I made it all the way up!!
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2015
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I made it all the way up!!
The last 5 miles of my commute on the way in to work is up hill. The last bit of the hill is super steep and I have always had to dismount and walk that bit until....today!
I'm super stoked that I made it all the way up without walking my bike.
The best part is, this is the first time that I have ridden in without feeling totally done by the time I got to the office. I felt refreshed and ready to work (or in this case, post) when I got in. I've been doing the full distance commute for about 6 weeks or so now. I'm very much looking forward to the next 6 weeks to see what new changes come up by then.
Go team persistence!
I'm super stoked that I made it all the way up without walking my bike.
The best part is, this is the first time that I have ridden in without feeling totally done by the time I got to the office. I felt refreshed and ready to work (or in this case, post) when I got in. I've been doing the full distance commute for about 6 weeks or so now. I'm very much looking forward to the next 6 weeks to see what new changes come up by then.
Go team persistence!
#2
Senior Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,532
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Bikes: Working on replacing my stolen Soma Buena Vista Mixte
Awesome! Congrats! I am working on mastering my hills too! The 4 block radius around my home has hills from slow climbs to moderate to super steep! I understand the feeling.
Great job!
Great job!
#5
Congrats! That sounds like a difficult commute... mine is the opposite, I get a downhill break on my way to work, then have to climb back up on my way home, where I can be sweaty and tired with a bit less worry.
#8
Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2011
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From: CID
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Way to go! It's a great feeling to conquer steeper and longer hills.
#9
www.ocrebels.com
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 6,186
Likes: 8
From: Los Angeles area
Bikes: Several bikes, Road, Mountain, Commute, etc.
Congratulations on making it to the summit on two wheels!
I love to climb but my commute is so flat . . . even if I add extra bonus climbs I only get about 600 feet of altitude for the round trip.
Rick / OCRR
I love to climb but my commute is so flat . . . even if I add extra bonus climbs I only get about 600 feet of altitude for the round trip.
Rick / OCRR
#11
Sophomore Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 65
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From: Austin, Texas
Bikes: Me: 2011 Novara Fusion, "Ivy Mike" and 2014 Novara FlyBy, "Nightbeat"; My Wife: 2012 Torker Tristar, "Kate"
Way to go! I had a beast on my way home that I called Mount Crumpit, so bad that I took a bus to get up it for months after I started commuting on a bike. These days, it doesn't seem so big and bad anymore. Here's hoping your inclined foe will in time become an afterthought as well.
#15
aka Tom Reingold




Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,171
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From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
You mentioned this hill recently, so I think this is outstanding. I'm dying to know how many weeks you've been riding this route! Seems like it's not even very long.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#16
Thread Starter
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Joined: Mar 2015
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noglider - I checked the calendar and it's actually been 8 weeks that I've been hacking at this hill. (A little longer than I thought.)
There are 5 hills on my route and there's one left that kicks my butt every time. It's very short but it's really really steep and it comes right before the final climb on the commute. I am wary to try it because I feel like, if I make it up, I'll run out of juice for the long climb. It will happen - I'm just not quite there yet.
Thanks for the encouragement, everyone!
There are 5 hills on my route and there's one left that kicks my butt every time. It's very short but it's really really steep and it comes right before the final climb on the commute. I am wary to try it because I feel like, if I make it up, I'll run out of juice for the long climb. It will happen - I'm just not quite there yet.
Thanks for the encouragement, everyone!
#17
Senior Member
Joined: May 2005
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From: La La Land (We love it!)
Bikes: Gilmour road, Curtlo road; both steel (of course)
Well done!
I have worked out the least hilly route possible for my commute but nothing beats a triumph like yours...
I have worked out the least hilly route possible for my commute but nothing beats a triumph like yours...
__________________
Today, I believe my jurisdiction ends here...
Today, I believe my jurisdiction ends here...
#18
aka Tom Reingold




Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,171
Likes: 6,398
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Soon that hardest hill won't be so hard. Eight weeks is a short time! Imagine yourself looking back at this week, six months or a year from now.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#19
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,014
Likes: 0
From: Nanaimo, BC
Bikes: 1997 Kona Hahana Race Light, 2010 Surly LHT(deceased), 1999 Rocky Mountain Turbo
Awesome. I know I'm proud of you, I can't imagine what that long of a hill would feel like. I'll give you a celebratory e-cheers.
Keep up the progress.
Keep up the progress.
#20
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,828
Likes: 1
From: West Georgia
Bikes: K2 Mod 5.0 Roadie, Fuji Commuter
That is a great feeling!!!!
There's a hill just down the road that that is in several Strava segments. None of the names would get past the censors on this site. I've been able to get all the way up since last summer. Now, I'm working on shortening the recovery time at the top.
There's a hill just down the road that that is in several Strava segments. None of the names would get past the censors on this site. I've been able to get all the way up since last summer. Now, I'm working on shortening the recovery time at the top.
#23
Congrats, it's nice to overcome challenges like that. I have a hill right after leaving work in the evening and I often feel like I am not warmed up enough when I get to it. Properly timed afternoon caffeine helps and lately I've been doing a few core exercises in my office before I leave to warm up and I think this helps.
#24
The more I get into shape, I don't find myself getting much faster, but one thing I have noticed is a quicker recovery. Perhaps you're also getting a bit quicker recovery period from increased fitness.







