Rollers and momentum

[malkin]

There's a stop sign at the bottom of the beginning of the big hill on my commute.

I've got a granny gear, and I know how to use it.

[tulip]

Like Grog and Becky said: don't coast down the hill--there's always an up on the other side of the down. Pedal (in harder gears) down and shift as you need to going up the other side. It will take practice.

[Catrin]

Thanks for all of the advice, and I will try to remember this during this week when I head back out on the bike. I WOULD like to practice what hills I can before next Saturday.

I have tried to pedal downhill, but found that it was just free-wheeling and just odd - however I didn't try to shift into a harder front gear.

So what I am hearing is that I need to practice more, of course, and resist the temptation to coast downhill. I LIKE coasting downhill - it is fun However I need a different approach because this isn't helping me much in getting up the next hill. I do NOT want to wind up walking that 1.5 mile hill next Sat Not that there is anything wrong with walking up a hill, just saying...

[laura*]

I have tried to pedal downhill, but found that it was just free-wheeling and just odd - however I didn't try to shift into a harder front gear.

So what I am hearing is that I need to practice more, of course, and resist the temptation to coast downhill. I LIKE coasting downhill - it is fun

Pedaling downhill has a secondary usefulness. If you coast too long, your muscles can cool off. Then you'll find it hard to resume pedaling.

There's a long downgrade hereabouts. I once set out to see just how far I could coast. According to Google Earth, I coasted at least 3 miles, maybe 3.5. My legs did not like to restart! Since then I'll pedal to speed up where possible, or at least keep slowly spinning (free-wheeling).

[DarcyInOregon]

The two smartest things Catrin can do to improve her hill climbing skills are: 1)get clipless pedals, 2)use a GPS bike computer and learn the grades. Without clipless pedals, going up steeper grades will just be mashing the pedals. It is equally important to know what the grade is, and over time one learns which gear to be in for which grade at whatever length. There is a big difference between the connotation of "steep" if the grade is 8% or 15%. Heck, newer cyclists may think 4% is steep. However when the climbing skill is to start shifting down as the cadence drops, it is not practical if one is mashing up the hill on flat pedals.

For the person who said don't look at the bike computer, that is true if it is a long climb and the game plan is to stay in the lowest gears and pedal so as to conserve energy because looking at the bike computer won't contribute anything. However for Catrin's types of short hills, it is best to have a good GPS bike computer, to know her cadence, and to learn her grades.

[indysteel]

The two smartest things Catrin can do to improve her hill climbing skills are: 1)get clipless pedals, 2)use a GPS bike computer and learn the grades. Without clipless pedals, going up steeper grades will just be mashing the pedals. It is equally important to know what the grade is, and over time one learns which gear to be in for which grade at whatever length. There is a big difference between the connotation of "steep" if the grade is 8% or 15%. Heck, newer cyclists may think 4% is steep. However when the climbing skill is to start shifting down as the cadence drops, it is not practical if one is mashing up the hill on flat pedals.

For the person who said don't look at the bike computer, that is true if it is a long climb and the game plan is to stay in the lowest gears and pedal so as to conserve energy because looking at the bike computer won't contribute anything. However for Catrin's types of short hills, it is best to have a good GPS bike computer, to know her cadence, and to learn her grades.

I agree that clipless pedals will help--when she's ready for them--but I respectfully disagree as to a GPS. I don't have one and climb just fine. Most of the people I ride with don't have them, and they climb just fine. I'm not honestly sure I understand how knowing the specific grade helps. My eyes, legs and lungs tell me what I need to know.

[OakLeaf]

GPS will tell you nothing useful about grade. It's the nature of satellite triangulation that elevation, and by inference grade, are extremely inaccurate.

If you must have an expensive gadget, a barometric altimeter is the ticket, but a $20 bubble inclinometer is the most accurate indication of real-time grade you can buy.

But she doesn't need to know what grade it is when her cadence drops below her ideal. Cadence meter will tell her that...

[DarcyInOregon]

I agree that clipless pedals will help--when she's ready for them--but I respectfully disagree as to a GPS. I don't have one and climb just fine. Most of the people I ride with don't have them, and they climb just fine. I'm not honestly sure I understand how knowing the specific grade helps. My eyes, legs and lungs tell me what I need to know.

Just because you don't use a GPS and know the grades doesn't mean it isn't useful for another cyclist. Even on the Tour de France, the team managers are communicating to the cyclists the exact grades of each climb that is upcoming. If this wasn't important information, why would they communicate it to the racers? It is important to know so the cyclists know which gear to be in. Go on an event ride in my region and the majority of the century cyclists have a GPS computer on their bike. At the SAG stops the discussions are about the exact percentage of the upcoming grades and the length.

[indysteel]

You will develop a better feel for it with practice. While I know there are some elevation changes in the area where you ride, it's still relatively flat. Once you start doing some rides south of Indy, you'll get a lot more practice with it.

I'd also say that momentum only gets you so far in Indiana, as I wouldn't describe the terrain as rolling. Do the second day of the Horsey Hundred in Kentucky, and you'll understand the difference. Here, the hills aren't as constant and they can be abrupt and steep, so while you may have a bit of momentum going into the hill, it is unlikely to be enough to get to the top. In fact, it may barely get you up halfway. I actually tend to rely less on momentum with some of these steeper hills and more on choosing a gear at the outset that will allow me to set a sustainable pace up the hill. I do not keep the same cadence on those hills that I use on the flats. I would blow up if I tried to do that. Rather, I get in a relatively easy gear, take a deep breath and then just pace myself up, susatining a good balance between aerobic and power outputs.

[Catrin]

You will develop a better feel for it with practice. While I know there are some elevation changes in the area where you ride, it's still relatively flat. Once you start doing some rides south of Indy, you'll get a lot more practice with it. ......... I actually tend to rely less on momentum with some of these steeper hills and more on choosing a gear at the outset that will allow me to set a sustainable pace up the hill. I do not keep the same cadence on those hills that I use on the flats. I would blow up if I tried to do that. Rather, I get in a relatively easy gear, take a deep breath and then just pace myself up, sustaining a good balance between aerobic and power outputs.

Indy - Thanks for this, it helps. I just got in from a light 20 mile ride - and tried to pay closer attention to my shifting on the steep hills along the way. It is kind of interesting how they come, perfectly flat ground then there is this short hill that is so steep that I wonder if I will make it to the top - and thankfully I always do. It doesn't seem to make all that much of a difference how fast I am going when I hit it...so it is good to hear that this sounds normal. I think it was easier today as I tried to shift more frequently instead of trying to power my way through it.

I am hoping the weather will permit me to head out Thursday after work and do some hill repeats on 875 and 200s in Boone County - if you are familiar with that area. After this next Saturday I want to start heading south every other Saturday, if possible, and play in the hills. I just wanted to get up to being able to tolerate longer rides first...

[tulip]

Catrin, I think you are doing great. It was not so long ago that you were not comfortable shifting at all. Now you are learning the art of when to shift. You will need to get comfortable shifting into your big front ring when you pedal downhill, but there's no rush. Just keep doing what you are doing because it's working just fine. You've made great progress and I'm very proud of you!

[indysteel]

Catrin, like I said, it's perfectly normal that momentum isn't getting you very far with the hills you've encountered thus far. I actually think focusing on it may be preventing you from learning how to best gear from some of these hills. For instance, the long hill on next week's ride--assuming it's the one I think it is--is long but not steep, so climbing it is more a question of patience than anything. You have to find a gear you can sustain without killing your legs or blowing up your lung and then get into a steady rhythm.

Climbing in southern Indiana confounded me until I started riding with a friend of mine who taught me to pace myself from the base of the hill. It really does take some patience on some of these hills because they are too steep and long to just power over. You have to stop yourself from starting to panic because it looks like the end will never come.

It'll get easier, I promise. Like Tulip said, you've already come a long way.

On Saturday's ride, Brian and I plan to ride a bit in front of the group as is our norm on the GT rides, but sometime soon, let's head down to Morgan Monroe. There are some good hills to learn on just outside the park so I can better show you want I mean.

[Catrin]

Catrin, like I said, it's perfectly normal that momentum isn't getting you very far with the hills you've encountered thus far. I actually think focusing on it may be preventing you from learning how to best gear from some of these hills. For instance, the long hill on next week's ride--assuming it's the one I think it is--is long but not steep, so climbing it is more a question of patience than anything. You have to find a gear you can sustain without killing your legs or blowing up your lung and then get into a steady rhythm.

Climbing in southern Indiana confounded me until I started riding with a friend of mine who taught me to pace myself from the base of the hill. It really does take some patience on some of these hills because they are too steep and long to just power over. You have to stop yourself from starting to panic because it looks like the end will never come.

It'll get easier, I promise. Like Tulip said, you've already come a long way.

On Saturday's ride, Brian and I plan to ride a bit in front of the group as is our norm on the GT rides, but sometime soon, let's head down to Morgan Monroe. There are some good hills to learn on just outside the park so I can better show you want I mean.

Cool, I will remember this next Saturday - and I did NOT go and drive it. I figured if I did and found a really long and steep hill that it might beat me before I actually ride it.

Good to hear that you and Brian will be there, I will be the one at the rear of the group. Way at the rear I am greatly looking forward to my introduction to southern Indiana - at least I know that my bike is geared for it

Just let me know when a good time would be to head down to Morgan Monroe - that sounds like a great idea. Now I seem to, hopefully, have my saddle issues solved - at least I hope so...

Tulip and Indy, thanks for the encouragement, it is appreciated!