Sometimes I do dumb things.

[aly]

Today I decided I was going to make it up the big bad hill one way or the other. Over the past couple weeks, I've seen big improvements in my riding, but this one hill has continued to beat me. I think it hates me. Generally, I stop about 3/4 of the way up and cry a little. Today, I just put my head down and went for it (I figured I would just do my crying on the bike). I ran out of gears almost immediately, but my speed was a little higher than normal. My cadence was pretty low. It felt really, really hard but kept going and I made it.

Only after I got to the end did I notice that I never switched to the smallest front ring. I was so intent on looking at my back rings that I missed the fact that I never shifted in the front. Yet another lesson learned the hard way. Oops. But I beat that stupid hill! And, I can't wait to try it again next week.

[7rider]

The lesson? Yeah...if you can tackle that hill successfully in your not-lowest gear, next time you try it, even in a lower gear, it'll be easy-peasy.
Yeah...I'd say you whupped that hill big time! Yay!!!!

[Skierchickie]

Way to go! That one will never ever beat you again (or make you cry).

Oh, and ummm, er, well maybe I've done that twice on the same hill this summer. The first time, my DH warned me to be ready for a short, really steep hill, and to be going as fast as I could when I got to it. By the time I realized I was to the start, I was afraid I'd drop my chain - I did manage to gut it out (DH was so amazed ). The second time, I could have sworn I was in the small ring. I even remember shifting .

It happens to everybody. You rock!

[DDH]

Way to go!!! I'm so proud for you!! I struggle with hills to, so I feel your pain when you feel beat, and your joy when you beat the hill!!!

[Zen]

but theres nothing dumb about what you did!

[Bad JuJu]

ALY: 1
HILL: 0

Keep up the good work!

[KnottedYet]

Yay!!!!!