rode up the hill!
09-04-05, 10:24 AM
#1
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rode up the hill!
I've been sharing that I'm back to cycling after a 15 year layoff. Hard to get back into shape, especially hill climbs.
Where I live (SF East Bay Area) so many of the good rides start out with a strong climb.
So after 8 weeks of riding, yesterday for the first time I climbed a good hill, maybe 1000 ft. (for those of you who know the area: Old Tunnel Road to Skyline). It turns out I still knew every turn of the road, every minor shift in the gradient. I've been up this road hundreds of times, but so long ago.
I made it about 2/3 up on my middle chainring, then the rest of the way on my granny gear. Cyclists passed me on the up, and I was a little chagrinned, especially since I'm now running granny gear, but I kept going.
One more observation: So many more cyclists than 15 years ago, so many more with good gear, so many more in full regalia. On the way down the hill, I passed the entire U.C. Berkeley cycling team going uphill on a training run, must have been 40 in their "peloton".
Today (day after) feel great, I'm taking a rest day today, then keep plugging again.
Thanks for listening
Where I live (SF East Bay Area) so many of the good rides start out with a strong climb.
So after 8 weeks of riding, yesterday for the first time I climbed a good hill, maybe 1000 ft. (for those of you who know the area: Old Tunnel Road to Skyline). It turns out I still knew every turn of the road, every minor shift in the gradient. I've been up this road hundreds of times, but so long ago.
I made it about 2/3 up on my middle chainring, then the rest of the way on my granny gear. Cyclists passed me on the up, and I was a little chagrinned, especially since I'm now running granny gear, but I kept going.
One more observation: So many more cyclists than 15 years ago, so many more with good gear, so many more in full regalia. On the way down the hill, I passed the entire U.C. Berkeley cycling team going uphill on a training run, must have been 40 in their "peloton".
Today (day after) feel great, I'm taking a rest day today, then keep plugging again.
Thanks for listening
09-04-05, 04:31 PM
#2
feros ferio
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Congrats! I love hills.
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
09-04-05, 07:16 PM
#4
Berry Pie..the Holy Grail
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You've every right to feel good about yourself and your rededication. The first "hill" many of us have overcome is middle-aged inertia which is sooo easy to succomb to. Every rider in this section has climbed that steep hill and left many of our age-peers behind us. As for me, there are some local "real" hills that leave me wishing for a third lung!
09-04-05, 09:37 PM
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Thanks for the encouragement, that 3rd lung would be great, I never knew about something called lung capacity until my recent entry into these forums, I used to just ride.
I just remembered how in my early twenties I used to jam to the top of the same hill (probably 3.5 miles uphill) so I could smoke a cigarette while waiting for the others to catch up. Fortunately I gave that up some 30 years ago.
I just remembered how in my early twenties I used to jam to the top of the same hill (probably 3.5 miles uphill) so I could smoke a cigarette while waiting for the others to catch up. Fortunately I gave that up some 30 years ago.
09-04-05, 10:17 PM
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The Improbable Bulk
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Congratulations!
I have never rode up that hill, but I did drive up it. Definitely a "real" hill!
Your comment about all of the high end equipment struck a chord with me, because I read a message in another forum a while back about bike thefts being so frequent... I haven't found it since I have had time to reply, but I think bike thefts are up because the number of bikes that are worth 3 months' salary is greater.
The amazing thing is that most of those people riding the high end bikes probably gain just a few seconds on the length of the climb based on their equipment... The engines are also getting much better now, I think in great part due to the influence of Greg Lemond, Lance Armstrong and others.
I have never rode up that hill, but I did drive up it. Definitely a "real" hill!
Your comment about all of the high end equipment struck a chord with me, because I read a message in another forum a while back about bike thefts being so frequent... I haven't found it since I have had time to reply, but I think bike thefts are up because the number of bikes that are worth 3 months' salary is greater.
The amazing thing is that most of those people riding the high end bikes probably gain just a few seconds on the length of the climb based on their equipment... The engines are also getting much better now, I think in great part due to the influence of Greg Lemond, Lance Armstrong and others.
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Slow Ride Cyclists of NEPA
People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character.
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Slow Ride Cyclists of NEPA
People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
09-05-05, 01:20 PM
#7
Let's do a Century
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Great job on the hill!! So what will be more rewarding. Being at the level you once were at or where you might get should you keep riding for a while?
I completely agree about more riders and equipment. I've only been riding for 4 years but have seen many, many more cyclists at various events I go to.
I completely agree about more riders and equipment. I've only been riding for 4 years but have seen many, many more cyclists at various events I go to.
