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I am so slow going uphill . . .

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I am so slow going uphill . . .

Old 04-14-12, 06:28 PM
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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.
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Old 04-14-12, 06:41 PM
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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....
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Old 04-14-12, 07:52 PM
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I know what you mean. I am slow on the hills too.
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Old 04-14-12, 08:55 PM
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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.
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Old 04-14-12, 09:02 PM
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Originally Posted by volosong
. . . 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.
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Old 04-14-12, 09:29 PM
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Lower the auto pause threshold speed
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Old 04-14-12, 09:55 PM
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I thought we were supposed to be slow. After all, we're past 50.
Please tell me we're not supposed to be fast!!!
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Old 04-14-12, 11:49 PM
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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.
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Old 04-15-12, 03:52 AM
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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.
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Old 04-15-12, 10:14 AM
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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.
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Old 04-15-12, 11:35 AM
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Or did you out do the Garmin? As in the Garmin got pooped. I think you are pushing that thing to hard.
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Old 04-15-12, 11:39 AM
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You're not slow and ditch the Garmin.
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Old 04-15-12, 11:46 AM
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Originally Posted by SuncoastChad
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.
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Old 04-15-12, 02:20 PM
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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!
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Old 04-15-12, 02:26 PM
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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.
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Old 04-15-12, 04:22 PM
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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.
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Old 04-15-12, 04:33 PM
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I'm slow on the up hills. I scare myself on the downs.
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Old 04-15-12, 04:44 PM
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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.
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Old 04-15-12, 05:10 PM
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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.
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Old 04-16-12, 07:22 AM
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It's Issac Newton's fault! If he didn't invent gravity, hills would be no problem.
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Old 04-16-12, 09:14 AM
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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
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Old 04-16-12, 09:24 AM
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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
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Old 04-16-12, 09:49 AM
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just use the hill climbing as an opportunity to practice your track stand ...
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Old 04-16-12, 10:04 AM
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Originally Posted by TomD77
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."
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Old 04-16-12, 10:09 AM
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I am so slow going up hills that my rear wheel asks my front wheel if it has finished its nap.
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