Big Hill / Little Hill
09-22-06, 09:18 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Burlington, ON
Posts: 258
Bikes: 2006 Trek 7.3 FX, 2007 Rocky Mountain Sherpa, Batavus Entrada, MEC Origami Folder
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Big Hill / Little Hill
What would you commuting experts out there consider to be the more sensible route:
1. Start the ride home with one steep, relatively short hill, followed by mostly flat the rest of the way home.
2. A long, gradual climb almost the entire distance home, with a short stretch of flat at the end.
I guess the big hill will help me build strength, while the gradual incline helps endurance?
I suppose I could just alternate...
1. Start the ride home with one steep, relatively short hill, followed by mostly flat the rest of the way home.
2. A long, gradual climb almost the entire distance home, with a short stretch of flat at the end.
I guess the big hill will help me build strength, while the gradual incline helps endurance?
I suppose I could just alternate...
09-22-06, 09:20 AM
#2
SERENITY NOW!!!
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: In the 212
Posts: 8,738
Bikes: Haro Vector, IRO Rob Roy, Bianchi Veloce
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Ride both and alternate. Definitely have clips & straps or clipless pedals to help you out. You got it right about building strength and endurance. Develop a good spin, pulling back and up on the pedal strokes to make it easier.
__________________
HHCMF - Take pride in your ability to amaze lesser mortals! - MikeR
We demand rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty!
HHCMF - Take pride in your ability to amaze lesser mortals! - MikeR
We demand rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty!
09-22-06, 09:36 AM
#3
34x25 FTW!
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: NYC
Posts: 6,013
Bikes: Kona Jake, Scott CR1, Dahon SpeedPro
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by jyossarian
Ride both and alternate. Definitely have clips & straps or clipless pedals to help you out. You got it right about building strength and endurance. Develop a good spin, pulling back and up on the pedal strokes to make it easier.
09-22-06, 10:15 AM
#4
Junior Member
I've noticed I'm definitely not warmed up until at least a mile or two into my commute. So I wouldn't want the steep hill early... lemme get warmed up first.
09-22-06, 10:20 AM
#5
52-week commuter
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 1,929
Bikes: Redline Conquest, Cannonday, Specialized, RANS
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I prefer to go downhill both ways.
When that is possible, I want the hills later rather than earlier. Varying the route is good too.
When that is possible, I want the hills later rather than earlier. Varying the route is good too.
__________________
The United States of America is the only democratic nation in the world to deny citizens living in the nation's capital representation in the national legislature. District residents have no vote in either the U.S. Senate or U.S. House of Representatives. www.dcvote.org
The United States of America is the only democratic nation in the world to deny citizens living in the nation's capital representation in the national legislature. District residents have no vote in either the U.S. Senate or U.S. House of Representatives. www.dcvote.org
09-22-06, 10:46 AM
#6
domestique
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: off the back
Posts: 2,005
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Round trip. Take one route to work/school and the other route home. I'd mostly avoid the big climb at the start of a ride if practical. Traffic patterns might affect my decision too. Most of my route selection decisions are based on avoiding altercations with cars.
09-22-06, 04:44 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Burlington, ON
Posts: 530
Bikes: Giant Tcx1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Luckily I just have to ride down Plains road.
Depends on the traffic - do you have to go up Guelph/Brant/Appleby or are there smaller side roads you can use? Going up a steeper hill with a lot of traffic wouldn't be my first choice.
Also, because I work in a warehouse, it depends on how my day went. Sometimes I take a longer ride because I feel good, other times I just go straight home because I'm done in.
Depends on the traffic - do you have to go up Guelph/Brant/Appleby or are there smaller side roads you can use? Going up a steeper hill with a lot of traffic wouldn't be my first choice.
Also, because I work in a warehouse, it depends on how my day went. Sometimes I take a longer ride because I feel good, other times I just go straight home because I'm done in.
09-22-06, 06:28 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Coquitlam
Posts: 2,538
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
In the winter i HATE strarting with a downhill, freeze for 5 min till i get to my first uphill. It do both as others stated. On cold days, id go up the steep one so im warm immediatly 
09-22-06, 07:25 PM
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Burlington, ON
Posts: 258
Bikes: 2006 Trek 7.3 FX, 2007 Rocky Mountain Sherpa, Batavus Entrada, MEC Origami Folder
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Caspar_s
Luckily I just have to ride down Plains road.
Depends on the traffic - do you have to go up Guelph/Brant/Appleby or are there smaller side roads you can use? Going up a steeper hill with a lot of traffic wouldn't be my first choice.
Also, because I work in a warehouse, it depends on how my day went. Sometimes I take a longer ride because I feel good, other times I just go straight home because I'm done in.
Depends on the traffic - do you have to go up Guelph/Brant/Appleby or are there smaller side roads you can use? Going up a steeper hill with a lot of traffic wouldn't be my first choice.
Also, because I work in a warehouse, it depends on how my day went. Sometimes I take a longer ride because I feel good, other times I just go straight home because I'm done in.
Sounds like you live and work south of the highway. I only wish!
09-22-06, 07:42 PM
#11
Breezin' everyday in NC
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29
Bikes: Breezer Liberty
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Jarery
In the winter i HATE strarting with a downhill, freeze for 5 min till i get to my first uphill. It do both as others stated. On cold days, id go up the steep one so im warm immediatly
I start my ride with a .3 mile decent... brrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
09-22-06, 09:49 PM
#12
Commuter First
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 1,286
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Alternate. However, there's something to be said for routine. On the way I ride to and from work 90% of the time I know the terrain, lights, traffic patterns, and road surfaces extremely well. I think this makes me more attuned to changes in the route. Having said that, variety is the spice of life...
09-22-06, 10:01 PM
#13
Two H's!!! TWO!!!!!
I would prefer the first option, I think. I don't like hills, so I'd rather just get it over with and enjoy the rest of the ride. But I'd take the other route occasionally, just for variety. I get bored with one route. This summer I had about 4 major variations of route to/from work, and god knows how many minor ones. Of course, that's not always possible, especially in the more rural area where there isn't a whole lotta roads.
Of course, that's not always possible, especially in the more rural area where there isn't a whole lotta roads.
