Rough Night

[snyderd25]

Oh! And although sometimes I was mashing the pedals and the shifting issues were definitely user error, things were also changing on their own. I do need a low traffic hill to practice on.

[snyderd25]

Continental Gatorskins and I am pretty sure I overpaid... but that's the way this will go until I learn and can do more myself, I guess

[Trek420]

Continental Gatorskins and I am pretty sure I overpaid... but that's the way this will go until I learn and can do more myself, I guess

Excellent choice!

[snyderd25]

I am sad to say, I haven't been on them yet... I was a bum this week. Tomorrow... I will let you know.

[carlotta]

I do need a low traffic hill to practice on.

I'm not sure where you are in Philly, but if you're in center city the walkway on the Ben Franklin bridge is zero traffic and a decent hill. It's a little isolated, but I commute it 2x/week and usually see a couple runners, a commuter or two, and the DRPA jeep/cops are often parked halfway up on the Philly side.

Otherwise, Midvale Ave through East Falls is pretty good (as long as you avoid it between 5:30-6:30ish with the evening commuters-- I ride it then most days, but it's not low traffic). You can also turn up the driveway into the SEPTA station and get a high-grade, short hill. There are lots of other neighborhood streets in there with varying grades and little/no traffic.

Also in that area, the Wissahickon trail has a few bits of hill, and if you go up Forbidden Drive to Kitchens Lane, the ride from the parking lot at Kitchens Lane to Wissahickon Ave is steep, paved, low-traffic.

Those are what I can think of off the top of my head. Good luck, and I'll probably see you on the trail sometime if you ride Kelly Drive! (especially during commute hours)