Pat

The shame is not in walking the hill. The shame is in not trying. So what if the hill got you. You are still alive aren't you? As far as I am concerned, you have nothing to be ashamed about.

Daspydyr 

Cross training is good. You are a better man for the hike.

Doohickie

I stalled on a hill yesterday. Actually stopped and started to roll back. Then I dug in and continued forward. It's not a big hill and comes after a slight downhill, so I usually carry my speed right up, but the tree that hangs over the trail is starting to hang low and I slowed a bit because of limited visibility. All of a sudden I was climbing and realized I was in trouble. The best part was there was a guy walking his dog coming from the other direction who saw the whole thing. He gave an appreciative whistle when I saved it and said, "I didn't think you could make it."

gitarzan

Some days the hills are supposed to win. My technique is to start pedaling a little faster upon coming up to the hill, when I hit the hill I drop two gears lower and pedal like hell. If I find myself getting tired, I shift up one, as I find that most of the time it's the cadence getting the best of me.

trackhub

I ride a fixie (42 x 15) and I can handle the hills I encounter on most of my usual rides. But the answer is yes, there are some hills where the "two foot gear" is needed. Summit ave in Brookline is one such hill.
You really need a low, slow gear for this one. The fun on that one starts right off Beacon Street. Another gem is Chestnut street, beginning at West Newton Square, just over the turnpike. That's a steep one.

I don't think there's any shame in walking a hill when you really need to.

Smogsteve

Walking a hill can't be too bad, one stage of the Tour de Flanders this year had a pitch steep enough to get a few of the pros to walk their bikes. So if young men who get paid to ride must do it there can be no shame for us.

wobblyoldgeezer

And, not to flog a dead thread but to thank respondents for encouragement

(and I enjoyed the 'so?' response - yup, it's a tiny story!!!)

Rode up the little lump today. Not on the larger ring - I'd done that before because there's a downhill approach to the lump, it's not hard to gather 30 or so mph and to try to maintain it

But, got into the 34 front on the approach and tapped down on the cassette as I lost momentum

And topped out with 4 larger cogs to go!!

(I know, not Nobel prize stuff, but Hey - little victories, eh?)

BluesDawg

Way to go!

NVanHiker

If I poop out on a long hill, I rest while sitting on the bike, then continue, thereby technically avoiding walking the bike!