Fifty Plus (50+) - I am so slow going uphill . . .

. . . that my Garmin kept going into "Auto Pause" mode. Like when you come to a stop sign or a red light.

Wanted to get some hill work in today. "They" say riding hills will make one stronger. Hah! They fooled me.

Obviously your ability to balance is superior, even if velocity is not.

"They" are really, in the end, correct. However, I find that "they" usually leave out the part about "hard". And then stand back and laugh at us when we try to do what "they" say....

I know what you mean. I am slow on the hills too.

The GPS is confused by the vertical ..you ARE slowed or stopped in relation to the satellite 24000 miles up!! I did a proto-type test for Magellin back in 1989...it was interesting the results we got back then without all the "constellations" being up. That was before consumer units were available.

. . . that my Garmin kept going into "Auto Pause" mode. Like when you come to a stop sign or a red light.

Wanted to get some hill work in today. "They" say riding hills will make one stronger. Hah! They fooled me.

Stay with it.

Lower the auto pause threshold speed

I thought we were supposed to be slow. After all, we're past 50.
Please tell me we're not supposed to be fast!!!

The hills are tough, no doubt about it. Just when I start feeling good on the flats, hills bring me back to the reality that is.....I really suck going vertical.

Just keep repeating this over and over as you climb...... pain is weakness leaving the body.

Either that, or try thinking about anything else but the ride itself. Sometimes when the riding becomes really tough, I'll try zoning out and think about something else. My body just takes over without any thought and I'll actually start riding better. Sometimes I'm amazed when I check out the computer and find both speed and cadence is up.

Hills have always been my weakness as well. At 5'9" and 185 lbs. I don't have the "mountain goat's" body. As every book I've ever read says, climbing is about weight, power and technique. The good news is that you can improve all three. And that's exactly what needs to happen to become a better climber. One of the things I've been doing this season is to concentrate on is pacing myself in a low gear until I get to the top and then shifting up and standing to crest the hill. I'm not as fast as a lot of the lighter, younger riders on our club rides but I also don't explode myself and now last longer on the ride. As I lose weight and gain fitness the speed on the climbs will come. I have no doubt.

Yes, hills are a problem. I did not improve my hill climbing until I read an article written by a coach that basically said that you cannot get better climbing hills until you accept the fact it is going to hurt. When you accept this you can start improving your hill climbing. He also said that if you climb a hill and it does not hurt, go back down and climb it again because you did it wrong.

Or did you out do the Garmin? As in the Garmin got pooped. I think you are pushing that thing to hard.

You're not slow and ditch the Garmin.

The GPS is confused by the vertical ..you ARE slowed or stopped in relation to the satellite 24000 miles up!! I did a proto-type test for Magellin back in 1989...it was interesting the results we got back then without all the "constellations" being up. That was before consumer units were available.

Were you able to decode the signals? Back them satellite data was scrambled by the military so you didn't have the pinpoint accuracy you have today. I think it was a 40' +/- standard.

My SRM head unit keeps saying I end up 55' above my house at the end of one 60 mile loop (5500' total climbing, 5445 total descending).

I've taken to wearing a bright red rotating beacon on my helmet for low flying aircraft.

It's annoying to be struggling up a steep hill and get passed by walkers/joggers.
Hey, it's not like they have a 15# bike they're pushing.

Depth perception can fool you. What looks like a horrible climb from a distance may end up being long, gradual and not that hard.

Choose your hills carefully. What goes up must come down. Some climbs I'd otherwise shy away from I will do just so I can enjoy an awesome downhill.
There is also the sense of accomplishment on the climbs that push you to your limits.
I love the feeling: Yesterday I failed, tomorrow is unknown, but today I conquered!

It does not matter how slow you ride a bike uphill. It is easier than pushing the bike.

But just got back to hills after a winter lay off. Why are they longer than I remember- got steep bits in them now and Someone has knobbled my bike by putting 40psi in the tyres and got the brakes binding.

I like the part about the brakes binding. There are very few riders that have not stopped at some point on a hill to check their brakes because they MUST BE RUBBING. Could not be this hard and could not be this slow if the brakes are not rubbing.

Unfortunately I have never found the brakes to be rubbing, but I have enjoyed the stops.

I'm slow on the up hills. I scare myself on the downs.

Stare at the side of the road while climbing a bigger hill instead of looking up, also if you know the hill you can plan your climb. For short ones you can usually climb quickly at higher intensity and for longer ones you have to pace yourself a little more. Also don't stop.

Two words. Granny gear. I can ride uphill for a long, long time at about 4 mph. Mountains kill me. I'm from Florida but we have a wonderful house in the NC mountains. One of my rides there is uphill, at anywhere from 5% to 15%, for maybe 20 miles. It takes me forever to go up and a short time to come back down. All we can do is keep on keeping on.

It's Issac Newton's fault! If he didn't invent gravity, hills would be no problem.

Love the comments. Some are really funny. I wasn't really complaining. Just thought it was "funny" that the GPS kept going into "Auto pause" mode.

Here's my ride, 04/14/2012 Godde 3x with a bonus loop (http://app.strava.com/rides/6750365)

I am so slow going uphill . . .




Sounds like the intro line for a joke, like Your mama is so fat... she got a flesh eating bacteria and the Doctor told her she has 57 years to live.


Lessee now-- I am so slow going uphill that there are 2 presidential elections while I'm on the way


or... I had to stop and shave cause my beard was getting tangled in the chain


or... I had to stop and clean my tires cause the moss was making them slippery

just use the hill climbing as an opportunity to practice your track stand ...

I am so slow going uphill . . .




Sounds like the intro line for a joke, like Your mama is so fat... she got a flesh eating bacteria and the Doctor told her she has 57 years to live.


Lessee now-- I am so slow going uphill that there are 2 presidential elections while I'm on the way


or... I had to stop and shave cause my beard was getting tangled in the chain


or... I had to stop and clean my tires cause the moss was making them slippery


And my favorite..."I'm so slow going uphill that a dog was pissing on my wheel."

I am so slow going up hills that my rear wheel asks my front wheel if it has finished its nap.

I am so slow going uphill . . .




Sounds like the intro line for a joke, like Your mama is so fat... she got a flesh eating bacteria and the Doctor told her she has 57 years to live.


Lessee now-- I am so slow going uphill that there are 2 presidential elections while I'm on the way


or... I had to stop and shave cause my beard was getting tangled in the chain


or... I had to stop and clean my tires cause the moss was making them slippery
Now that funny!!

[B]It does not matter how slow you ride a bike uphill. It is easier than pushing the bike.

g.

I can remember several times that I would positively not have made it over the hill unless I got off and walked. There have been times that I have to stretch out the legs. You are obviously a stronger cyclist than I.

I call it cross training. Engaging the walking muscles rather than the cycling muscles.

Love the comments. Some are really funny. I wasn't really complaining. Just thought it was "funny" that the GPS kept going into "Auto pause" mode.

Here's my ride, 04/14/2012 Godde 3x with a bonus loop (http://app.strava.com/rides/6750365)

When it goes into auto pause, it cannot find enough satellites to make the speed calculation. That happens to me on occasion when climbing in the mountains. Your 600 VAM from STRAVA is pretty good. I did a poll last year that allowed people to post their climbing ability based upon FPH (Feet per Hour) versus VAM (Meters per Hour). Most everyone was below 1500 feet per hour with the majority below 1000 feet per hour with many not knowing what their climb rate is. Here is a calculator to calculate your W/Kg based upon the slope of the grade and your VAM. http://www.cyclingfitness.net/online-vam-calculator/

An observation... IMO, your cadence seems too low on the climbs unless you were doing low cadence intervals. I suggest not going any lower than 70 rpm with 75 to 80 being more desirable.

Sunday, my wife and I were climbing a hill doing a z3 effort. Another cyclist passes us and he was spinning about 90 rpm. After passing he slows down, my wife is leading re-passes this guy and now we are on the steeper section of the climb 6 to 7% grade. He passes us again but was still spinning 90 rpm + and now pulling away. I go around and want to see how much power he is doing. I bridge at 335 watts and I start to hold his wheel at 300 ish and I was at 90 + rpm. He stands up and accelerates away.

That is the way you do it. When I saw the guy pass us doing 90 + rpm on the grade, I knew he was a great climber.

my cheap schwinn computer goes pretty low without stopping. some hill climbs I get down to 6mph I think even 4mph a couple times and it didn't turn off

...that ducks waddle by me.

I like the part about the brakes binding. There are very few riders that have not stopped at some point on a hill to check their brakes because they MUST BE RUBBING. Could not be this hard and could not be this slow if the brakes are not rubbing.

Unfortunately I have never found the brakes to be rubbing, but I have enjoyed the stops.

Funny you should mention brakes rubbing: a few weeks ago we were riding our new tandem in a rally in central Florida. We had been managing to keep up with another two tandems ridden by younger teams than us. After one rest stop there was a quarter mile incline (can't really call it a hill in FL) and the other two left us in the dust. I told my wife my legs had stopped working! When we finally got to the top where the others were waiting, I noticed that a water bottle cap had caught in the rear brake cable under the top tube and was applying the rear brake! Did I feel stupid or what!!

When it goes into auto pause, it cannot find enough satellites to make the speed calculation. That happens to me on occasion when climbing in the mountains. Your 600 VAM from STRAVA is pretty good. I did a poll last year that allowed people to post their climbing ability based upon FPH (Feet per Hour) versus VAM (Meters per Hour). Most everyone was below 1500 feet per hour with the majority below 1000 feet per hour with many not knowing what their climb rate is. Here is a calculator to calculate your W/Kg based upon the slope of the grade and your VAM. http://www.cyclingfitness.net/online-vam-calculator/

An observation... IMO, your cadence seems too low on the climbs unless you were doing low cadence intervals. I suggest not going any lower than 70 rpm with 75 to 80 being more desirable.

Thanks for the encouragement, Hermes. Never noticed the VAM numbers before and had no idea what they were. Not too sure how to use it, other than to compare rides with each other. On the cadence, that's just they way I've been riding for the past 45 years or so. About the only time I can sustain 80 rpm is on the Lifecycle when I had it. It was programmed for that cadence. On the road, it is difficult for me to stay at that rate, (unless I'm on the flats). Thankfully, my knees never gave me a problem and my legs were pretty strong. Now that I'm older, I guess that is something I need to work on, probably the sooner the better. My knees aren't going to hold out forever if I continue to be a masher.

. . . that my Garmin kept going into "Auto Pause" mode. Like when you come to a stop sign or a red light.

Wanted to get some hill work in today. "They" say riding hills will make one stronger. Hah! They fooled me.

My Garmin was doing the same thing and then I updated it and it hasn't auto paused since.

My climbing ability got me nickname from the guys, "Average Killer" or AK for short, since I always bring down their averages if there is any kind of climbing involved. I've improved alot over the past 2 years...however so have they.

I like the part about the brakes binding. There are very few riders that have not stopped at some point on a hill to check their brakes because they MUST BE RUBBING. Could not be this hard and could not be this slow if the brakes are not rubbing.

Unfortunately I have never found the brakes to be rubbing, but I have enjoyed the stops.


Too funny! I did exactly that today on my ride! Checked to see if I had a flat,too!

Tabriz

Get rid of the Garmin!!