Hill climbing tips
07-28-09, 09:08 PM
#26
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A few more thoughts:
2. Do you try to power up the hill, and then down shift and down shift when you don't make it? What could be happening is that the initial "power effort" exhausts your leg muscles too quickly for the hill. It's as if you are doing leg presses in a gym, and that kind of weight-lifting-like effort is not sustainable for long---not in a gym, and certainly not cycling a real life hill.
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2. Do you try to power up the hill, and then down shift and down shift when you don't make it? What could be happening is that the initial "power effort" exhausts your leg muscles too quickly for the hill. It's as if you are doing leg presses in a gym, and that kind of weight-lifting-like effort is not sustainable for long---not in a gym, and certainly not cycling a real life hill.
]
07-28-09, 10:27 PM
#27
Uber Goober
One thing that has helped me a lot in general riding is a good headlight. When it was a pretty day, everyone was out riding. When winter came, nobody was out there in the dark but me.
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"be careful this rando stuff is addictive and dan's the 'pusher'."
"be careful this rando stuff is addictive and dan's the 'pusher'."
07-29-09, 11:25 AM
#28
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08-02-09, 05:17 PM
#29
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How about an electric motor for assist on the hills, with a lithum ion battery (half the weight of sealed lead acid) might be a good choice. You don't even need to tell anyone you have one if you have panniers over the wheel with the motor hub. As a reference, check out itelectric.ca thats a Canadian company but there's lots of suppliers for bike kits around. I'd shy away from Ebay for batteries though. Good Rding...............
08-05-09, 04:31 AM
#30
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No advice from me. I'm new to 'bent' too. I share your pain, but I'm SURE we'll make it!
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The "rest of bent life" (non-hill) is so good, we have to take the bitter with the better. We'll get there.
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have fun!
.
The "rest of bent life" (non-hill) is so good, we have to take the bitter with the better. We'll get there.
.
have fun!
08-05-09, 03:04 PM
#31
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Didn't read every post in this thread, so forgive me if I repeat something.
I am coming back to riding my recumbent after being off 3 or 4 years. Have always dreaded hills when I come to them. (And I live in the flatlands of Illinois!) But, when I got back out on the road this spring after hours of riding the trainer in the basement all winter something clicked. I'm climbing better than I ever have in my 46 years.
I attribute it primarily to two things:
1. Indoor winter training. My "engine" is in better shape than I can remember. Dropped 30 pounds and in great shape (cardio and muscular).
2. Learned how to "attack" the climb. Using my momentum leading to the climb, making the right gear selection, and maintaining a high cadence up and over the crest of hills.
Although I don't climb mountains around here I don't dread the climbs I do make.
Just my 2 cents.
I am coming back to riding my recumbent after being off 3 or 4 years. Have always dreaded hills when I come to them. (And I live in the flatlands of Illinois!) But, when I got back out on the road this spring after hours of riding the trainer in the basement all winter something clicked. I'm climbing better than I ever have in my 46 years.
I attribute it primarily to two things:
1. Indoor winter training. My "engine" is in better shape than I can remember. Dropped 30 pounds and in great shape (cardio and muscular).
2. Learned how to "attack" the climb. Using my momentum leading to the climb, making the right gear selection, and maintaining a high cadence up and over the crest of hills.
Although I don't climb mountains around here I don't dread the climbs I do make.
Just my 2 cents.
08-05-09, 07:12 PM
#32
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That makes a lot of sense. For me, #2 has allowed me to deal with hills without having to stop on them because my gearing was too high on the approach. I do need to work on #1 a bit more...
08-16-09, 05:24 PM
#33
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I think its a strength/power thing. I have never used the smallest cog up front. Actually I dont think ive ever used the largest either lol. I just stay in the middle cog and have had no problems on any hills.
08-16-09, 08:27 PM
#34
Senior Member
How about an electric motor for assist on the hills, with a lithum ion battery (half the weight of sealed lead acid) might be a good choice. You don't even need to tell anyone you have one if you have panniers over the wheel with the motor hub. As a reference, check out itelectric.ca thats a Canadian company but there's lots of suppliers for bike kits around. I'd shy away from Ebay for batteries though. Good Rding...............
08-16-09, 08:34 PM
#35
Senior Member
The best way to get good at hills is to do lots of hills. After a while you figure out what you need to do. For the small hills in S. Michigan, I try to hold my momentum on the first half of the hill, then downshift as needed. That often puts me in front of the wedgies far enough that they never catch back up. They may climb faster, but they lose speed quicker in the bottom half of the climb. Don't go into the red unless you know you can top the hill before you blow up; otherwise know your maximum sustainable exertion rate and don't go beyond it.
