I just gotta say, I like hills...
03-21-11, 05:51 PM
#26
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I think it depends on where you are. Two years ago we spent the spring and summer in the Lake Placid NY area. I hated hills when I got there, but by the end of the summer I was right at home there and loved to do hills. Now that I am back in the Arizona desert the hills in my area are no match for the ones in Lake Placid. Most of my ridding is flatter and so hills have become more problematic.
When I go up to Lake Placid it is usually for this ride: Downtown Wilmington to the top of Whiteface.
And for Beanz's sake:
03-21-11, 06:05 PM
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I'd have to say that 3 miles at 12% at the end of the Mountains of Misery Century is pretty tough. 
03-21-11, 06:23 PM
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03-21-11, 06:38 PM
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I don't live too far from there. What kind of gearing are you useing to make it up? I've often thought of driving over and trying it early evening after they close the too road. You're my newest hero.
03-21-11, 06:57 PM
#30
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How many hills must one roadie climb
before they call him a roadie?
before they call him a roadie?
03-21-11, 07:16 PM
#31
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I'm hill deprived.
To climb steeper hills, I need to put the bike in the car and drive 4 hours to the counties west of Madison, WI. Once I'm there, I can climb 10,000 accumilative feet in short but steep sections. It takes a few dozen climbs, over 100 miles. Plenty of 15 to 22 percent hills.
I live for it.
To climb steeper hills, I need to put the bike in the car and drive 4 hours to the counties west of Madison, WI. Once I'm there, I can climb 10,000 accumilative feet in short but steep sections. It takes a few dozen climbs, over 100 miles. Plenty of 15 to 22 percent hills.
I live for it.
03-22-11, 12:53 AM
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I gotta have my hills. I have to travel quite a ways out of town to get any serious hillage, but luckily right in my neighborhood there are some really short, steep bits that hold the water from a local lake in place. Perfect for hill repeats. That's what I did last evening after work, when the thunderstorm that was predicted didn't come, and it was nearly 70 degrees... I was able to get in about 2400 ft of climbing over 18 miles. Perfect!
I'm doing Mountains of Misery again, too. This will be my third time. I plan to be in a lot better shape this year than I was last year, for sure!
I'm doing Mountains of Misery again, too. This will be my third time. I plan to be in a lot better shape this year than I was last year, for sure!
03-22-11, 01:50 PM
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03-22-11, 03:05 PM
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Is there a difference between liking hills and liking to climb? Could one hate to climb, but like hills, or could one hate hills but like to climb?
I often like where hills take me, but don't always like the climb. Sometimes I like the climb because it challenges me or break the rythym of a ride. Somtimes I don't like either. Sometimes I like them both.
I often like where hills take me, but don't always like the climb. Sometimes I like the climb because it challenges me or break the rythym of a ride. Somtimes I don't like either. Sometimes I like them both.
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03-22-11, 03:12 PM
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I just gotta say, I like hills...
You do realize that you can be replaced for making comments like this. Don't you?
03-22-11, 03:39 PM
#36
Procrastinateur supreme
I love hills too... even touring up them, with camping gear. At least I did - in my memory... I think that if I have done this, I can still do this...but my mind has to start talking to my knees!
Not only do you get such a rush from conquering the bump, you get to ride down the other side - a real adventure.
Not only do you get such a rush from conquering the bump, you get to ride down the other side - a real adventure.
03-22-11, 05:17 PM
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I like to tie a grand piano to my bike and haul it around.... preferably into a nice stiff wind. There's no fun like that! 
03-22-11, 05:28 PM
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We camped all summer in Wilmington at the North Pole Campground and I did Whiteface from there and from Bloomingdale too. The Ironman loop I did many times and lots of the surrounding towns too. I loved that area. I rode up above Plattsburg to Moors and over the bridge into Vermont and took a ferry back near Plattsburg again.
03-22-11, 05:42 PM
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If you are talking about Whiteface I had a triple with 11/27 cassette. I can't remember when they close the road to the top but that's a lousy ride from the guard shack to the top. The road heaves badly which makes it a real pain to clime and to come back too. I usually turn off on the road to Bloomindale and make that loop through Saranac Lake and back to Willimgton.
03-22-11, 06:19 PM
#40
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I can easily ride up the commonwealth ave hill, approaching Boston College, on my fixie. Long, but just the right angle for the entire distance. The next street over is Ward street. Same hill,
far less traffic passing you on the way up. Hills are great for building you up all over. (My opinion)
It is rather amusing / interesting to hear some people talk about how "I can't go that way, it's too hilly". Or, "I only ride here, because there aren't any hills." Hoo boy.
far less traffic passing you on the way up. Hills are great for building you up all over. (My opinion)
It is rather amusing / interesting to hear some people talk about how "I can't go that way, it's too hilly". Or, "I only ride here, because there aren't any hills." Hoo boy.
03-22-11, 06:46 PM
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I'm fortunate to live on the edge of the knobstone escarpment. Outside my door it's flat, and north and east are miles of endless flats. 30 minutes southwest are endless short/steep hills. Despite being 6'3" 200#, I enjoy attacking the hills. A day in the flats can be a blast as well.
The only thing worse than a headwind, though, is a 5 mph tailwind up a long grinding climb on a 95 degree/90% humidity day under a baking sun.
The only thing worse than a headwind, though, is a 5 mph tailwind up a long grinding climb on a 95 degree/90% humidity day under a baking sun.
03-22-11, 07:08 PM
#42
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If you are talking about Whiteface I had a triple with 11/27 cassette. I can't remember when they close the road to the top but that's a lousy ride from the guard shack to the top. The road heaves badly which makes it a real pain to clime and to come back too. I usually turn off on the road to Bloomindale and make that loop through Saranac Lake and back to Willimgton.
03-23-11, 07:04 AM
#43
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I have SRAM 34-50 compact double with 11-28 cogs.
Here's a slick graphical gearing calculator that lets you compare gearing setups:
https://www.gear-calculator.com/#KB=3...5&UF=2099&SL=2
Here's a slick graphical gearing calculator that lets you compare gearing setups:
https://www.gear-calculator.com/#KB=3...5&UF=2099&SL=2
03-23-11, 07:25 PM
#44
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I'm fortunate to live on the edge of the knobstone escarpment. Outside my door it's flat, and north and east are miles of endless flats. 30 minutes southwest are endless short/steep hills. Despite being 6'3" 200#, I enjoy attacking the hills. A day in the flats can be a blast as well.
The only thing worse than a headwind, though, is a 5 mph tailwind up a long grinding climb on a 95 degree/90% humidity day under a baking sun.
The only thing worse than a headwind, though, is a 5 mph tailwind up a long grinding climb on a 95 degree/90% humidity day under a baking sun.
Yes, you do have a bunch of hills down your way, next to some flat stuff.
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Last edited by JanMM; 03-23-11 at 08:37 PM.
03-23-11, 08:15 PM
#45
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Since moving to one of the few un-glaciated areas of Illinois I have learned to enjoy hills. The views and relative lack of traffic make for pleasant rides. Long flat rides are boring, and I dislike headwinds. When you ride a lot of hills and curves the wind isn't so much of a factor. The only time I like long flat rides is if I have a destination.
03-23-11, 08:45 PM
#46
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I've really enjoyed the Grand Touring/CIBA ride starting in Columbus the last couple of Springs in "western Bartholomew County and eastern Brown County. This ride will meander through Grandview Lake, Pikes Peak, Hoosier National Forest and other Indiana back road delights" https://www.cibaride.org/images/stori...desApr-Jun.pdf
Yes, you do have a bunch of hills down your way, next to some flat stuff.
Yes, you do have a bunch of hills down your way, next to some flat stuff.
03-25-11, 04:42 PM
#48
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I see so many off-hand comments about hating hills that I gotta say, I like hills. I actively search out rides with more hill. I like standing up and pumping up short hills, and sitting and grinding up long steep hills. I like the vistas that getting to the top often provides. Fast descents are fun too, unless they get tediously long. I dislike long flat rides. I also kinda like riding into stiff headwinds.
I know I'm not alone, as there are many group rides that feature climbs.
I know I'm not alone, as there are many group rides that feature climbs.
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03-25-11, 06:13 PM
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03-25-11, 06:45 PM
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Even some of us larger folks love the hills. Most of the places I have lived have flat roads full of carelessly driven cars and hilly roads that have much less traffic. I prefer the latter. Of course, I did live in the Sacramento Valley for twenty years where hills are so rare their value becomes enhanced. After so many years of having to ride ridiculous distances in order to get to some hills, it would be inappropriate to complain about them.