Quote Originally Posted by DarcyInOregon View Post
Some male cyclists tend to cycle all of the time in the biggest chain ring on the front because they are mashers with a low spin. They use their strong leg muscles to power their way up hills, and some take immense pride that they bike only in their very highest gear and never shift at all, whether flats, rollers or hills. Then ... they go up a hill with a grade steeper than normal for them, like 13% to 18%, they go oops, they try to shift down in front, but there isn't enough slack in their chain, and the chain comes off. They put the chain back on, but there they are, on a grade that is too steep for them to get started back on the bike, and they are walking up the hill. They look like newbies, but nope, they are experienced cyclists, just ones with a different pedaling technique who got caught in too high of a gear on a grade steeper than they expected. Or when I pass them and they are still pedaling, it is because they are still in their highest chain ring in front and trying real hard not to tip over, afraid that if they shift down a chain ring they will drop a chain.
Ah ok their chains really fall off! That's what I figured but wasn't sure. Sounds like a 1 speed might be better for those guys!

Thanks for the great advice. I'm definitely not worried about having to walk, it's all about building strength right? There will always be a next time when I might make it up and over!