Mountains

[AlphaGeek]

I've ridden my recumbent daily for the last year or so...I commute and do a few centuries. My long distance cycling buddies (all roadies on wedgies) are cooking up a ride from Augusta GA into the North Carolina mountains. ie- Blue Ridge parkway. I'm a little reluctant to sign up, with the thought of heavy reliance on the granny gear.

Does anyone have experience with a recumbent in the mountains. Sure the downs are faster, but will I kill my knees on the ups ? :eek:

[MaxBender]

Uphill sucks, especially when the wedgies are passing you.
Of course, passing them without even padaling on the downhill is fun and easy.

Gear on down and spin to save your knees.

[ken cummings]

When I was riding my trike in the Denver area it was OK on the flats, a grind on the hills, and suicidily fast down some hills. When I tried to keep up with strong roadies up hills my knees got hurt; on my road bike my lungs and heart hurt. The I-70 frontage road up Lookout Mtn. was my favorite hill ride.

[AlphaGeek]

Thanks for your replies Max & Ken. I will spin like a top...I may need a parachute for some of the downhills too! should be fun

[jeff-o]

Yup, spin spin spin. Some recumbents (like the P-38) are also better climbers than others. What do you ride now?

[sch]

A 4mi hill at 8mph takes 30min to go up, at 40mph it takes 6min to go down. THis ratio kills you when you are on something like the Blue Ridge parkway or approach roads to it. It would help if you and the wedgie riders are close enough that you can keep some of them in sight or else you will end up doing the hillier parts alone (if they aren't kind and wait). If the roadies go up 2-3mph faster than you, you will never see them after the first 2mi hill, or less. So depends on your tolerance for solitude and congruence with the roadies on the hills.
Steve

[jeff-o]

A 4mi hill at 8mph takes 30min to go up, at 40mph it takes 6min to go down. THis ratio kills you when you are on something like the Blue Ridge parkway or approach roads to it. It would help if you and the wedgie riders are close enough that you can keep some of them in sight or else you will end up doing the hillier parts alone (if they aren't kind and wait). If the roadies go up 2-3mph faster than you, you will never see them after the first 2mi hill, or less. So depends on your tolerance for solitude and congruence with the roadies on the hills.
Steve

That's why you always bring a lasso. Rope the lead roadie and tie off on the front derailleur post. Enjoy "assist" all the way to the top! ;)

[JanMM]

My memory of riding the length of the Blue Ridge Parkway 20+ years ago (my wife and I rode "sport-touring" bikes without low gearing) is that the approach roads/climbs were quite steep/challenging and that the parkway itself less so. Once you get up to it, the parkway should be excellent for remcumbent-riding. Spectacular views.

[LittleBigMan]

Lemme know how it goes, Alphageek! We have similar bikes.

[AlphaGeek]

I will be sure to recap the experience after the trip. It will be in Mid-September, so I have a little time to work on my hill-climbing (and lasso-ing ...[thanks for the tip!]) skills. :D

I am looking forward to the scenery, something roadies miss altogether due to the way they are seated. Recumbents rock!

[LittleBigMan]

I will be sure to recap the experience after the trip. It will be in Mid-September, so I have a little time to work on my hill-climbing (and lasso-ing ...[thanks for the tip!]) skills. :D

I am looking forward to the scenery, something roadies miss altogether due to the way they are seated. Recumbents rock!
Really, I don't get the point of a long-distance ride/tour into the mountains if you're focused on riding fast and not seeing the scenery. :D

Enjoy the ride, AG!

[aking469]

I noticed that you are commuting to work in Augusta. I too commute in the augusta area. I commute to Grovetown and back most days. Wrightsboro road or Columbia road....I hate hills. I have an EZ-sport Ax. My commute is approximately 7 miles each way. Where do you commute to?