Well no wonder I couldn't make it up that hill...

[sarahspins]

Well, going up the steep 15% side, anyways! I tried it once, and had to walk up the last third of it, and I felt like SUCH a loser. I go up from the other less steep side all the time (some days it's easier than others)... and ride it down, which is an awesome end to my longer rides (this hill is just under a mile from where I live).

How unrealistic is 15%? Is that something that will ever be possible? If not, what is the steepest grade that would be? Is it more of a how long (distance) you are climbing than how steep thing?



I imagine going clipless will help to some degree with these sorts of hills.. but I still wonder if I'm just asking too much of myself

[Eden]

15% is certainly ridable, difficult for sure, but rideable. I've been up one reported to be 26%.... That was hard to do without tipping over backwards.... (and no I did not make it all the way up the first time I ever tried, but since than yeah baby!)

[Kalidurga]

Why does having to walk up a 15% grade make you a loser? 15% is freaking steep! Heck, even walking up a 5% grade doesn't make anyone a loser.

There are things you can do regarding gearing and training and such that could help you get up that hill and I'm sure you'll get lots of great advice from ladies here. But the first thing I'd suggest is to stop thinking of it as something that you should be able to do and begin seeing at it as a challenge you'd like to work towards. Then go from there.

[sarahspins]

Why does having to walk up a 15% grade make you a loser?

Maybe I didn't mean for it to sound that way.. I just felt bad that I had to get off my bike and walk up a hill.. less than a mile from my house!

I don't see it as something I "should" be able to do right now.. obviously I can't! I'm mostly asking if it's realistic to make it a goal? Or should I just stick with going down it.. lol

[Zen]

.. less than a mile from my house!

Do you go straight there or do you warm up first?
For me, it would make a difference.
Just keep doing it, see how much farther you can make it each time.

And throw away that graph

[Buster]

You CAN get there! I live at the top of a hill that's roughly that (I think it might actually be 16%?). The first 2 times I did it, I just tried to get as far as I could, and then I walked. I think the first time I made it about 1/3 of the way, and the second time, about halfway. I can now get there, albeit extremely slowly (sometimes I'm amazed at how I'm still upright, I'm going so slow).

What kind of gearing do you have? I have a triple and I get in to the absolute granny gear of the granny ring to make it up the hill. Another thing that seems to help me is that the hill has certain landmarks that I used to push myself with. The first time, I told myself I could get to the fire hydrant. Then, I wanted to get to the sign that was the next "landmark" beyond it. I found that having a goal like that helped break it down into more manageable parts and made it feel less overwhelming.

[sarahspins]

Crankset is 28/38/48, rear cassette is 11-32 8 speed. I am already using the lowest gears to get up the other side (well rarely on the lowest low gear, but usually the 2nd or 3rd lowest, I think I made it up once on a slightly higher gear when I thought I was in a lower one). The last time I tried going up the steep side I was on the lowest gear and I just plain wore myself out and had to walk.

I use landmarks to get up shorter hills, or "invisible" hills... usually mailboxes, sometimes signs, occasionally trees when there's nothing else.

[Crankin]

You can do it. It's not an impossible goal. Get it in the lowest gear, keep your cadence even, or slow it a little, and try not to stare ahead too much. I know I get myself into a "zone" when doing this kind of climbing. I've only been defeated twice (once quite recently, so it happens to all of us) and both were a sustained mile of 18-20% grades. Since there is a spot on my driveway that is 15%, it's all relative. Just keep trying and eventually you will do it.

[MomOnBike]

Don't even let the "loser" thought enter your head. It could get stuck there. Instead, when you decide to walk, think of it as cross-training. Seriously. Take the opportunity to stretch out any tight muscles (for me it's the quads). Walk with purpose and intent, with your head high to get oxygen into your lungs.

That way, when you get to the top of that monster, you are refreshed & ready to continue your adventure.

Two other things to try. 1) You could wait 'til you have a good tailwind. 2) Tackle the grade when you are mad enough to chew nails and use the anger to fuel you up.

After you get up the first time, you will know you can and it will get easier.

[Biciclista]

oh that's a nasty little climb. keep trying, you can get up this one. I've walked lots of hills!