Trouble with steep hills

[emily_in_nc]

What kind of gearing do you have on your bike? You need to have low enough gearing that you can pedal up any hill without killing yourself. I rode a fully loaded bike in the Adirondacks and only had to walk a couple of hills (at the end of LONG days in the saddle when I was just pooped). I am also small and lightweight, so should be a strong climber, but I don't have a lot of power -- it's all about power to weight ratio. My touring bike is geared very low -- a triple crankset in front with a 34T in back (i.e., mountain gearing), so there are no hills I can't climb in it.

Some of it is just training; you'll get stronger in time, but appropriate gearing for the riding you do most often is very important too.

Also, technique is important. Make sure to gear down before you hit the bulk of the hill. It can be very difficult to shift under strain as you need to ease off the pedals just a bit when shifting. If you shift under a lot of strain on a steep hill, you can easily lock up your chain -- I've done it. You need to anticipate and shift ahead of time.

I am sure others will chime in with even more good information and details. I was writing this in a rush, as it is bed time. Best of luck, and don't give up!

[mandinorris]

What kind of gearing do you have on your bike? You need to have low enough gearing that you can pedal up any hill without killing yourself. I rode a fully loaded bike in the Adirondacks and only had to walk a couple of hills (at the end of LONG days in the saddle when I was just pooped). I am also small and lightweight, so should be a strong climber, but I don't have a lot of power -- it's all about power to weight ratio. My touring bike is geared very low -- a triple crankset in front with a 34T in back (i.e., mountain gearing), so there are no hills I can't climb in it.

Some of it is just training; you'll get stronger in time, but appropriate gearing for the riding you do most often is very important too.

Also, technique is important. Make sure to gear down before you hit the bulk of the hill. It can be very difficult to shift under strain as you need to ease off the pedals just a bit when shifting. If you shift under a lot of strain on a steep hill, you can easily lock up your chain -- I've done it. You need to anticipate and shift ahead of time.

I am sure others will chime in with even more good information and details. I was writing this in a rush, as it is bed time. Best of luck, and don't give up!

It's not my gearing...I have a nice bike with a nice crankset/shifters etc.

It's my muscles/body ..I am not used to that type of activity and I am a small woman.

[Crankin]

What do you mean by a "nice crankset and gearing?"
Do you have a compact double or a triple? Or a regular double? What's your lowest cog? There's a huge difference in these, for a beginning rider, no matter the level of your components.
I am a small person, too, 5' 1" <110 lbs. I am not the strongest person in the world, but after 10 years of riding and training in an area with lots of short, steep hills, I can get up almost anything. I may not do it at a high speed, but I feel confident I can get up the hill.
Nothing will improve your hill climbing ability like riding hills all of the time. You've been given great suggestions here. And don't forget that a good part of this is mental. Some people sing to themselves while climbing. I repeat a positive mantra, which changes from time to time. If I let myself get to the point of swearing, well, it's more likely I will want to give up.

[mandinorris]

What do you mean by a "nice crankset and gearing?"
Do you have a compact double or a triple? Or a regular double? What's your lowest cog? There's a huge difference in these, for a beginning rider, no matter the level of your components.
I am a small person, too, 5' 1" <110 lbs. I am not the strongest person in the world, but after 10 years of riding and training in an area with lots of short, steep hills, I can get up almost anything. I may not do it at a high speed, but I feel confident I can get up the hill.
Nothing will improve your hill climbing ability like riding hills all of the time. You've been given great suggestions here. And don't forget that a good part of this is mental. Some people sing to themselves while climbing. I repeat a positive mantra, which changes from time to time. If I let myself get to the point of swearing, well, it's more likely I will want to give up.

I guess my thing is that it is physical for me. I try as hard as I can and then I just can't push anymore.

I think from the advice given, my best bet is repetition to build the strength to get up the 12% + hills

[Biciclista]

and Mandi, for sure, your smallness is an asset. TRUST US on that.
It took me 3 years to build strength enough to ride anywhere, and that does NOT include steep hills. Someone just bragged that they have only walked 3 times.... I can't tell you how many times I have walked up hills. HOWEVER, I have gotten stronger (and darn, as I've gotten stronger, I've gotten heavier, I must have gained 10 lbs just in my legs, and it shows)
and I have actually done an 18 mile hillclimb and some other rides that were JUST all about hills. (and I still walk sometimes)

So I can promise you, if you keep working at it you will get better.

ps, can you put your bike in your car and start somewhere a little better? I don't envy your hills!

[Crankin]

Mimi, I hope it didn't sound like bragging when I said I have walked only 3 times. The thing that helped me the most was not having any choice... walking up a steep hill in road shoes sucks almost as much as barely being able to climb it. Moving to a street on 10-15% grade, probably was the best thing for me, even though I had done a lot of climbing before that. The end of every ride, well, imagine it. The thing is, I am not a particularly fast rider, compared to others here. I just kept at it, like you.
And while it *is* physical, as in strength, it is also mental strength. You have to be able to endure some pain to improve and keep telling yourself you can do it, even in little improvements.
Mandi, it would still help people here to give you advice, if we knew what gearing you had.

[Biciclista]

Crankin, I just wanted her to know that she might need to walk more than 3 times.

and here's the statistic: take your height = 60 inches. now take your weight (in Mandi's case) 110 pounds. 110/60 = 1.83
if this ratio is smaller than 2, you are going to have an edge on climbing. Pick your favorite guy, say, 70 inches tall and 160 pounds. 160/70 =2.28 You have a big advantage over him. So once you get into shape, you ought to be dynamite!
and make sure your bike fits you!

[mandinorris]

Mimi, I hope it didn't sound like bragging when I said I have walked only 3 times. The thing that helped me the most was not having any choice... walking up a steep hill in road shoes sucks almost as much as barely being able to climb it. Moving to a street on 10-15% grade, probably was the best thing for me, even though I had done a lot of climbing before that. The end of every ride, well, imagine it. The thing is, I am not a particularly fast rider, compared to others here. I just kept at it, like you.
And while it *is* physical, as in strength, it is also mental strength. You have to be able to endure some pain to improve and keep telling yourself you can do it, even in little improvements.
Mandi, it would still help people here to give you advice, if we knew what gearing you had.

Lol I am not even ashamed to admit that because I am so new to cycling, that I have no idea what my gears are. My boyfriend is the bike wiz and got me into cycling/chose my bike. However, I did just buy a 2010 Kona Lisa Roadbike...and I have ultegra and 105 components. I'm sure if you guys look up the bike you can see what kind of gears/crankset it is. I would but I am at work!

[marni]

remember, whether you ride or walk up the hill, the top will still be there when you get there. Hang in there and remember the value of practice and repetition.