Clipping out up a steep hill?

[marni]

I do not like those steep climbs with a stop sign at the top, either.

Or how about the rides in the Hill Country with t he cattle guard half way up the steepest part of the steepest hills? Just when you realize that you are in your granny granny gear and can't get up enough speed to get over it safely. And it is such fun tip toeing over those things. One ride I did had nothing but hills, and most of them, or at least 14 had cattle guards on them. I walked a lot that day.

marni

[Faster Pussycat]

For me the worse case scenario is being on a new rural route, go up a steep hill, and the steep grade ends at a stop sign on a busy rural highway with no flat area to unclip before reaching the highway.

This was my situation last week except on a steep hill in a reasonably busy suburb! I was with a group and they stopped at the top of the hill as there were cars parked on each side and we were going to make a right hand turn but needed to give way to traffic. I unclipped ready to stop and the girls moved forward. I pedalled over and my foot clicked back in (I use speedplays). I had already started to lean my weight to the left to stop but just couldn't get my foot out in time. I didn't help that I was totally unfamiliar with the route.

The worst part wasn't the fall - it was that on a 500m stretch of road I fell right next to a pallate of roof tiles on the verge. Which my head bounced off of. I was pefectly OK except for some dropped dignity and the need for a new helmet.

gabriellesca, I used to think that every other cyclist knew something I didn't. That they all had these superior skills and reaction times and I just didn't think too fast. In all honestly, this isn't the case. In a lot of situations they are likely to come a cropper as well. Some things are just harder to navigate than others. So keep practicing and take baby steps, you will get there.

I have had quite a few nerve blocks in my upper c-spine and so my balance is rubbish. It has taken many months of solid practice just to be able to take a water bottle. About four times a week I head to a quiet, big car park and just practice skills. Starting, stopping, riding one handed etc.

I am an over thinker as well and there is some truth to just doing it. At the same time you need to enjoy your cycling and being scared kinda sucks the fun out of it.

It really is a matter of practice and don't beat yourself up because it doesn't come as naturally to you as it may seem to come to others.

[gabriellesca]

You guys are so right - I am overthinking this to death and I am letting myself picture non-stop the falls, how bad my falls have hurt, my friend's fall. I'm not picturing the positive side of going clipless - of enjoying the benefits of it (which I'm sure I will feel once I relax). I'm so caught up in the negative that I'm not seeing the positive. I trait that I battle in every aspect of my life but that I am working on.

Shoot - there are so many good suggestions and posts I want to respond to them all. AMP - I like that we're in similar places and both trying to get through it. Tulip - DEAD ON - you're so right that I'm focusing only on my fear and the negative. I know I need to change this. Sundial - I always forget to paperboy it (isn't that what it is called) - I can always do that if I need to and there are no cars. NY - TOTALLY need to just envision it going smoothly. Withm - I do keep thinking this - hello - everyone rides this way - I can too! And Faster - thanks for just reminding me that it may SEEM easier for others.

Everyone here has been so helpful - sometimes I need a smack. And I need a smack!

This may be a bit much - but the one thing I've learned through cycling is how it is such a metaphore for life in general. I think of how when you approach a hill from the base it looks huge and you think you can never get over it - you can't imagine how you will have the power to get up it - and then slowly you make your way up - chugging along - and you get to the top and you're so proud! There was this hill on my training rides and it was so huge to me - we would take a route that took us down it for weeks. The first week we had to go up it I paniced. But I got up it and celebrated all day. So ........ you now have me excited to do this. To get past this fear. To picture myself reaping the rewards!

When I signed up for my Century in 2008 with Team in Training I NEVER thought could train and ride it. No one in my life thought I would do it. On the morning of the ride my brother-in-law told my sister he thought I wouldn't make it 5 miles. But I did 17 weeks of training - every training ride - I only sagged 2x - and I rode every mile of the 103.3. So if I can do that - I certainly can do this!

(How's that for a pep-talk?) THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!

[ny biker]

When I signed up for my Century in 2008 with Team in Training I NEVER thought could train and ride it. No one in my life thought I would do it. On the morning of the ride my brother-in-law told my sister he thought I wouldn't make it 5 miles. But I did 17 weeks of training - every training ride - I only sagged 2x - and I rode every mile of the 103.3. So if I can do that - I certainly can do this!

I don't like your brother-in-law. Don't listen to him. Or any other doubters, for that matter. Listen to us instead.

[gabriellesca]

He's actually an awesome guy and I adore him. I think he started driving the route and couldn't imagine I would finish. He also saw me starting out and I was a wreck and very slow at the start - getting used to all the riders etc. - He and my sister rode the ENTIRE 103.3 miles - they would go up ahead 10 miles and then park or find a little place to put lawn chairs out and then cheer me on. WHen I came in at the end of the day (10 hours later) he was bawling right along with me and my sister! So he's a good guy!

But I know what you mean - not good for people not to believe in you. I think they were just shocked that I did it. I was too!

[sundial]

So if I can do that - I certainly can do this!

Gabriellesca, alot of hill climbing is mental. Focus 10 feet in front of you and pedal away. You can do this!

[gabriellesca]

Thanks Sun!!

[Faster Pussycat]

Also, if you really don't feel ready to go to cleats - dont. Although there are lots of advantage they will also be lost if you get put of riding.

So perhaps do a few more rides, get a bit more confident in your handling skills and then look at cleats again?

Confidence is what is left after you take out the fears.

[TrekTheKaty]

On my first century, I was considering bailing as we headed into hill AFTER hill at mile 80. I had trained in the area, so mentally I thought I was prepared. However, fatigue was setting in and I was seriously considering throwing my bike in a ditch. My Brother-in-law and I started a mantra,

"The ferry (that took us across the river and into the flats) is over this hill."

"OK. It must be this hill."

"Seriously, this HAS to be the last hill."

We crested a hill and there was a buff cycling dude with an expensive bike sprawled out in the grass on the side of the road, looking like a (as we'd say in skiing) yard sale! I yelled, "Are you OK?"

He said, "Yeah. Just resting."

I started laughing so hard, that I forgot how much I was hurting. (I think we made it to the ferry about 3 hills after that. We thought we were home free until a group of tri-bikers said, "Only one more 18% grade to go!" Now that's why I don't usually socialize with other cyclists--I didn't need to know that!)

It's all mental. Just like a marathon. I was never a good runner, just more determined/pig-headed.

[Thorn]

We thought we were home free until a group of tri-bikers said, "Only one more 18% grade to go!" Now that's why I don't usually socialize with other cyclists--I didn't need to know that!).

Chuckle. I was just on one of those one big climb after another rides. I've done it before. I actually love it--do enough long slugs up gradients in the teens and the 8-10%-ers at home don't feel so bad.

Anyway, I was standing near two guys at the last rest stop. It is on a lovely bluff and you can see forever in all directions. One of them said, "It has to be all down hill from here". I turned to them and said, "uh, no....there is one more big hill waiting for you. Can't you hear it taunting me? The hill's voice is getting strong. It is saying, 'Save some for me. You know I'm steep. And I can last longer than you'."

They both looked at me like was this crazy old lady (which, of course, I am). Fine.

At the end of the ride, one of the guys came up to me and said, "Uh...we didn't believe you. You undersold that hill. It was a killer."

There is always another hill. Master one and a bigger one appears. Zen out. Relax. Smile. You'll be surprised what you can do.

I've only met one hill in the last couple of years I've had to bail on. I used the driveway method that Darcy suggested. Thankfully, there wasn't traffic.

[tctrek]

That happened to me once. Knowing that if I tried to clip out, I would fall, was all the inspiration I needed to keep pedaling!

<<snort>> good one!

[gabriellesca]

I think that's one of the reasons I love cycling - it is teaching me to take things as they come - one day/one hill/one ride at at time. Not that you can tell from this post and all my fear - but I am making progress!

I like the 'looking like a yard sale' - funny!

[sundial]

I was never a good runner, just more determined/pig-headed.

Yep, it pays to be tenacious. Even if you're going 3 mph up a hill you're still going and besides, there's nothing more satisfying than passing a weight weenie roadie that's blowing up on the hill.

[sundial]

On my first century, I was considering bailing as we headed into hill AFTER hill at mile 80.

I would have bailed at mile 30. You're a tough cookie, Trek.