Walk or wait. . . What to do?

[bcipam]

I walk--I had a really good cyclist tell me one time, "If your hands are on the bike, it counts!" That's my mantra and I'm sticking to it.

I like that! Mine if I borrow it??

[Geonz]

I haven't met the hill my granny gears couldn't handle.

Of course, Illinois really doesn't have that many hills :-)

I do try to pace myself so I'm not in the heartrate roof, resisting the urge to "charge" up the hill (like I can on anything local - but not once I get to, well, actual hills).

If it gets to that point, though, I'd want to walk. Stopping cold (or hot, as the case may be ) just doesn't sound like a good idea.

[DebW]

Gee, I've never tried bailling in the middle of a hill. Don't know if I could do it. I'd probably fall over and hurt myself. The idea is too scary to contemplate, so I just keep mashing away in my 42/23 (lowest) gear, alternating between standing and sitting while my legs slowly turn to rubber. Good thing the hills here are all under 1/2 mile long.

[CR400]

Personally I just get back on the bike and keep going. In fact I wouldn't even stop (get off) until I got to the top, you are just prolonging the eventual pain. The only time I have ever or will ever again get off and walk is if I can't turn the crank over at all no matter how hard I try. As far as heart rate unless you have reason to believe you'll have a heart attack if you go above your "max" it's ok for a seconds. Most likely you won't be able to get that close anyway. Now if you start to get lightheaded, dizzy, or see stars, stop and sit right away.
I had an expirence back before I had my heart rate monitor and was in totally horrible shape (240lbs and no training) tried to maintain only 17mph for a long time and blacked out while riding. I really don't know what happened except everything went black for a second and then I came back and kept on going, I did slow down a few seconds later though. It all happened so fast that the group I was with didn't even know what happened apparently in those few seconds I kept my balance and pedaling. So I guess we can ride our bikes in our sleep.

[SadieKate]

Wow, CR400, you must ride road only if you won't get off until then.

[Veronica]

I have yet to meet a hill on the road that I can't get up. I've got really small gears though - 24 x 27. The slowest speed I've seen was like 2.5. I don't remember it exactly, but it was on DMD two years ago - Patterson pass into a headwind.

Off road - I walk if needed. Depending on the ride I may turn around and try again or just walk up the hill.

V.

[bcipam]

There is a distinct difference between road and off road hill climbing. I never walk on road. I have low gearing and so far have not have any issue getting up even the steepest of hills. I've had to stop and catch my breath a couple of times but can alway get started again and do. In fact, I have this mentality - I will not walk my bike - while on road!

Off road; tough, steep, rutty, rocky, gnarly terrain is different. If in super low granny, it's tough to get the traction to start climbing again which is why I'll walk. Again, pushing a heavy mountain bike up steep terrain is still alot of work. Once the trail levels out, I'll try my climb again.

[CR400]

No, I was just totally humiliated and felt like a failure the one day I struggled to get up even the smallest hill. Becuase I was so fat. And a few I had to walk on because I couldn't even turn the crank over. From that moment on not again. Plus I ride with guys and I just have to beat them. It all depends on what a persons definition of success is.

[Nanci]

It's not like it takes very long to be able to ride again, even a minute will make a huge difference, if you're in pretty good cardiovascular shape. Plus it feels good on the feet and undercarriage to give it a tiny break.

I've noticed, riding like in a Century or whatever, when you see the same riders over and over again, you always beat the "walkers" up the hill/mountain if you stop, rest, ride again. It's more efficient.

Now on trails, no way, if I have to stop, it's all over for that hill. I'm walking.

Nanci

[sarahkonamojo]

I have met a curve I couldn't get up on my road bike. There were a couple of really steep switch backs after a long extended climb. I walked a turn and was able to get back on and ride the next switch back. Was I supposed to feel bad? It was part of an 84 mile day, so I felt proud anyway.

Walked way many times with the mtb. Usually it is skill not heart rate stopping me. So I'll run (if possible) up with the bike. I've had enough meetings with rock and dirt to feel ok with a less painful path. And there were some sand hills that stopped the 4wd truck as well as me...

I find walking or running up a hill keeps my riding partners waiting less. And my legs stay warm. Doesn't seem like you should feel bad about walking/riding your bike. You are still out there doing it!

SKM

[latelatebloomer]

The seldom-seen latelate here. I just want to put in a reminder about us new riders - we often don't have the leg speed yet - or can't keep it going long enough - to granny-gear all the way up a hill. At first, I walked up - afraid that if I didn't keep moving, I'd lose my nerve all together. As I improve, sometimes I can make those hills - spinning, maybe with a little standing thrown in. Sometimes I have to stop until my heart goes back inside my shirt - I get a swig of water and stand there like I know what I'm doing (hoho) and try again. Also, as I start to feel spent, my form deteriorates, and it's good to center a minute in that regard, too. So, my 2cents is at first, just keep moving and be very proud of yourself, and as your fitness improves, work on your cadence. Even gradual improvement (the only kind I get, or even believe in any more ) will make a big difference. And mostly, don't give up. You are doing something WONDERFUL!

[ladyjai]

i'd also suggest something to those who have to stop. this only works for the road, though. Weave up the hill if you feel you can't make it going straight. I have a psychological panic freakout (with tears) that gets triggered if my heartrate goes to high. I can fight through it, but it stinks crying in panic as I fight my way up. so last time, I tried weaving. 10 feet width of a weave was sufficient to turn the hill into a baby. I felt silly zig-zagging, but the method could probably render any steep hill into nothing. this is more difficult if you are riding with many other cyclists or a narrow car-bound road. but it is something to try.

[Crankin]

I have done quite a few steep climbs, especially in Europe. Probably not that long (1/2 a mile or 3/4), but 15 % grades. I just slow down ahead of the climb and spin up. I don't care if I'm going 4 miles an hour. My goal is to get up. I ride with someone who is a slower rider than me. But she can get up anything! I have learned from her. So while my average speed on the flats goes up, I don't really care about improving my climbing speed. Standing hurts my knees, so I only do it on short small hills. I use my lowest granny gear when I need it and if others make fun of this, I say "so what?" I have thought about getting a compact double, but even losing one gear scares me. I live on a street that is a 14% grade and my driveway has one point that is about 18%. Knowing that I face this at the end of every ride has changed my perspective on going fast up a hill.

[RoadRaven]

For what its worth... I with some of the others here... although I used to walk, I NEVER walk now.
Its true that walking/pushing bike is slower than even your lowest gear up a hill...
Its true that you still get to the top

But for me its psychological
There was one hill I had to keep stopping and walking, and each time I'd aim to get further than the last time before I hopped off to walk...

BUT
The first time I hopped off and rested for about 3-4 minutes and then got back on and rode another third, and rested and rode to the top... that first time also signalled the end of me walking up hills... because when I tackled that hill again, I knew I could cycle to the top because I had already and I cycled the whole way without a rest...

While I was building my strength and endurance (lol... while... I still am... ) I would sometimes still stop for a rest, but I never do now.

For me, the psychological knowledge that I can ride is HUGE and never walking (except for a flat or broken spoke) works very well for me.

[Duck on Wheels]

I'm with Aint Doody here. And bcipam. And Trek420. I'm a beginner to this, or a re-beginner. But back when I was a seasonal commuter my season would progress through stages: 1) walk half the hill on the climb home. 2) stand half the hill. 3) sit and spin the whole hill in granny gear. 4) spin up the whole hill in a mid-gear. 5) first snow, put the bike away and fall out of shape again til Spring. So now I figure I'm starting again at step 1. If I don't make it up a hill, I keep walking (I'm good at that, do it all Winter!) and figure I'll be further up the hill before I bail next time.

Did two tries on a small hill while out on a training ride under Trek420's tutelage last weekend. First try, chain fell off. Personal victory of the day was unclipping fast enough not to fall. Next try I got maybe halfway up, tried gearing up and standing the rest, but didn't hit a gear that worked for that, so walked. Oh well. I was doing bigger hills in the Fall. Outa shape, I guess. Or maybe it was all that weeding in Mom's garden the day before. Anyways, now it's back to -20 and spin class, upping the resistance and hoping to do better next time on the road. But if I make it through the Cindy walking every darned hill, I'm still keeping my hands on the bike and going on my own power. It counts.