Is Walking a Sin?

[FractalSquirrel]

I've been taking my mountain bike finally out on rocky, muddy, dirty trails as it was intended to ride on.

A while back, I was defeated by a paved, bicycle pathed hill and decided to stop to rest rather then walk up it. Something inside was nagging me about riding rather then walking, maybe it's cardio related, though of course walking would be better then stopping I guess.

After that though, I experienced the second wind, the feeling I could go on forever. It was the first time in my life I felt anything other then increasing pain and burning during physical activity.

I found a good excuse to walk it on a muddy incline a little later, physically I couldn't climb any more, the rear wheel just spun. If I tried to stand up on the pedals it just made things worse as my weight was even more off of the rear wheels. I guess that's just a limitation of being a clyde. I've seen skinnies ride up that trail. After that I found that the rear tire spun in relation to the rim, even though I was at maximum pressure. I had to flatten the tire and re-fill so the valve would be orthogonal to the rim.

Today I rode the longest ever, a nice long paved bike path that ends where the trails begin. A very big hill defeated me, causing me to walk it. And a moderate hill on the way back.

Should I try to avoid walking the bike at all costs? When I have been defeated, my heart rate was off the charts, my sides cramped, and I was very dizzy.

[Dr_Robert]

Every once in a while, you come to an obstacle that requires you to dismount to traverse it. Hell, if these guys can walk their bikes up a hill, then I think we're excused. :D

http://www.co.cullman.al.us/images/CYCLOCROSS/cyclocross_pic.jpg

Seriously though, I spin up hills when I can, and walk them when I can't. There's no shame in it. As I get in better shape, I find myself walking less and less - the last two times a hill beat me, it was only because my chain came off.

-DR

[BeckyW]

If I can't spin up a hill, I walk up it. Hurt my knees trying to keep on mashing up.

[JeeperTim]

I ride a mountain bike with pretty low gears - I just keep dropping gears and spinning no matter how steep. On some hills it would probably be faster to walk, but I just keep pedaling and crawling along. It's just one of my personal benchmarks - and besides, I hate walking. ;)

[UtRacerDad]

there is nothing wrong with walking up a hill, I've been riding for 12 years (mostly MTB) and there are still hills that whip my butt, also there is nothing wrong without walking down a hill either.

[kpshearer]

There's nothing wrong with walking IMHO. It sure beats sitting on the couch not doing anything at all

[.Cole]

I just get into one of my easier gears and just try and stand up and sprint. My easier gears aren't very easy though. Standard double with a straight block cassette. (11-21) So when I drop down to my climbing gear 39-16 and I can make it up nearly any hill I have ever ridden.

I walked more climbs when I was on my fixie all the time (47-16) But I haven't walked a hill since I got my Tarmac a few weeks back.

[divergence]

I don't enjoy walking the bike -- at Tim said, it's more fun to ride, even at a snail's pace in a tiny gear -- but if I do have to walk, it doesn't detract from the accomplishment of making it up the hill. If my bike and I are both at the top of a mountain, and I provided the power to get us there, then that's victory...whether or not I had to push the bike over the worst grades.

[Conveyor Belt]

I'll proudly walk up anyhill, and vow silently to one day conquer the hill... I have a few of these on some of my planned rides, and I have to walk them. But I'm usually not the only one walking.

[Caincando1]

I just get into one of my easier gears and just try and stand up and sprint. My easier gears aren't very easy though. Standard double with a straight block cassette. (11-21) So when I drop down to my climbing gear 39-16 and I can make it up nearly any hill I have ever ridden.

I walked more climbs when I was on my fixie all the time (47-16) But I haven't walked a hill since I got my Tarmac a few weeks back.

You're an animal!:D I can't climb with my 30-26 granny gear so I'm going to try and swap out the rear cassette for something with a 32 or 34 on it.:o:o

[neilfein]

No shame at all, do what you have to do. You'll find you can do a little more of that hill each time, so just keep trying.

[lil brown bat]

Should I try to avoid walking the bike at all costs? When I have been defeated, my heart rate was off the charts, my sides cramped, and I was very dizzy.

Apologies if this sounds rude, but...why do you even need to ask this question? Isn't this a matter of common sense? Think about what "at all costs" implies, for heaven's sake.

[BCIpam]

I have this thing... I never walk on a road bike. If I have to stop for a moment so be it, but then I keep riding.

I love to MTB and I had to get over my thing about walking. There are just times walking makes more sense - that's why the shoes are so comfortable and the cleat recess - so you can walk! The fact that you keep moving is the key, doesn't matter if you are riding or walking, you are moving. Even the most hardcore will get off and walk if a section taxes his or her skill or endurance. 'sides think of the exercise of pushing a 30 pound bike up a steep hill. Builds up the arms and leg muscles!!!

Of course, there is no shame in trying to ride something first. The key to riding up a steep hill? Know your limits. Don't try and muscle or power your way up. Get into a low comfrotable gear and work on a steady, cadence and take the steep hill as a opportunity to rest and go easy. Once I stopped trying to power up I was amazed how much better my climbing got!

[Terrierman]

Walking MTB Off Road = not a sin.

Walking Road Bike = sin

[piper_chuck]

Should I try to avoid walking the bike at all costs? When I have been defeated, my heart rate was off the charts, my sides cramped, and I was very dizzy.
This says it all. The primary reason I wear a heart rate monitor is because it tells me when I'm working harder than I should. All your symptoms were telling you to ease off. If walking is what's needed, do it. There's no shame in walking your bike up a hill, think of all the couch potatoes who are doing nothing at all. ;)

[cminter]

The only shame in walking is for the guys who swap out the triple for a double and then can't make the hill. In my opinion riding the triple beats pushing the double.

[PATH]

I love the triple. No shame in walking or carrying the bike. It is what it is! Cycling is joyous and the moment I have to worry or feel shame is the day I put the bikes away. Being outside and having fun is what it is all about.

Go out and enjoy!

[bautieri]

Nope, no shame at all. Do what you have to do to get yourself up over the hill and on your way. Shame is turning back.

For your listening enjoyment I suggest a song by Kenny Rogers called "The Gambler"

[CliftonGK1]

I'm having my LBS drop a 13-26 cassette on my resto project to replace the 11-21 stock cassette. Even so, I'm sure that with the 39/53 front, there will be some hills I encounter which will have me pushing the bike.
No shame in walking it. Just come back and keep attacking the hill over and over until one day you can ride all the way up.

[WillisB]

I walk every evening from my desk to the fridge to get a beer!

[divergence]

Walking Road Bike = sin

divergence = unrepentant sinner

[Stujoe]

Considering I have an MTB (with MTB gearing) and mostly ride on roads and live in Illinois, I don't have a huge issue with hills. There have been times when I might have been able to walk almost as fast as I rode up a hill, though. lol

[socalrider]

not finishing a ride is a sin, walking is not... all of us clydes have had issues with hills one time or another..

[BCIpam]

Considering I have an MTB (with MTB gearing) and mostly ride on roads and live in Illinois, I don't have a huge issue with hills. There have been times when I might have been able to walk almost as fast as I rode up a hill, though. lol

I have a friend who we all hate because he can walk faster than any of us can ride. Here I am grinding slowly up some gnarly, rutty, loose dirt trail and he comes walking by, pushing his bike, fresh and all talkative. What's up with that??? :p

[Stujoe]

I get mad when I am passed by a biker on a hill but the day I get passed by a walker, I think my head will explode! :D

I can't run because of back issues but one of my workouts at the gym is to get on the treadmill, set it at 15 degree incline and 3 to 3.5 mph and walk as long as I can. It is a heck of a work out for me.

[BCIpam]

Sad treadmill story (yes I have one): Used to be a real gym rat and used the treadmill every morning. Was right in the middle when a friend came up to talk. I'm chatting away and not paying attention and accidently stepped off on the rail and whoop - one leg flew back the other stayed, I jumped off, hit the back wall, and fell to the ground. THE ENTIRE GYM STOPPED and turned to look. At this point too embarassed, I got up and limped to the locker room. Turns out I tore my Glut muscle. Now on someone like me that's a huge muscle! Took almost a year to heal and I was in alot a pain.

So... no more treadmills for me. They are evil! :mad:

[Stujoe]

I have seen that happen to a person before. They didn't tear anything but it was quite a wipe out.

Believe it or not, I have actually seen someone fall off an elliptical trainer (which is my other, usual, workout at the gym). I didn't see how they managed it as they were behind me and slightly to the right but I heard the commotion and saw him limp out of the gym afterwards.

[Air]

There are a few hills that just kicked my arse - I'll walk, feel shamed, and vow to get stronger so it won't happen the next time. I remember the first time I went over a bridge here I walked part of it - the last time I ever walked up it :)

[Dr_Robert]

So... no more treadmills for me. They are evil! :mad:

Just one more reason for me to stay off treadmills (as if I needed another - I hate the damn things). I do 30 minutes on the elliptical trainer every time I go to the gym, but when I run, I like to see a change of scenery. :)

-DR

[mezza]

If God had meant us to walk he would have given us legs........ Oh.


;)

[ronjon10]

I got better at hills by doing hills I couldn't do without walking for bits. If you think about it, it's kind of like hill repeats. You go up a steep hill until you can't go anymore. Stop, walk a bit, get the heart rate under control and get back on and go again, etc etc etc repeat.

That's a hill repeat.


Eventually, you find you can make that steep hill and you handle shallower hills with ease.


You don't want to do these rides all the time though, mixing in longer shallower hills that you can make is important for building the hill distance endurance.

[FractalSquirrel]

That all makes sense. I shouldn't feel bad walking up a hill with millions of people out there wasting time to park half a block closer to the strip mall, or spending hours parked in front of the TV or all their free time on MMORPGs.

Speaking of treadmills, different squirrel, but...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61yAK6oSXRM

[Wordbiker]

I found a good excuse to walk it on a muddy incline a little later, physically I couldn't climb any more, the rear wheel just spun...After that I found that the rear tire spun in relation to the rim, even though I was at maximum pressure. I had to flatten the tire and re-fill so the valve would be orthogonal to the rim.

Try an old downhiller's trick: Glue about three spots on one side of the tire to the rim with tubular cement. You'll still be able to take the bead off one side to fix a flat and your tires won't spin, even at low pressures. ;)

[maddmaxx]

Worry about walking on a hill?

Your not posting on the Road Forum are you? :p

[Scummer]

Oh... I've walked up hills. Lot's of them as a matter of fact. In the Pyrenees you almost have no choice but to walk em, it's so damn steep. And I did use a road bike to see how many yards I could go before falling of the bike in exhaustion.

Maybe one day I go back and see whats up.

[JosephPaul86]

"walk it out"

I prepare for hills by throwing my front chain ring into the lowest gear(if I am already on my lower rear gears in 2nd chain ring). This allows me to keep on going but at a walking pace. or slower depending on the incline.

But don't be hard on yourself, we all walk the bike sometimes. SOme do only at the crosswalk though :P

[JeeperTim]

I used to work in Sugarland - what do you know about hills? ;) :D

[Wogsterca]

I've been taking my mountain bike finally out on rocky, muddy, dirty trails as it was intended to ride on.

A while back, I was defeated by a paved, bicycle pathed hill and decided to stop to rest rather then walk up it. Something inside was nagging me about riding rather then walking, maybe it's cardio related, though of course walking would be better then stopping I guess.

After that though, I experienced the second wind, the feeling I could go on forever. It was the first time in my life I felt anything other then increasing pain and burning during physical activity.

I found a good excuse to walk it on a muddy incline a little later, physically I couldn't climb any more, the rear wheel just spun. If I tried to stand up on the pedals it just made things worse as my weight was even more off of the rear wheels. I guess that's just a limitation of being a clyde. I've seen skinnies ride up that trail. After that I found that the rear tire spun in relation to the rim, even though I was at maximum pressure. I had to flatten the tire and re-fill so the valve would be orthogonal to the rim.

Today I rode the longest ever, a nice long paved bike path that ends where the trails begin. A very big hill defeated me, causing me to walk it. And a moderate hill on the way back.

Should I try to avoid walking the bike at all costs? When I have been defeated, my heart rate was off the charts, my sides cramped, and I was very dizzy.

I have a rule, I can walk the bike at 5km/h so if I slow to below 5km/h then I'm walking. There are also places you have to walk, in one park on a specific hill it is illegal to roller blade, skateboard or bicycle down, so you must walk, mind you it's not that steep, I've powered up that hill without using the granny range on my triple (MTB gearing).

I am planning on emailing my city councillor to recommend changing this to allow bicycles, but at a safe speed. Something like "bicycles proceed with caution, 15km/h or less recommended".

[fuzzymemory]

Sad treadmill story . . . I'm chatting away and not paying attention and accidently stepped off on the rail and whoop - one leg flew back the other stayed, I jumped off, hit the back wall, and fell to the ground.

Were you using the Safety-OFF clip? The majority of gyms I've been to have Safety clips you attach to your shirt... the idea is that if your body goes too far away from the machine, you pull the cord too far and it stops the treadmill belt from running. Some have a magnet that can be pulled off. If you were using one of these, and had enough tension on it, it would have turned off at the point that you twisted your body too far away. Most machines have these, but I rarely see people using them. They are there for a reason - even if you weren't distracted by a friend, but missed a step or hit the siderail because you were tired, the belt would have shut off once the safety was removed.

Just like when you are on the bike, keep things safe.

[crtreedude]

When I first started my commute - for two months I had to walk the hills - they were brutal. Steep and rock and gravel. If you didn't balance just right, the tires spun out - if you started spinning - you really felt it.

Then one day, I made the hill - both of them in the same day. It was more technique than anything. (and perhaps conditioning)

But, walking a hill doesn't bother me - I am too old to have anything left to prove. :D

[Dewey Oxberger]

Funny, this reminds me of 20 years ago. I was going up a big hill, granny gear, having to switchback. I was passed by an elderly couple (70+) walking up the hill.

I realized I was doing 3x the work I would be doing if I just walked it up. Still, I couldn't bring myself to do it. I just kept riding.

If I ever do a hill like that again I'll hop off and walk it up.

[Hasselhof]

I've started riding fixed / ss only bikes and I weigh over 120kg. Walking up hills has become a way of life :( That said, one day I'll be able to ride all of those hills. Bring it on

[Mr. Beanz]

I will not walk up a hill while riding a roadie. I personally feel I didn't complete the ride unless I ride every inch. That's just me though. I will stop, catch my breath then continue!:D

I have walked on an mtb ride cause there was no way possible my bike could have gotten any traction on the terrain. Was not physically possible.

[bongo_x]

Funny, this reminds me of 20 years ago. I was going up a big hill, granny gear, having to switchback. I was passed by an elderly couple (70+) walking up the hill.

I realized I was doing 3x the work I would be doing if I just walked it up. Still, I couldn't bring myself to do it. I just kept riding.

If I ever do a hill like that again I'll hop off and walk it up.

yeah, but I figure I'm out there to work, not to make it easier. it's easier to stay home. I ride til my head explodes. that said I will walk if I have to, no problem. like if I stop on a steep hill and can't get started again (off road).

bb

[bbwolfy]

I walked a hill yesterday that I would normally make it up except for the fact it got repaved two days earlier and really dragged me down . It was as fast to walk it and I got to stretch my legs a bit.