Quote Originally Posted by fallstoclimb View Post
It's maybe .2 miles long (maybe? I really have no idea), but the only section I struggle with is right in the middle where it suddenly pitches super steep. Strava has it at a 15% grade, I don't know if thats accurate or not. The first attempt up I tried to stay seated, the second time up I knew where the steep section was coming and stood for it, but both times I just could. not. turn. the pedals. It isn't even really that my legs are hurting or I'm out of breath, its like I just don't have that type of power in my legs to begin with. Both times I panicked that the bike was about to tip over so I bailed and unclipped.
when you say you felt the bike was about to tip over, was that sideways, because you were moving slowly, or backwards, because the hill is so steep?

15 % is steep. I ride stuff like this by gearing all the way down, standing and moving my weight way forward until I'm standing on one leg at a time, with hips directly above and weighting straight down on the pedal. I just use my hands to guide the front wheel and to pull a little when starting a new pedal stroke. I may end up practically bumping the bars, but the falling over backwards feeling goes away. If I ride over loose gravel I can sometimes feel my rear wheel slipping a little, I have so much weight on the front. I can still fall over sideways if I can't keep up enough speed :-) but I don't unclip until I'm actually standing still. For me it's a balance thing.