Flatballer

I was thinking on my ride today (5 hours solo, I had time for thinking) about how I wish I was a climber. I haven't been riding long enough to really have a specialty yet, but based on being 6 feet 170 lbs and not having fast twitch muscles, I'll probably end up being a time trialist. I wish I was a climber because they just have that incredible ability to make everyone else hurt. There's not much hiding from the wind on the steep climbs, you've just gotta have the W/kg.

So which do you wish you were? There's also the option of being happy with what you are.

caloso

I wish I was a climber. Watching the pack ride away from me at Copperopolis, I was just dying. And thinking: I'm as strong as any of those guys!

(Yes, but heavier, and that's why they're riding away from you, Tubbo!)

Flatballer

I should've made this public. I want to see who the climber is who wishes they were a time trialist.

kensuf

I'm really a bit more of an all arounder. I sort of suck at everything, but I have an amazing recovery (I'm the guy who can keep attacking until he's "blew" in the face).

palesaint

At 6'0" and 145lbs, I'm a climber. I dust the 200 pounders on the climbs, only to watch them sail past me on the flats.

I wish I were a sprinter. Of course, while still being a climber.

umd

I'm not really much of anything and I wish I were a better climber. Actually I guess I'm an all-arounder I'm just not strong enough to be competitive (yet) in the 3s here...

Frunkin

I'm not really sure what I am. I think I'm more of a time trialist that hasn't done any time trials. All my best results are off breakaways. I wish I could sprint better, but I like the idea of being an awesome climber more.

timster

I'm a climber, and I like being a climber.

Hills are usually my recovery time in races. I salivate at the thought of uphill finishes.

wanders

Right now, it looks climbing is my strength.

SushiJoe

I need the option for "competent racer."
That's what I wish.

johnybutts

since I'm not good at anything (other than beinig 180lbs) Ill venture that i'm a TTer, and will remain such at least for another year

ericm979

I'm only a climber because its what I am least bad at- I am even worse at TTing and sprinting. I like climbing and I would be happy simply to be a better climber.

mattm

Having only raced on one hilly loop a few times, I can't really say I'm anything but pack fodder. Hanging on is the main objective at this point.

But based on the races so far, I seem to be able to make up the most ground on the uphill and downhill.

Cleave

Hi,

I didn't vote.

I used to be a climber and I wish I could be a climber again. Now I'm middling at most everything except climbing.

grolby

I'm a climber, and I have no problem being a climber, but I'd rather be a GOOD climber. As it is, I'm a fairly crummy climber. It's a specialty that demands very high fitness if you want to win. Actually, I'd really prefer to be an all-rounder, as long as I could be good at both climbing and time-trialing. But if the choice were to be a mediocre all-rounder or a good climber, I know which one I would pick.

And believe me, you guys who wish you could climb better really don't know how rough it can be to be built as a climbing specialist (I'm 5'5", about 125 lbs). Pure climbing doesn't win or place in a lot of races, and when you're so lightly built, anything that puts you into the wind, even briefly, really sucks away those energy reserves. It's not unusual, in a fast, windy or otherwise selective race, to be pretty shot by the time the race gets to any climbs. And then you lack the strength to really do anything, or even worse, you're so tired you get shelled. On the hill! Being an all-rounder, with enough power and mass to climb well but not get worn down in the wind, sounds like a much better deal to me.

cmh

Too many choices. I couldn't get through them all so I'll just tell you:

I want to be a climber in hilly races, a TTer when I get into breaks, and a sprinter when the race comes down to a bunch finish.

umd

I've been 125 and I'm a better climber now... I used to think I was a pretty good climber, but the higher up the categories I go the worse I get, if you know what I mean...

Often times it's really just a matter of the competition.

enjoi07

climbing is what drew me into cyling.
when i reach sub 60 min. on palomar ill say im a good climber.

YMCA

Why in the hell would anyone want to be anything other than a sprinter???
Sprinters win.
Because of my lack of top-end speed, I almost always had to win through tactics, small groups and TT's.

Would you want to be Cipo, or Cipo's helper?

Hocam

+1

Jynx

I would say your a climber. It is all reative though. In california you may think you are all arounder but if you came out to me you would kill on any "climbing" races. My normal 30 mile ride has less than 100ft of climbing. When I go to the north shore of long island to climb I only can get in a couple of hundred feet of climbing. Thats how the area is by me. I suck at climbing although I wish I was good at it.

Val23708

sprinter here. i do wish my 4.2 w/kg (at threshold) actually meant something on a climb..

Voodoo76

Nothin like the feeling of a Crit winding down, and everybody's lookin around to see where you are. Knowing they have to deal with you somehow, and will probably get beat anyway. Guess what sucker, im on your wheel.

Seriously though, even as a small fish in a small pond being a good sprinter is a lot of fun.

mugatu

I'm a slow rider, and I wish I was a fast one

mikearena

I answered "I'm a time trialist and I like it" last night, but today, after having just completed my first 40k TT, I want to change my answer. I don't like it.