Wind, particularly cross winds... that are slightly at your back but mostly a cross wind... that go on for 20 miles! And that are only 20 MPH... with gusts to 30... I love riding on the Northern Plains!

There's a short ramp on my evening commute, about 1/4 mile into the ride, that leaves me huffing.

That same ramp at the end of a 60 mile weekend ride is pffffft.

Weird but true.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39311237

Tectonic plate activity of the Earth's crust makes all the hills steeper every year.

Wow! More power to you.

Just looked at the map on a large monitor. I did Brandon Gap west to east during my self-contained trip across the country. It was the only climb during the entire trip that I though I might walk for a bit. Near the top my computer read 0 mph at one point. I did a uey, went back down a bit to regain momentum, did another uey and completed the climb.

You need to work on pacing yourself better. Next time try riding the first hills real slow and prepare to attack the smaller climbs at the end of the ride. Report back.

I have a large hill going on my commute. About a 6% grade and for about 200 feet. Alls i have to say is push thru it. With time that hill will be nothing compared to what you can achieve in the future.

It means it's a nefarious conspiracy to drain OP's riding powers.

Have you found an app that can explain humor to you?

its not that the climbs are hard and this has nothing to do with pacing. they are quite small in comparison to the rest. what is comical about them is that they are so minuscule but can be a little tough. it is as if there is a force field, higher gravity, or far denser air causing greater effort. these little spots *should* not be that hard...but they are. i always get a chuckle while riding them.

I had one near where I used to live in SoCal. On multiple occasions I got off the bike to check if my back tire was rubbing the frame of the brake pads or something. Nope. Just this weird stretch of road with no apparent slope or wind that just sucks.


Later on, I found a portion of Highway 395 in Oregon that for some reason was fast in both directions. I'd hit 20mph without much effort on the outbound and homeward legs of rides.

I reviewed my registration and I paid for the 80 mile route. I was mistakenly assumed I signed up for the 109 mile version. As it’s my first time in Vermont and the route still is awfully hilly I don’t mind.

You won’t regret the mistake.

Have you ever done D2R2 out of Deerfield, MA? Great event.

Yeah,with that climbing I expect I’ll be content with 80. I’m staying at a local B&B for the weekend, it’s about a 3 hour drive. I’ve ridden near Deerfield last fall but I’ve not done the D2R2 yet.

You may want to consider getting a taller cassette. I upgraded mine and it made a world of difference. In the past, I would push to get up the hills and then be fatigued for the rest of the ride. Now I gear down for the hills and have plenty left in the tank for the rest of the ride. My old bikes with old style racing gearing are even worse.

The road to our apartment is one way road, in the middle of a climb so the way out and back is a climb! I put small gears on my bike so I can still warm up properly. Yeah, going back after a long ride can be a pain. But have gone used to it.

sounds a bit like when our parents had to walk to school and home in the snow up hill both ways.

I have no idea about snow. But the way back exhausted can be annoying. It can be an opportunity to do a "make-believe" victory sprint up the hill, grimacing in pain like the pros but I don't! I've done it a few times and felt sick afterwards!

Don't discount the possibility of very tiny black holes.

On my short loop (just under 7 miles) I get in three climbs. One short quick steep ~15% climb a mile into my loop that I'm out of by the time I start to get winded and then a 200 yard 2% for a run-out.

The second is a medium climb around 300 yards long that gasses me a little bit, but it's the last climb that is frustrating. It's a 1 1/2 mile stretch that starts out with a short 200 yard 6% climb to get the blooding flowing, then a 400 yard stretch that is probably 2%, then a 100 yard 3% or 4%, then the remainder is a steady 1% 2% to the end. There's no relief.

Now, this would be a piece of cake with my geared bike but I rarely ride it any more. I ride my single speed Wabi 99% of the time and this last climb is a real leg burner that looks like it should be a breeze. I think part of the problem with climbs like this may be the make-up of the road surface. I think some asphalt surfaces drag on the tires whereas a similar stretch may ride fast on another road.

If anyone figure this out let me know......

i've been reading about string theory lately. wonder if i'm getting entangled.

Or dense mineral layers that increase local surface gravity.

Otto