Fldaves

Yesterday I had to "climb" over a fallen palm frond - that's about as "hilly" as it gets around here.

Retro Grouch 

Today any time that I have to use my granny gear, even if it's only for a short distance, I consider that a hilly ride. It's been a long time since I've ridden up a real grinder hill. I don't miss riding bigger hills. Do you suppose I might be getting old?

OldsCOOL

Sorry for a repost but since we are talking hills, this is one of many in our area. You either attack and grind it out or you go another route. You cant see the bottom.....

DougG

I agree with this. In an earlier post, someone mentioned climbing "1000 ft in 10 miles" (same as 100 ft per mile), which works out to less than a 2% average grade. Yes, even a gentle grade like 2% would take something out of you over 10 miles, but it would not exactly seem "hilly."

On the other hand, I was on a multi-day ride in N.E. Ohio last month where we might typically have a difference of only 300 ft between the high and low altitude on the route, yet we'd have 3500 ft of climbing! It was basically "rolling hills" that were short but very steep, typically starting at 7-8% and getting steeper at the top to 12% or more. And as soon as we'd top one of them, there would be another one up ahead but not close enough to get momentum from the downhill side of the one we were on. Tough riding and definitely very hilly!

Mr IGH

I rode the Copper Triangle, 78 miles, 6000ft, three passes 11,300ft, 10,400ft and 10,600ft. Hardest ride I've ever done in my life. Hilly doesn't begin to describe it.

Course | Colorado Cyclist Copper Triangle

smwalter666

Indiana here - hilly is an overpass. I'm going to ride with my sister in Ashville, NC next weekend - my first time in the mountains. I expect it to be painful.

TGT1

I may be a bit sick, but that looks like fun.

Especially if you started and finished at Minturn.

Mandeville

I'm fortunate to live in an area with great year round weather and a pick your terrain from flat to hilly or mix it up. Typical week is 125 miles spread out from three rides and somewhere between five thousand and eight thousand feet of elevation gain. My last two century rides were about 4000 feet each.

bikemig 

The driftless region has some pretty good climbing. Like this ride, Routes - Dairyland Dare

Good stuff.

Carbonfiberboy 

Here, ordinary is 50'/mile. For me, "hilly" starts around 70'/mile. We don't have anything over 120'/mile.

Cougrrcj

'Hilly' to me is if I ever need to use less than a 50-inch gear. rolling hills are 55-75-inch gears, and flat is anything over 80.

There are no hills within 20 miles of where I live, so I'm usually riding along in a 75-85 inch gear at my 80-85 cadence.

Dave Cutter

I live on the side of a large hill. The first 1.17 mile of each ride I take begins with a 331 foot ascent.

Biker395 

Hey ... where was that?

In a month or so, I'll be in Southern Italy ... the Amalfi Coast and Sicily. This isn't a cycling (biking? lol) trip, but I am going to try to squeeze a short bike ride in ... from the coast to my maternal grandparents' home town ... a little burgh about 2500 feet above Palermo. For me, it will likely be the highlight of the trip.

Doug64

3.5 mph in my 22/34 combination up an 800 meter hill last week.

fietsbob

Get off and Push , when walking is a lower heart rate and effort than trying to stay upright spinning a Super low ratio gear.

Barrettscv 

Hi Biker,

The picture is taken in Calabria, above the hill town of Fiumefreddo Bruzio (below), see this map for details: Amantea to Monte Cocuzzo in Amantea, 03, Italy | MapMyRide





I really enjoy Southern Italy and Sicily. I know that the mountains near Palermo have epic gravel road cycling routes. Here are a group of cycling routes: https://www.wikiloc.com/trails/mounta...sicily/palermo

I'll work on finding out more.

What location would be your starting point?

OldsCOOL

Here is my training hill I have set a PR on today:

BlazingPedals

OldsCOOL, I think that stretch is on my DALMAC route this year. Park St to Wildwood Harbor. Should be this Saturday (Elk Rapids to Petosky.) I'm taking my Garmin, so we'll see how I do - unless the battery is dead. (The KOM is not in any danger from me.)

osco53

Roller flow or Ridge line,

OldsCOOL

That it is. A popular little hill. I hope you have a nice tour.

OldsCOOL

@BlazingPedals you are also doing The Wall??

BlazingPedals

Nope. I used to do it every year. Even did it three times one year. Nowadays I take the bypass route up S. Advance Rd. There might even be a bit more climbing that way, but none of that steep sh... I mean "Stuff."

OldsCOOL

Definately the better route. What extent of endurance training do to prepare for this tour?

canklecat

Foat Wuth, here. Same terrain - rolling, not too hilly. But Saturday was my first ride in at least 14 years, since a car wreck busted up my back and neck. All I've done for exercise is walk. I walked 2.5 miles the day before and figured a 3 mile bike ride home with a new-to-me used bike would be a snap. Wrrronnnggg.

I underestimated the hills and overestimated my conditioning. Google map sez I made it 1.05 miles before I bonked. Thighs on fire, could hardly walk. Fortunately I bonked 10 yards from a bus stop. Friendly bus driver helped me put my bike on the rack.

I took Sunday off, recovering from back and neck muscle spasms. This evening I made it 3 miles around the neighborhood's rolling terrain, with brief breaks every mile. Thighs were on fire almost immediately and I was ready to quit after the first half mile, but kept going to prevent the lactic acid buildup. Got much easier by mile 2.

A few more weeks and I may get the hang of these rolling hills.

Oldguyonoldbike

canklecat, hang in there! If you poke around the Fifty+ forum you'll come across a lot of similar stories. Personally, I've pretty much always had a bike, mainly for riding around town. When I was in my late thirties I got a nice road bike and rode quite a bit, but without seriously tracking miles or competing. Then small children and workload led to a seven year hiatus. When, at age 49, I got the bike out again for a ride around the neighborhood I managed to make it around a one-mile loop. My lungs were on fire and I sat there wondering what had happened. To make a long story short, it gets better. Work up to longer rides gradually. You'll feel progressively better and feel up to the challenge of the rolling hills.
By the way, during the years that I was not riding at all I had developed back pain and some joint problems in my ankles. They're gone now.