Standing hills

[Veronica]

Patterson Pass near Livermore.

[ragbrai40]

Well ladies, I'm happy to report - I OWNED the hills on my bday ride! I ended the season last year riding hills w/o shifting into granny gear and was hoping all the winter spinning helped and it did! No granny gear hills for me - yah! Next bike will only have two rings!

Unfortunately the "hills" in Iowa are not close to comparing to the Mt. Diablo pass and others that veronica has referred to - but don't let anyone tell you the midwest is flat, cause it's not!

Thanks ladies!

[Veronica]

Don't be so quick to give up a triple.

It's nice to have those low gears when you want them. And, hey there may be mountains in your future!

V.

[ragbrai40]

Yah, you're probably right. I'd love to ride in some of the passes that you guys have talked about! Mountains hmmmmm.........

Might have to think about a biking vacation somewhere other than Iowa!

[Veronica]

I highly recommend a circum cycle of Hawaii's Big Island for a bicycle vacation.

V.

[SadieKate]

Even if you're a roadie only, you'd probably enjoy the Telluride to Moab tour by Western Spirit Cycling. 200+ miles in 6 days all on dirt roads. This is one fabulous trip and you'll feel like you're on top of the world. And, you'll do enough climbing to satisfy any mountain goat.

[ragbrai40]

Sounds like both you girls might have some interesting bike travel stories to share!

Question - veronica from other threads I see that you and your husband both ride, but what about other couples out there? I love the idea of going somewhere else in the country to bike, but my husband has just started riding this year and I'm not sure he shares my riding "passion" enough to take something like a tour of the Hawaiian islands as a vacation.

I went on a week long ride last year (here in our home state) by myself and absolutely loved it, he's going with me this year, but I'm just not sure he shares my love of the open road.

Maybe this is another thread......

[Irulan]

my hubby and I mountain bike together. Even tho he got me into it, I'm the ones that's a liitle more hooked.

irulan

[SadieKate]

Now, my husband and I both share the passion so. . .

But, does your husband like the great outdoors? Many tour companies have 2-4 day trips, both road and mountain, both inn and camping. Lots of options. Tour company carries all the gear.

For a mtb bike trip where you camp, all you have to do is ride and set up your own tent. Horse duvers are served every evening. There will be tours for every fitness and skill level. They'll rent bikes. Some guest can usually be talked into a card game or something every night.

Check out Western Spirit, Rim Tours, Escape Adventures, etc.

Because they have experienced guides, it's also a good way to get some coaching from a non-spouse person!

[Irulan]

heh heh, derailing the thread.

Yes, we are very outdoorsy...camp, hike, backpack, ski, climb, bike, whitewater. Usually he's boating when I'm biking!! But we do all our own vacations.. no tours, no guides. Just us and maybe a few friends. Why pay for some one to plan what you can easily do for yourself? Maybe we are jaded from my hubby's years as a river guide, setting up tents for paying customers...

There is so much great information out there.. guidebooks, maps, web sites.

There's only one mtb tour company that I would EVER consider going with
http://www.dreamride.com This is because I know one of the guides and know that the trips are very small and personal, and not cattle call rides. They have an great, very education web site. If anyone is considering a mountain bike tour, this company's site is wealth of information about what to look for in any tour.

do I sound biased? you can surf aorund my persoanl pages to see what kind of stuff we do
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/penny/penny.asp

Irulan

[ragbrai40]

Irulan just checked your specialty site - all I can say is wow. Cool pics - you guys aren't just sitting around waiting for something to happen - you're out there doin it! That's very, very cool.

Great to see the kids involved, looks like a whole way of life for you all!

[pedalfaster]

Originally posted by ragbrai40
No granny gear hills for me - yah! Next bike will only have two rings!

Great to hear that you had a good b-day ride ragbrai40!

I wanted to chime in about "granny gears" and triples vs. doubles though, since we have a lot of new riders on the board.

Last year some of the women I started coaching had been "shamed"(by men--go figure!) out of using the small rings on their triples when climbing steep hills. I pointed out that with a double my inner chainring is a 39...the middle ring on *most* standard triples is a 42. So if you are staying in the 42 and your largest cog in back is a standard 23 you are working much much harder than I am in my 39/25. Just some food for thought. Most cyclists are kinda fond of their knees

As far as riding mountains...I've ridden in CA, CO, NM and west TX(yes they have mountains there!) and had no trouble at all with the gearing (39/25) mentioned. It was only when I moved here (the midwest) and also started riding in the East (WV, PA etc) that I really felt I might like a triple! The west may have big mountains...but those roads were built by "modern" civil engineers. I find the grades in the Eastern half of the country to be terribly steep.

San Fransisco is in a league of it's own of course!

[ragbrai40]

Thanks pedalfaster, your feedback is appreciated! I'm glad you pointed out the ring size difference cause I was wondering what would happen when I tried that monster steep hill without "granny" to fall back on. Hmmmm might have to reconsider my thought process. Thanks.

[ChainsOflove]

I'm at ground zero with hills

I can barely do them with my new racing bike which only has a double. Wondering if I should change it out to a triple.

[pedalfaster]

ChainsOfLove:

Changing from a double to a triple can be $$$. If you have a standard (Shimano) 11(or 12) 23 ask your LBS if you can swap to a 25 or 27 on the rear cassette. Mucho cheaper. No need to change the front (left) SIS shifter, rewrap the bars etc etc.

Good luck