Quote Originally Posted by indysteel View Post
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.