So I'm not a climber

[nscrbug]

I suck at hills--I'm okay on relatively steep climbs, but the long shallow ones suck it out of me. I know I need practice, as I spend most of my riding time on flat trails, but I'm pretty sure I'd need to lose about 20 pounds to be "effective" and there's no way that's happening!

X2!!! Except that I'm not even "relatively okay" on steep climbs either...ANY and EVERY climb sucks it out of me...which sometimes depresses me...especially when I see others doing the same climbs with ease. And even more so, when I see fairly unfit riders that are way heavier than me, climbing hills better and faster than I can. I too, know that I could stand to drop about 15 or 20 lbs, and that would help greatly with my climbing...but if these other heavier riders are climbing pretty decently at the weight they are at now, I have to wonder why can't I?

[Veronica]

I think there's a little more to it than just power to weight. MP totally rocks on the climbs no matter what she says. She outweighs me by 15 pounds or so and kicks my a$$ every time I ride with her. I know I have a bucket load of power, but I can't seem to use it when I climb.

Veronica

[bellissima]

Veronica, You are correct is not all about weight to power ratio, but it really makes a difference. Some of us can put a really large amount of watts in shorter efforts (Sprinters) and some can sustain high wattage for long periods with a very good power to weight ratio (climbers). It would be interesting to see what’s your friend’s actual W/kg versus yours.

[bluebug32]

I'm just glad that I finally learned to love climbing. Who cares where I finish in the pack because I'm one of the only ones who usually crests the top with a smile.

[maillotpois]

It would be interesting to see what’s your friend’s actual W/kg versus yours.

3.0/250 watts at threshold. But those are just numbers. I was never good at math.

[maillotpois]

I think there's a little more to it than just power to weight. MP totally rocks on the climbs no matter what she says. She outweighs me by 15 pounds or so and kicks my a$$ every time I ride with her. I know I have a bucket load of power, but I can't seem to use it when I climb.

Veronica

Haha - 15 lbs...l. You are way too kind. . . Maybe 30?

I just have a lot of power AND a lot of weight. . But I am still insecure and slower than I want to be on climbs

[Owlie]

I'm pretty sure I'm more a sprinter than a climber. My type IIa muscle fibers are perpetually out to lunch.