Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Is it pathetic when...

A 3.5% grade over 1/4 mile kicks your ass? :(

If you just finished riding 200 miles into a headwind? No it's not.

edit: ;)

Only if you give up.

i slip in to the small ring

+1 to only if you give up.

Also, guessing you have your Madone back and/or got another bike?

Only if you give up.

THIS^^^^^^^^


Everybody starts somewhere.

+1 to only if you give up.

Also, guessing you have your Madone back and/or got another bike?

Nope, Madone is MIA... Jax sent it into Trek and Trek has yet to give me a word on what's going on with it. I'm a bit irked at this point. I am going through severe riding withdrawals, it just f*ing sucks having to walk everywhere I used to be able to ride to.

I just closed a deal on a 2009 Specialized Tricross Sport Triple w/ Rock n' Road Cyclery in Anaheim Hills. I should have it on the streets by next Friday (they have to order it, build it, and fit it to me).

P.S. I agree with the giving up comments, however I can make it all the way up without stopping... but I am huffing and puffing my lungs out.

I can't think of anything pathetic about riding a bike at all. Have fun and seek out new challenges, and you will improve at your own pace.

Nice! The Tricross are nice rides, a bit different from the Madone, but great for all kinds of stuff. What were you riding on the 3.5% grade?

Also last year when we moved into our new house, with it with got a nice grade right out of my driveway. NOt sure what percentage, but it's 3 blocks long of goodness. At first I could climb it in granny gear with lots of effort. These days I kind of fly up it while hammering away. Daily trials help build those leg muscles, trust me :).

Don't worry - two weeks from now you won't notice the incline.

Nice! The Tricross are nice rides, a bit different from the Madone, but great for all kinds of stuff. What were you riding on the 3.5% grade?

Also last year when we moved into our new house, with it with got a nice grade right out of my driveway. NOt sure what percentage, but it's 3 blocks long of goodness. At first I could climb it in granny gear with lots of effort. These days I kind of fly up it while hammering away. Daily trials help build those leg muscles, trust me :).

I was actually riding the Madone up the 3.5% grade :innocent:

I only found out today what the grade of that hill was, thats why the delay in the post. But what's funny is another street I rode up a few days before is 1/5th of a mile at 7% grade and I didnt struggle as much with that one.

I began to suspect that hills are only psychologically challenging, meaning if you think it will kick your arse it will definitely do so. If you don't think to much about it and just do it, it's much easier.

Try this little test:
Find a thin person. Find a tandem bike. Get on the tandem bike with the thin person and ride up the hill twice. The first time, you pedal and the thin person doesn't. Second time, the thin person pedals and you don't. See who's really more fit. :)

In response to the original question, it's not pathetic when you have difficulty doing something that you don't normally do. I'm a pathetic swimmer. So what? I don't normally swim. Take a championship swimmer, put him in a sumo ring and see how he does there. If you never think to get out of the house, that's sort of pathetic. And if you give up the first time you try something because it's hard, that's sort of pathetic.

It's only pathetic if you continue to allow it to, and avoid the grade. ;)

It might actually be a lot harder depending on when during your ride you hit it. If you're not warmed up, tired, or just having a bad day (in any number of possible ways) that 3.5% might be a lot harder.

Good input guys. As soon as I have another set of wheels i'll be hitting that hill on a daily basis. As the Marines say, punishment will continue until morale improves. :D

If you just finished riding 200 miles into a headwind? No it's not.

edit: ;)

Ye how many miles you have in your lags can make a difference. Several years ago the little hill behind 'The Big Yellow House' ate my lunch. It is fairly steep but less than 1/4 mile. I rode it on club tides all the time, but this was the second fay of 'The Land Rush' so 210 miles the day before and over 100 already that day.

It's only pathetic if you continue to allow it to, and avoid the grade. ;)

Very very true. The hill hasn't won if you have to get off and walk, the hill has not won if you can't make it to the top today.

The hill only wins when you are no longer willing to try again.

It might actually be a lot harder depending on when during your ride you hit it. If you're not warmed up, tired, or just having a bad day (in any number of possible ways) that 3.5% might be a lot harder.

It can make a difference when in hte day you hit it. When I was in shape I did a 25 mile loop that must have had all of 100 yards of flat. Did it one day and I felt like Pantani, dancing on hte wheels. Did it the next an hour earlier and 10 degrees hotter and I melted.

I'd only echo what others have said really - it's not at all pathetic, especially if you recognise it as something to be beaten :)

I've found that if I have to stop on a hill (and that's quite often round here given my current fitness level) I stop, catch my breath, then hop back on the bike. I've not given up and walked yet. I'm definitely finding the hills easier to deal with the more I ride them.

Good luck, and keep at it! :)

How do you determine hills percentage of incline or the grade of a road?

I always guessed it was degree of angle, yet reading this it is not.

As to hills, the long sloping grades usually are little problem for this old rider, unless of course it is into a head wind.

The short steep hills are what provide trouble, more so, if I have not dropped to proper gearing as required, if to slow, tough to maintain forward motion.


Had to hills this last weekend, walked last 15 feet, with my hybrid, felt bad, except a couple of riders with road bikes following me, did same thing on same two climbs. My estimate, these were elevations changes of at least 50 feet in less than 1/4 mile. Could not focus on telephone pole beyond rise as it was out of site. Two of these within 4 miles caused me issues. Actually the 2nd one blamed on pickup truck pulling straw bales on wagon, he missed gear and pushed me toward the road edge, loosing my rhythm;).

On a Madone? Yes it is!

On a Madone? Yes it is!

Just because I ride a Madone, it doesn't imbue me with Lance Armstrong's powers; contrary to what most people believe. ;)


For finding the grade of a hill, I used http://toporoute.com/cgi-bin/bicycle.cgi

Just plot a route on the hill you take and find the elevation/mean grade.

I forgot to mention, this isnt a straight hill... it's a winding road on a hill in a residential area with cars parked along the sides of the street.

On a Madone? Yes it is!

I was just messin' with you man! If you ride a bike, it's all good. If you ride a hill, it's tough but even more gooder!:D

I know lots of riders with Madone's and other sweet rides that won't attempt any hill of any sort. And they are 5 ft 100 lb guys!:D

I was just messin' with you man! If you ride a bike, it's all good. If you ride a hill, it's tough but even more gooder!:D

I know lots of riders with Madone's and other sweet rides that won't attempt any hill of any sort. And they are 5 ft 100 lb guys!:D

Heh, I don't have a choice here - pretty much anywhere further than a mile away involves hilly death. Nice to know even the skinny buggers hate them too though :)

Here's one of mine!:thumb:

http://www.caltriplecrown.com/Centuries/Bear.htm


Anudder one!

http://www.cyclingpros.com/onyxprofile.htm

Heh, I don't have a choice here - pretty much anywhere further than a mile away involves hilly death. Nice to know even the skinny buggers hate them too though :)

I think it's funny that most clydes won't even try to climb. I believe mostly cause they believe what the hear. I did till I tried it. Takes time but keep at it and it gets better like every other aspect of cycling. Most try it once and say it hard so they quit.:(

Lets put it this way. I know about 15 clydes. The 10 that try, climb well. I know about 100 skinny cyclist and only 10 climb well.:thumb:

66% of the clydes that try, do it! Only 10% of the skinnies do it. Percentage is better with clydes!:D

I believe that the best climbers are skinny riders. So they dominate that aspect of cycling. Only a handful of clydes will try so that's why we have a small gorup representin'!

I prepped for a ride named " Ride Around the Bear". 100 miles and 10,000ft. I was well trained so I did well for a clyde. At the bottom, all the racer types fly by. But mile 40, I was passing them back and dropping them like flies. Everytime I rode up on a rider, I'd see them give that last desperation try to stay ahead of the clyde!:D

It's a beautiful thing and feeling to pass the skinny boys in the mtns. Can't compete with a 10 mile climb, but throw in a 60 mile climber? Endurance and srength kick in baby!:thumb:

I think it's funny that most clydes won't even try to climb. I believe mostly cause they believe what the hear. I did till I tried it. Takes time but keep at it and it gets better like every other aspect of cycling. Most try it once and say it hard so they quit.:(

Yeah, it's hard, but getting better. I'm not sure I'll be doing 10,000 foot climbs any time soon given that 1350 feet in 13 miles nearly killed me last weekend, but I shall keep at it. Of course, shifting some weight won't hurt either :)

Yeah, it's hard, but getting better. I'm not sure I'll be doing 10,000 foot climbs any time soon given that 1350 feet in 13 miles nearly killed me last weekend, but I shall keep at it. Of course, shifting some weight won't hurt either :)


1350 in 13 miles great! Keep at it! My wife is always talking about toningher legs more thru riding. 3,000 miles a year (flatland) has done good but I always tellher the hills is what makes BIG differences.

When I train for a ride, I don't recognize my own legs!:eek:....MY knee area gets really small and my thighs blow up like pinatas! Plus the calves grow rocks in the back. I lose major weight when climbing consistently. I remember getting out of the shower one night and laying on the bed. I looked down at my body, saw my torso and legs and said to myself,"this is not my body!". Those were the good ol days. I need to get back into it!:D

Because of the gas, we've cut back drving 30 miles to the flat trail. Living at the foothills, we are forced to ride up to avoid traffic. Her legs are definitely showing changes in the last month. More than the 3 years on the flatlands!:thumb:

Hey Kar, you in Yorba or Pomona? Anywhere near Grand Ave/Chino Hills? Man, that is some great training ground. Ride those hills. I started there. Had a hard time making it up the first hill on Peyton. Kept at it and one day , it was a breeze!

Ever want to ride it, let me know, I'll ride with you! We used to do a loop from Pomona (near the Wonderbread factory). Peyton to Grand, Diamond Bar Blvd, along the 57 (can't member the anme of the canyon, old age) across Lambert thru Carbon Cyn back to Pomona.

30 hilly miles but a great ride and great training loop. Tough at first but gets better!:thumb:

Of course just ridng Grand is good for starterrs!

The percent grade is just the vertical rise divided by the horizontal distance. People that make roads have all this stuff laid out on paper and in the computer anyway, so they can tell you what the percent grade is. With a topographic map or the online approach, you should get a reasonable value for average grade over whatever length you're working with. If you want to check a short stretch, get a 2' or longer level, hold it level on the pavement, and measure the rise at one end. A 3% grade is only going to be 0.72" in 2 feet.

For reference, the interstates across Colorado mostly have maximum grades of about 7%. That was enough to slow our 4-cylinder minivan to about 45 mph. The steepest marked grade I've ever driven on was a 12% grade on an unpaved backroad in Colorado.

How do you determine hills percentage of incline or the grade of a road?

I always guessed it was degree of angle, yet reading this it is not.




It is simple rise over run. If you climb 1 ft vertical while travelling 10 feet horizontal, that is a 10% grade.

A decent site to calculate grade with google maps is www.toporoute.com

Hey Kar, you in Yorba or Pomona? Anywhere near Grand Ave/Chino Hills? Man, that is some great training ground. Ride those hills. I started there. Had a hard time making it up the first hill on Peyton. Kept at it and one day , it was a breeze!

Ever want to ride it, let me know, I'll ride with you! We used to do a loop from Pomona (near the Wonderbread factory). Peyton to Grand, Diamond Bar Blvd, along the 57 (can't member the anme of the canyon, old age) across Lambert thru Carbon Cyn back to Pomona.

30 hilly miles but a great ride and great training loop. Tough at first but gets better!:thumb:

Of course just ridng Grand is good for starterrs!

Hey Beanz, those are some good suggestions you made. I will try them as soon as my TriCross comes in to RnR. I am normally in Yorba Linda on the weekends (staying with my parents), and in Pomona during the week (attending classes @ Cal Poly).

I will start using Grand for hill/endurance training and use SART on the weekends for distance training. I might try to join you and Gina on one of your Sunday rides, that is if I can keep up with you two. I hate to be a sandbag to people who are capable of going at a faster pace.

I will start using Grand for hill/endurance training and use SART on the weekends for distance training. I might try to join you and Gina on one of your Sunday rides, that is if I can keep up with you two. I hate to be a sandbag to people who are capable of going at a faster pace.

Sounds like a good training plan!:thumb:

We only do 16.5 as an average. Sounds low but with the wind, it can be tough sometimes. But we don't ride to drop fellow riders. But I do go to ride. I'm usually at the front and can't hear squat cause of the wind so I don't talk much while actual riding. Gina doesn't either cause she's concentrating on staying on my wheel.

We ride together and if needed, regroup about every 5 miles or so if someone falls behind. But we don't try to drop others if it's a guest, not even sure if we could. We stop frequently if it's a friendly ride so that's where we do our talking.:D

Drives me crazy trying to ride while someone wants to discuss what nose hair trimmer I use!:p

Thats cool. I prolly wont hear you if you talk anyways, I am hard of hearing... practically deaf.

I will have to take you up on your ride offer when I get the Tricross, or the Madone (whichever comes first).

I prolly wont hear you if you talk anyways, I am hard of hearing... practically deaf.



I'm getting there! I had my ears tested every year while working at a steel company and loud machinery. They said I had some hearing loss. And all this time I just thought Gina was a quiet, sort of shy type of girl!:D

I'm getting there! I had my ears tested every year while working at a steel company and loud machinery. They said I had some hearing loss. And all this time I just thought Gina was a quiet, sort of shy type of girl!:D

Without my hearing aids you could fly a 747 behind me and I couldnt tell it happened. With my hearing aids I am only back up to 40% hearing.

You should look into getting hearing aids if you want to stay out of the doghouse. ;)

Without my hearing aids you could fly a 747 behind me and I couldnt tell it happened. With my hearing aids I am only back up to 40% hearing.

You should look into getting hearing aids if you want to stay out of the doghouse. ;)

Hehehehe! Mine aren't that bad yet. Just some high freq loss. Kind of nice when the grandkids start whiney crying!:p

We have an older gentleman friend that sometimes rides with us named Boyd. He has a glass eye. Now that I think would make it tough to ride. You can't tell , nice eye but 5 grand? Heck, I'd have a Madone and wear a patch!:D

He rides extremely well. My father is blind in one eye and always complaining his perception is off. But Boyd rides a straight line no problem. I think my Dad just doesn't want to try a bike!:D

We have an older gentleman friend that sometimes rides with us named Boyd. He has a glass eye. Now that I think would make it tough to ride. You can't tell , nice eye but 5 grand? Heck, I'd have a Madone and wear a patch!:D

He rides extremely well. My father is blind in one eye and always complaining his perception is off. But Boyd rides a straight line no problem. I think my Dad just doesn't want to try a bike!:D

Practice makes perfect. I used to not know how to lip read, but now I do it naturally without even trying. :D

This is Boyd. What is more amazing than his balance and perception with one eye is the fact that he does 60-70 mile rides in courdoroy shorts!:D...I can't spell courdoroy:p...I'd be singing like a BeeGee if I tried!


http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/070408F.jpg

Practice makes perfect. I used to not know how to lip read, but now I do it naturally without even trying. :D

Yup, they say once a person loses one sense, it enhances another. I'm hoping to lose my sense of humor for some money making sense!:roflmao2:

Yup, they say once a person loses one sense, it enhances another. I'm hoping to lose my sense of humor for some money making sense!:roflmao2:

Let me know if that works out, God knows I need a money making sense right about now. :thumb:

Just because I ride a Madone, it doesn't imbue me with Lance Armstrong's powers; contrary to what most people believe. ;)


Alas, another dream shattered. :cry:

Alas, another dream shattered. :cry:

Sorry :p

At least you figured it out before spending $3k on a bike that would have shattered your dreams anyway :thumb::D

I only found out today what the grade of that hill was

How'd you do that? I've been trying to find information about the grade of a hill out here for weeks.

Just because I ride a Madone, it doesn't imbue me with Lance Armstrong's powers; contrary to what most people believe. ;)


For finding the grade of a hill, I used http://toporoute.com/cgi-bin/bicycle.cgi

Just plot a route on the hill you take and find the elevation/mean grade.


How'd you do that? I've been trying to find information about the grade of a hill out here for weeks.

Read and ye shall know. :thumb:

Read and ye shall know. :thumb:

Damn! Not fine enough resolution. I just want to know the grade of this one really short stretch (http://toporoute.com/cgi-bin/bicycle.cgi?routeKey=POHXGHDVDMKSDYW&calls=setSatelliteView,clearMetric,clearFollowRoad).

Thanks, though.

Damn! Not fine enough resolution. I just want to know the grade of this one really short stretch (http://toporoute.com/cgi-bin/bicycle.cgi?routeKey=POHXGHDVDMKSDYW&calls=setSatelliteView,clearMetric,clearFollowRoad).

Thanks, though.

That must be a REALLY short stretch... like 5 ft or something. :lol:

That must be a REALLY short stretch... like 5ft or something. :lol:

That map says it's .05 miles. So you're not that far off...