Will I be able to make it up this hill?
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Will I be able to make it up this hill?
So, I live at the top of a somewhat steep hill. It's .9 miles long, with a grade anywhere from 4-8%, but mostly around 6-7%. I'm a beginning cyclist, so not very strong yet. I'm considering getting either the Fantom Cross Uno
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/uno.htm
or the Dawes SST
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/dawes/sst.htm
Leanin more towards the Fantom. My question though is, do you think I would be able to make it up such a hill with the fantom? (it has 38 teeth in the front, and 16 in the rear). I really don't know much at all about this, so any help would be appreciated.. maybe singlespeed isn't for me? Thanks!
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/uno.htm
or the Dawes SST
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/dawes/sst.htm
Leanin more towards the Fantom. My question though is, do you think I would be able to make it up such a hill with the fantom? (it has 38 teeth in the front, and 16 in the rear). I really don't know much at all about this, so any help would be appreciated.. maybe singlespeed isn't for me? Thanks!
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Do you already own a multi-speed geared bike? If so, try riding up that hill in the same gear ratio and see how it feels. You can always change out the freewheel for one with more teeth that'll give you a lower gear rato.
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It may take some practice but you'll get there. Once you get your bike, you can always get a cog or two that are larger(go from a 48-16 to 48-17 or 48-18) to get you up the hill.
I once went up hill that was less than 100 yards long but 17% grade. I was zig zagging the whole way up and thought I'd pull the bars right off the stem. I had pedal strike just about every zig but I made it. Won't ever do it again. I was using a 42-15 ratio.
I once went up hill that was less than 100 yards long but 17% grade. I was zig zagging the whole way up and thought I'd pull the bars right off the stem. I had pedal strike just about every zig but I made it. Won't ever do it again. I was using a 42-15 ratio.
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When i had to drop off medicine for my brother he has a hill that leads to the entrance of his office (a gated mountain side) and i had to ride up the hill
It was 8 percent grade and it was probally only 500-600 feet.
It probally took me 1 minute or more on 48/13
It was 8 percent grade and it was probally only 500-600 feet.
It probally took me 1 minute or more on 48/13
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It may take some practice but you'll get there. Once you get your bike, you can always get a cog or two that are larger(go from a 48-16 to 48-17 or 48-18) to get you up the hill.
I once went up hill that was less than 100 yards long but 17% grade. I was zig zagging the whole way up and thought I'd pull the bars right off the stem. I had pedal strike just about every zig but I made it. Won't ever do it again. I was using a 42-15 ratio.
I once went up hill that was less than 100 yards long but 17% grade. I was zig zagging the whole way up and thought I'd pull the bars right off the stem. I had pedal strike just about every zig but I made it. Won't ever do it again. I was using a 42-15 ratio.
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We should have a thread for pics of hills we've dominated.
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Go up the hill spinning at a low gear. See how it feels and after training it should be a breeze.
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Thanks for the good advice so far guys.. heh those hills sound rough...
Yeah well I looked at a calculator and the Fantom is at 64.1 gear inches, compared to the dawes' 75.6... I guess I'll do what you guys said and try going up the hill in those basic ratios and see if I could make it... even if I could do it in both, I don't know what I'd choose cuz they're both such awesome-lookin bikes..
Yeah well I looked at a calculator and the Fantom is at 64.1 gear inches, compared to the dawes' 75.6... I guess I'll do what you guys said and try going up the hill in those basic ratios and see if I could make it... even if I could do it in both, I don't know what I'd choose cuz they're both such awesome-lookin bikes..
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Thanks for the good advice so far guys.. heh those hills sound rough...
Yeah well I looked at a calculator and the Fantom is at 64.1 gear inches, compared to the dawes' 75.6... I guess I'll do what you guys said and try going up the hill in those basic ratios and see if I could make it... even if I could do it in both, I don't know what I'd choose cuz they're both such awesome-lookin bikes..
Yeah well I looked at a calculator and the Fantom is at 64.1 gear inches, compared to the dawes' 75.6... I guess I'll do what you guys said and try going up the hill in those basic ratios and see if I could make it... even if I could do it in both, I don't know what I'd choose cuz they're both such awesome-lookin bikes..
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I went up a hill with 50% grade, 10 miles long, and a 53x11 gear ratio.
Holla at me.
You can do anything you want.
Holla at me.
You can do anything you want.
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Just to be clear, you are looking at two bikes that serve two different purposes. One is a track bike and one is a cyclocross bike.
If you plan on using the bike for climbing often I would consider about multispeed. If it's just occasional riding you CAN get up it. It's just a matter of rider ability/fitness level.
If you plan on using the bike for climbing often I would consider about multispeed. If it's just occasional riding you CAN get up it. It's just a matter of rider ability/fitness level.
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my craziest hill fixed was a 0.6 mile climb that averaged a 13% grade. gps claims it was 32% at one point, but the grade for much of it was reliably in the upper teens and twenties. my gearing in inches is only in the 60s, but that was insane without granny gears.
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George Street.
Worcester Massachusetts.
https://www.majortaylorassociation.or.../conti08.shtml
https://www.telegram.com/article/2009...99/0/FRONTPAGE
Worcester Massachusetts.
https://www.majortaylorassociation.or.../conti08.shtml
https://www.telegram.com/article/2009...99/0/FRONTPAGE