ziggydcat

Man. I had forgotten how fun hills can be. But for some reason doing them at 40 and 259 pounds sucked compared to when I was 20 and doing them at 175 pounds. Not big hills or anything, this is metro Detroit after all. My rides up to now have been a gentle climb out and on the return a gentle descent. Today it was up and down, up and down...repeat.

Just have to remember that the more I ride the quicker the weight comes off. Lost 15 pounds in the last 2 weeks. 40" waist down to 38". Now my pants are falling off at work and my 4x shirts look like tents.

CliftonGK1

I love riding hills. Not that I'm the next Miguel Indurain or anything, but I enjoy the challenge of my extended climbing opportunities here in the Cascade Mountains.
I rode a low mountain pass 200k this weekend: Only 2350' at the crest, but it was on a 14 mile gravel service road which added a new challenge.

Wogster

Yeah don't ya just love it, okay 3rd gear, 2nd gear, first gear.... Granny ring, I'm already in the $%#@!*& granny ring, heck that was granny that just passed me with her walker!!!! I find that spring and hills are the worst.

April, what is this freaking mountain, as you walk your bike up most of it.
May, okay no walking this time, it's getting better
June, hey I didn't need low gear that time.
July, don't need the granny ring this time.
August, what hill?

CliftonGK1

Ah... the 24" gear. My ride partner had to bust that one out on a hill near the end of our 200k over the weekend. I didn't walk any of it, but I was down to 3.7mph by the time I crested the hill. Might have been quicker to get off and walk.

Wogster

24", heck mine bottoms out at 17" which in many cases is a little too low, but in April, you sometimes need it, low gear on the road bike is 40 I can't see stiff hills in April on that one...

Only one thing more shocking, 33 minutes in and Italy hasn't scored yet....

CliftonGK1

I should clarify: 24" gear is a reference to getting off and walking... average stride being about 2 feet. I didn't think it was an inside joke, but it might be since I've only heard it from other people in my rando club.

fp64

April, what is this freaking mountain, as you walk your bike up most of it.
May, okay no walking this time, it's getting better
June, hey I didn't need low gear that time.
July, don't need the granny ring this time.
August, what hill?

I agree 100%

zzyzx_xyzzy

or more particularly, the average stride being done by two feet.

Wogster

I think the average stride is closer to 3 feet.....

scrming

I can completely relate!

20 years ago I used to ride with the Downriver Cycling Club (downriver Detroit). I fondly remember sprinting over the overpasses! I was 26 and about 210.. Here it is 20 years later and over a 100 pounds heavier... I now live up in Saginaw, where it is just as FLAT if not flatter! LOL!

Got back in the saddle about 5 weeks ago... I went up to West Branch last Saturday to do the Tri-City Cyclist's "Thrills and Hills" ride. OMG! Those were some HILLS! I did the shortest route of 35 miles. There was one particular hill I thought was going to get the best of me... but I said to myself, "I've never walked up a hill before and I'm not going to start now" and I continued to tough it out at 4 MPH! I had to stop at the top to catch my breath... but it was a great feeling of accomplishment!

Push

This is how I feel about it, where I live is all hills, I mean ALL I don't think there is a flat spot to be found other than the top of each hill BUT the good news is that it does get easier and easier. The best part is that I had been riding my daughter to school in our bike trailer and there is one pretty steep hill on the route that needs to be ridden up to get her there and the past couple months its been getting easier, well school ended and for fun I went that way up that very hill sans trailer and woah! the "what hill?" statement above was in full swing its amazing what a difference it was without the 45 pound kiddo, her school stuff and a trailer hooked up to the bike, looks like I am ahead of the graph its only June!

Push

ziggydcat

I have ridden this hilly route two more times since I posted this and I'm amazed at how much faster and ?easier? it has gotten. Maybe it's just knowing whats around the corner, I don't know. All I know for sure is that I LOVE IT! It hurts so good.

wild animals

I hadn't realized exactly how much more of an athlete I am after a few years of serious cycling. Tonight I rode up two "hills" that we hadn't seen in a few years, and it was easy peasy lemon squeezy. I used to have a cruiser w/a Nexus 8 hub, and I only weighed a few pounds more than I do now, but I wasn't as strong, and didn't have touring gears. So it was work to get up those hills. Now? No problem! Love it.

I am growing to like hills more as time goes on. I never thought I'd say that! But I love showing them who's boss.