Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - So when do the hills get smaller?

I took a trip to the post office today during lunch, about a 5 mile round trip ride. You know, from the car a 3% grade over 0.6 miles doesn't seem that bad, but on the bike I used the very lowest gear I had (30 front, 32 rear) after the 1st half of the hill and managed to maintain a steady 5 mph. Sheesh. I feel pathetic just posting those numbers. On the other hand, I did do a nice 31 mph down the hill, assuming my Sigma Sport cyclocomputer is accurate :).

So, how much riding does it take to make the damn hills easier??

If it gets easier, you'll just do it faster and in a higher gear to make it harder again, won't you?

At least, according to Greg LeMond, who said that cycling “never gets easier, you just go faster.”

I have a nice hill near my house. When I first started riding, I ended all my rides by climbing that hill. It only took a week or two to get used to it. Now I attack that hill in a high gear every time (much higher than when I started). So, my advice is to keep climbing!!!

I suppose I wouldn't mind it so much at 12 mph in a higher gear :D

If it gets easier, you'll just do it faster and in a higher gear to make it harder again, won't you?

At least, according to Greg LeMond, who said that cycling “never gets easier, you just go faster.”

I agree , after only 8 weeks , some of the hills I was doing in my granny gear , I'm going up them with my 3rd (highest ) chainring now . I didn't use the 3rd chainring at all to begin with, except for going faster downhill . I now use the long downhills for rest . kirby

There are hills which last year I thought I'd have a heart attack going up each time. Now they get the blood going but don't threaten to pop a vein. I noticed when I began putting larger numbers of miles in everything got easier.

i've noticed they have gotten longer as i get older.

short of another glacial retreat skimming the tops off, I think we just need to ride them more!

I've always had trouble on hills. But I've also been 200+ lbs for many years. I've upped my weekly mileage this summer, doing 70-100 miles per week, but don't see a lot of increase in my hill climbing ability. I just think it would ease the task, if I were loose more weight (down 37 pounds this year, need to loose that much again).
I've not been able to do this, but I've read where to increase you hill climbing ability, find a hill that takes 10 minutes or so to climb. Get out of the saddle and climb for one minute, then back in the saddle for two. Repeat til top of hill.
I'm in the Arkansas Ozarks, no trouble finding hills to climb!

I have been riding the same hills for over a year and they haven;t gotten smaller yet. The only difference is that I have beaten them enough that I have the confidence to get up them each time.

I have been riding the same hills for over a year and they haven;t gotten smaller yet. The only difference is that I have beaten them enough that I have the confidence to get up them each time.

I agree with this. The mental strength will pull you over the hill once you know you can do it, plus you sort of figure out how to attack the hill as you ride more of them. And if you keep riding, you will get stronger and hopefully drop some weight, if you're not in great shape already, and both these factors will make the hills manageable/faster.

Actually I suspect that when I'm not looking some villagers from Wales come along and add to the top of the hills.

This of course is not true since I live in Houston. Flat coastal plains, but you folks that have have hills are welcome to use the Welsh villager excuse.

I took a trip to the post office today during lunch, about a 5 mile round trip ride. You know, from the car a 3% grade over 0.6 miles doesn't seem that bad, but on the bike I used the very lowest gear I had (30 front, 32 rear) after the 1st half of the hill and managed to maintain a steady 5 mph. Sheesh. I feel pathetic just posting those numbers. On the other hand, I did do a nice 31 mph down the hill, assuming my Sigma Sport cyclocomputer is accurate :).

So, how much riding does it take to make the damn hills easier??

Would someone please answer the question. How much riding for how long to get results. I went on my first group ride today and I did OK except on the damn hills, then it got embarassing. So I'd like the answer to the question. I've been riding two months,(less two weeks on vacation) I'm closing in on 700 miles. I ride six miles each way to work four days a week, and I'm up to 20 to 25 miles a day on the other three days. Eventually, like everyone else I read here, I want to go further and faster and justify purchasing another bike. Right now, I'd just like to go up the hills faster.

Keep pedalling, Red. As your legs get less sore, the hills get easier. At least, that's how it's working out for me.

I just stretched my daily loop to 40+ miles, so my legs get sore again. But the first 30 is still pretty nice, hills or not.

I agree with this. The mental strength will pull you over the hill once you know you can do it, plus you sort of figure out how to attack the hill as you ride more of them. And if you keep riding, you will get stronger and hopefully drop some weight, if you're not in great shape already, and both these factors will make the hills manageable/faster.

That is true. I have figured out how to go uphill better as far as not losing my cadence and shifting at the right times so my legs don't blow out trying to mash up the hills and I think that does help. Other than that, I think the only thing that will make the hills smaller for me is when I get smaller. If I lost 30 or 40 pounds, the hills would probably flatten out a lot. If I lost 80, it would probably be like going downhill. ;)

I am glad my hills are molehills and not mountains. lol

Would someone please answer the question. How much riding for how long to get results. I went on my first group ride today and I did OK except on the damn hills, then it got embarassing. So I'd like the answer to the question. I've been riding two months,(less two weeks on vacation) I'm closing in on 700 miles. I ride six miles each way to work four days a week, and I'm up to 20 to 25 miles a day on the other three days. Eventually, like everyone else I read here, I want to go further and faster and justify purchasing another bike. Right now, I'd just like to go up the hills faster.

Since you are closing in on 700 miles have you seen any results at all? Is your six miles to work easier, your 20-25 miles rides any easier? You also have to take into account how long have these people on the group rides been riding vrs your 6-7 weeks.

I find the best way to go fast up hills is to ride up hills over and over and over. Try spinning up hills in a lower gear and keeping your pace up, stand and pedal up hills using your whole body but keep riding until you find what works best for you in each situation.
Some days I can plow through hills without even backing off that other days I need to drop down to the granny gear and spin my way up.
I find group rides in hills pretty difficult. I have at least 100lbs on all these other folks who are riding much lighter racing bikes with me there on my huge heavy bike so unless I was alot better rider they are going to drop me on hills just due to gravity. 8,283 miles for me since last May and I'm still getting dropped on hills if they really want to drop me but I'm keeping up a little better.

8,283 miles for me since last May and I'm still getting dropped on hills if they really want to drop me but I'm keeping up a little better.

Almost 8300 miles in a year and change = keeping up a little better on hills. I think that answers the question! Hills never get easy. lol

Would someone please answer the question. How much riding for how long to get results. I went on my first group ride today and I did OK except on the damn hills, then it got embarassing. So I'd like the answer to the question. I've been riding two months,(less two weeks on vacation) I'm closing in on 700 miles. I ride six miles each way to work four days a week, and I'm up to 20 to 25 miles a day on the other three days.

I've decided this week to make my two of my lunchtime rides hill-training ones where I repeatedly ride up shorter hills as fast as possible. I'll try this for a few weeks and see if the intervals help (they should).


Eventually, like everyone else I read here, I want to go further and faster and justify purchasing another bike. Right now, I'd just like to go up the hills faster.

I still need to work up to commuting to justify the $500 on the 1st bike, nevermind the next one. I have been thinking that a folding bike to toss in the minivan would be handy when we take our 4 year old to the park for bike rides ;)

There is no answer to your question. Or rather, it has already been given:

"Cycling never gets easier, you just go faster."As your fitness improves, you have two options:
Ride faster but harder, or
Ride the same speed but easier.
Of course, if you ride the same speed, you will stop improving.

Besides, everybody's different and so there is no correct answer for everybody. if there were, everybody would be doing it.

So, how much riding does it take to make the damn hills easier??

You know, it takes as long as it takes. Everyone is different. But what I can tell you is that it does get easier. Not *easy*--you keep pushing, but it gets so you don't think you'll die every time you go over a hill.

Angela

Wow. The hills on my normal rides got a LOT smaller after today's ride. We did some real climbing. Something like 4600 ft over the first 30 miles (55 total, the last 20 was mostly downhill). Now those hills that I used to think were tough and big are a lot smaller.

So if you want your regular hills to be smaller, go ride up some mountains!

This is how I explain it. I ride the hill the first time in granny if I have to. Then the next day or a few days later depending on how my legs feel I ride the hill again. This time with confidence I can make it without stopping or walking, in granny gear if needed. Then I keep at it. Next thing I know I maybe doing parts of the hill in higher a gear. Then one day I get a burr under my saddle and really attack it. I then strangle that bad boy and put it in my back pocket. The next time I find a hill challenging I recall that bad boy I beat before and I know I can conquer the new hill. Tomorrows ride will include three steep climbs only one of which I have ever done before.

dbikingman - Great description! I remember going from "OMG, I made it over the hill!" to finally not worrying, each time I approach it, about whether I'd make it or not. It took a while. :) You're right that riding in granny gear is nothing to be ashamed of. Each trip over the hill makes the next one easier.

I still haven't figured out a way to make them smaller but I did stumble upon a way to make them bigger. Ride them with loaded panniers. lol

So when do the hills get smaller?


on the other side

Someday I want to conquer that fwy overpass!:D

The hills never get smaller or easier, you get faster! This according to my buddy who weights 122lbs and climbs like a scalded monkey!

This is how I explain it. I ride the hill the first time in granny if I have to. Then the next day or a few days later depending on how my legs feel I ride the hill again. This time with confidence I can make it without stopping or walking, in granny gear if needed. Then I keep at it. Next thing I know I maybe doing parts of the hill in higher a gear. Then one day I get a burr under my saddle and really attack it. I then strangle that bad boy and put it in my back pocket. The next time I find a hill challenging I recall that bad boy I beat before and I know I can conquer the new hill. Tomorrows ride will include three steep climbs only one of which I have ever done before.

+1 to dbikingman. You do whatever you have to to get over the obstacle in front of you. Granny gear, mash, stand, spin or even stop, puke, rest and finish the hill. It is mostly mental. I have a hill on one of my favorite rides that just kills me about 100yds from the top. It really pitches up at the end and I have a tendency to try and push too hard too early in the hill and run out of steam. I have had to stop and puke on this hill twice, but I have also made it up a number of times without stopping. Every time I ride it, it improves my confidence about doing it and other hills. The bottom line is the best way to get better at riding hills is to ride hills.

I ride with a HRM and it's been interesting to see the changes since May. I ride with a group and the first two weeks were ugly, HR at 170+ speeds at sub 8 mph, granny gears. After about two months of riding about 6-10 hours per week, the same hills don't come close to stressing me out. I purposely go out and find harder hills. If you attack the hills so that your legs burn going over the top once a week, you will get stronger and you will climb better. Also, on the rollers, I push downhill to carry the momentum up the hill, it often helps me pass the lighter guys and gals. The long ascents still get me going though. The last long ride was a full century with about 8000' of ascents, one was 3 miles long and 800' of rise, after that my normal routes seem like a piece of cake.

I grew up on top of one of the nice little PA hills. Depending on how you measure, the main road up is 15-18% grade. I don't think I've ever managed to genuinely ride the whole way up that hill. It's brutal. I also never did any of the macho BS to try to get up it... narrow, curvy 2 lane road with ****ty sight lines and high speeds... if you want to try macho BS do it on a safe road. If it's safer to walk up, don't be ashamed and walk.

Most hills in Madison are under 5% grade, so they're nice little things by comparison. I am not in great shape, so I have to work to get up 'em. But I have gears, so it's doable. And I know if I just keep banging my head against the "tough" ones enough, I will get up it. Since I've got the monster stuff for comparison, they just don't feel all that bad, even if they're unfun while I'm doing them.

Hills never really get easier.

I went out today, found a nearby hill of moderate length (about 3% grade) and attacked it 6 times, with a 3-4 minute rest in between going in circles in a parking lot at the top. Now my right knee hurts a bit. Well, I'll wait til it's better then repeat until that hill shrinks :)

Someday I want to conquer that fwy overpass!:D

Which freeway overpass? :p

I used to hate hills (I do remember when freeway overpasses were hills!!!). I would ride out of my way to avoid them. A friend then talked me into doing a Utah ride. For an entire week we climbed mountains. The average elevation each day was about 3500 ' with two days over 5000' and one over 6000'. I discovered hills aren't so bad. I just needed an attitude adjustment. After that I looked for other hilly rides. I would specifically train on hills and do all the hilly routes I could find. It got to a point that I found flat rides boring (still do). The cool thing about doing hills, even if doing a short route (say 20 miles or so) if you do a few good hills, it's still an awesome workout!

So find yourself a route with a hill, do that until the hill is comfortable and then start adding. I believe it's the fear of the unknown that keeps us from climbing. Once you realize "piece of cake!" you will never worry again. Even as out of shape as I am right now, I still do hills. Attitude, it's all about attitude! :thumb:

Edited to add: in all fairness, when I did the Utah ride I changed out my Ultegra casette/derailleur 12/27 for a XTR 12/34 - and I have a triple. I just haven't gotten back around to putting the Ultegra gear back on. I guess no excuse for being able to cruise up hills!

Heya... My crank has 34 teeth, and my cassette is 13-34. What can I change so I can climb hills better?

(I know, change bikes. But if I *do* keep this one...)

short of another glacial retreat skimming the tops off, I think we just need to ride them more!

haha, nice.

Heya... My crank has 34 teeth, and my cassette is 13-34. What can I change so I can climb hills better?

(I know, change bikes. But if I *do* keep this one...)

You may be able to put a smaller chainwheel on that crank, or you could get a different crank with a smaller chainring on. But getting a different bike, with a front derailleur would probably be best.

im from south of boston and its pretty flat here with some good hills. the best way to make those hills seem minuscule would be go riding in the mountains. i just came back from a vacation near lovell maine. after i came back i felt pretty damn embarrassed to call any hill i called large around my area:roflmao2:.

Bicycling magazine has some good articles on climbing. I know that being a big guy i very rarely if ever get out of the saddle when i go uphill. i leave that to the pip squeaks. i try to shift to an EASY gear and spin up quickly. if i find that i am spinning to quickly i will shift up a gear. oh yeah. i'm not an expert, but here is an article from people who are.

http://www.bicycling.com/article/0,6610,s-4-41-16883-1,00.html

I went out today, found a nearby hill of moderate length (about 3% grade) and attacked it 6 times, with a 3-4 minute rest in between going in circles in a parking lot at the top. Now my right knee hurts a bit. Well, I'll wait til it's better then repeat until that hill shrinks :)

are you a spinner or a masher? i find that when i try to go up hills in too high a gear i get knee pain. ice is our friend when we finish those hill repeats.

Since you are closing in on 700 miles have you seen any results at all? Is your six miles to work easier, your 20-25 miles rides any easier? You also have to take into account how long have these people on the group rides been riding vrs your 6-7 weeks.

I find the best way to go fast up hills is to ride up hills over and over and over. Try spinning up hills in a lower gear and keeping your pace up, stand and pedal up hills using your whole body but keep riding until you find what works best for you in each situation.
Some days I can plow through hills without even backing off that other days I need to drop down to the granny gear and spin my way up.
I find group rides in hills pretty difficult. I have at least 100lbs on all these other folks who are riding much lighter racing bikes with me there on my huge heavy bike so unless I was alot better rider they are going to drop me on hills just due to gravity. 8,283 miles for me since last May and I'm still getting dropped on hills if they really want to drop me but I'm keeping up a little better.

Went on my second group ride Saturday. Same route as last week, only this week I averaged over 13mph instead of the 10mph of last week. Lowered the handlebars and raised the seat to cope with some awful headwinds riding home from work this week and those adjustments and the extra training from fighting the winds may have helped. My club is still very supportive and even though I still have the heaviest bike out there I was able to keep up this week for 28 miles and felt great coming home.:D

i find that when i try to go up hills in too high a gear i get knee pain. ice is our friend when we finish those hill repeats.

Thats what I use as a shift indicator knee hurts down shift works out pretty good for me :thumb:

are you a spinner or a masher? i find that when i try to go up hills in too high a gear i get knee pain. ice is our friend when we finish those hill repeats.

Good question. I am a masher trying to be a spinner. After 3 days since my Friday ride (10 3/4 miles, and those hills are already going by a little quicker!), my knee is feeling pretty good. That knee has always given me trouble, going back many years. It used to feel its best when I was doing a lot of full depth squats, but I am without a gym membership these days and lack space at home for a power rack so I don't do heavy weightlifting these days. I think the knee pain will improve once the quad strengthens as I up my bike distance.

are you a spinner or a masher?

You guys have helped me a lot. I don't have a lot of experience, and am sick and fat to boot, but this thread helped me figure out the difference. I was riding, and thinking, and <click> I got it. I shifted to a lower gear, and that day discovered I was faster and generally more *able* than I'd ever been before. It was like magic!

I think I had a competition going on in my head to see how high a gear I could ride it. If I was in the top half of my range, that would mean I wasn't a crip, or a wimp, or whatever. But I have seen the light!

So, just wanted to say thanks. :D

Angela