United Kingdom - High climbing at 23 stone!

I have been cycling for 7 years at an annual millage of 3000 miles per year. However my weight year on year doesnt come down but just recently I have started to introduce climbing some small hills. On my new Trek 2.3 the gearing doesnt go as low as the previous Trek 1.5 but suprising you get up the hill easier but at my weight it really does take some real effort.

Any other heavy cyclists who climb hills out there:mad::mad::mad:?

I was watching the Tour de France the other day, the commentator said something like "every kilo of weight takes an extra five watts of man-power to get it up the hill." I try and keep the bike as light as possible, but it never gets easier. Thank God for that 32 teeth sprocket.

Interesting, with my weight around 145 Kilos as oppossed to a professional of around half this I am using an extra 360 watts more i.e 720 as oppossed to 360. Does this sound right? One thing is for sure the more you do high climbing the seaier it gets. Probaly because my weight is starting to come down.

That extra 5 watts is used if you go up the hill at the same speed as the professional. It doesnt take much power to climb a hill with a 22 chainring, but it takes a lot of time.

eat less, cycle more. worked for me

I Love climbing, but at 15 and a half stone I appreciate it's pretty difficult and I'm usually in the bottom half of the gear range. It's worth it for the sense of achievement when you get to the top of somewhere though. Perversely, I prefer it on a red hot day with no wind too, my muscles just seem to work better.