Originally Posted by
VegasJen
Did the Santa Barbara triathlon yesterday. Once again, on the same bike, I had to walk up about a 1/2 mile of the course. The difference between this year and last year though is I think I could have stayed on the bike, but I got to a point where I think I was spending more energy staying on than walking up. I have a Velo on this bike and when I dismounted, I was averaging about 4.2mph. Walking I was doing 2.9mph. So I definitely gave up some modest speed, but I also don't feel like I was burning myself out as much. I think the gearing is OK, I guess. It's not like I ever ran out of gear. I could keep spinning at a decent rate, but I was going so slowly that I was wobbling all over the place.
So I don't know if there is anything bike/equipment related that can help that, or if I just need to get stronger on the hills. I do know that I can maintain a pretty strong pace on the flats or down hill sections, but I give every bit of it back and then some when I get to the climbs.
Of course you spend more energy cycling up the climb at 4.2 mph vs walking up at 2.9 mph. As you didn't run out of gears, your problem was the energy expenditure at your minimum cycling speed. Solutions are:-
1. Lose weight so you require less energy to climb at 4.2 mph
2. Get fitter so you can cope with the required energy level to climb at 4.2 mph
3. Learn to ride slower than 4.2 mph without wobbling