you!

as for your commute home - I also commute up a mountain every night 6 miles, some days in 30+ mph headwinds. My first thought when you talked about the struggle was: do you eat anything before you head home? I found I was wearing myself out during my commute home until I started eating just a little something about 20 mins before I left work. Also, do you drink during the climb?? even if you aren't hot - I make myself drink about every 10 minutes during that climb just to make sure I stay hydrated.

[makbike]

It does get better so stick with it and make it a point to visit this hill on a regular basis. I simply hate hills but it is nearly impossible to find a flat road in my area so I've tried to make friends with them. I started a pretty series training regiment back in early May, my goal to increase my average speed and my strength. I set a goal of 500 miles for May, June, July and August (my summer vacation) and made it a point to ride several small hills with a bigger hill tossed in for good measure each week. I was amazed in mid-August the progress I had made in both departments and in turn how much my hill climbing had improved.

One other thing I did to help me was I pulled out an old book I had purchased back in the 1980's and made myself a gear inches chart to tape to the top tube of my bike. It allowed me to make better selections on the various terrain around here. If you want the formula let me know and I'll be glad to share it. Some of the guys in local club have laughed at me for my chart, but I'm not a numbers person and having a visual in front of me has made my time on my bike even more enjoyable.

Good luck and don't let the hills intimidate you. As my boyfriend keeps telling me, hills are your friends.

[Rakekay]

One other thing I did to help me was I pulled out an old book I had purchased back in the 1980's and made myself a gear inches chart to tape to the top tube of my bike. It allowed me to make better selections on the various terrain around here. If you want the formula let me know and I'll be glad to share it. Some of the guys in local club have laughed at me for my chart, but I'm not a numbers person and having a visual in front of me has made my time on my bike even more enjoyable.

Good luck and don't let the hills intimidate you. As my boyfriend keeps telling me, hills are your friends.

I'd love to see your chart. I've only been riding for about three months and although there are some hills around here I tend to get through them mostly by trial and error with the gears, not through any sensible gear pattern.

[SadieKate]

Sheldon Brown has the calculator on his web site. You can print the results and use the same way. Much friendlier for the math-impared.

http://sheldonbrown.com/gears/

[makbike]

RakeKay:

Here is the formula from The Complete Bicycle Fitness Book :

Gear Inches= rear wheel diameter x # of front chain teeth/# of rear cog teeth

example: you have a 27 inch rear wheel, a 40 tooth chainwheel and a 20 tooth rear cog (27 x 40/20 = 27 x 2 = 54 inches)

I simply calculated and then charted it.

Here is what the range of gear inches is best used for, according to The Complete Bicycle Fitness Book, by James C. McCullagh:

20 inches = steep uphills with bike bags
30 inches = steep uphills
40 inches = somewhat steep uphills
50 inches = moderate hills
60 inches = easy riding on level ground or slight uphills
70 inches = brisk riding on level ground
80 inches = hard riding on level ground or slight downhills
90 inches = sprinting on level ground or moderate downhills
100 inches = somewhat steep downhills
110 inches = unsafe speeds on steep downhills

Hope this helps, if you need any additional information let me know.

[Rakekay]

This is interesting. Guess I need to figure out what size rear wheel I have. So then depending on what kind of riding you're doing, you just pick the "inches" that are right for it and shift into that gear?

[makbike]

Exactly. Simply look on your rear wheel to find the size (mine is a 27 1/4" wheel). Count the teeth and plug the numbers into the formula. I mounted my chart on my top tube so that I could refer to it when I was riding. Just match the terrain to the chart and shift away. It really made a difference in my riding this year.

Good Luck and keep me posted.