Walk or wait. . . What to do?

[bcipam]

Unfortunately this happens to be more than I like... I stop, catch my breath and start walking. Problem with a steep hill and ultra granny is it's tough to get started again. Takes alot of technique and skill. I look at it this way. I'm still exercising. It's not easy pushing a 25 - 30 pound bike up a steep hill. It's still work. Once the ground levels out a bit, then I try and get back on the bike. It's all good.

[Trek420]

what bcipam sez

"I look at it this way. I'm still exercising. It's not easy pushing a 25 - 30 pound bike up a steep hill. It's still work.... It's all good."

It's all under your own power, it all counts, it's cross training! But my goal is to do it fewer times and less.

I think it was the great Eddie M. who said something like "You're faster going than not going" so I keep moving. That's probably not what he meant but...

Trek-never met a hill I'm ashamed to walk-420

[MomOnBike]

I'm with the walkers. In my little mind, the important thing is that I get to the top of the hill, by whatever means. Defeat is giving up, turning around and not making the top.

Also, especially with my recumbent, walking helps stretch out the muscles in the top of my thighs so that when I get back on and ride, I'm actually stronger.

And furthermore...somewhere back in the mists of time, I read that you are stressing your heart more by suddenly stopping excercise (stopping & resting) than by loafing along in a cool-down walk. This might be bunkum, but I choose to believe it.

And don't forget the keeping the blood moving thing, either.

Yeah, I walk when I need to - less and less as time goes by.

[annie]

Hmmmm - there was a time when I'd have said I would NEVER walk a hill. I've become older and wiser. If I am on the mtb, going up a steep, gnarly climb and don't make it, I will definitely walk. Most likely I won't get up otherwise. Or else go back down and try again, 'cause some of that is technical skills that I just don't posses and the only way to learn it is to keep trying. On the road bike, tho', its still a matter of pride for me. I may go slow - I may use that granny gear - but I will ride up the hill. If I meet a hill that I can't do that on - I think I would start to walk, rather than waste time standing there. No point to that. And I agree that it is not good to simply stop. Got to keep the heart pumping and the blood flowing. When I've pulled a loaded BOB trailer, and not made a wise route choice, I have definitely walked up hills. I simply couldn't keep pedaling and I don't think resting would have made any difference. If the hill is too steep to keep going, might as well walk. If its a long hill, and the grade lessens, then by all means, get back on and try to ride. I agree with MOB - the important thing is to get up the hill. Next time on the same hill, you try to go farther. It's a good gauge of judge progress. Hills are SUCH good training. Automatic intervals. I always try and think of them in a positive way.

annie