It is okay to walk up steep hills
#127
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Bike Calculator gives 9 mph for 800W with a 70 kg rider on a 15 kg bike. Speed drops to 8 mph for an 80 kg rider. That part is pretty simple physics and I see your point. 5 mph would seem slow for a genuine 800W output
In my limited experience of e-bikes they tend to stall out on very steep climbs, so probably not contributing 350W at that very low cadence. The above physics certainly suggests he is not making 800W total. Seems more like 500W unless weight is very high. My friend has an e-bike (Orbea road bike) and his definitely struggles on gradients above 20%. While he can easily cruise away from me on a typical 7 or 8% slope, I can actually pass him on very steep slopes above 20%.
In my limited experience of e-bikes they tend to stall out on very steep climbs, so probably not contributing 350W at that very low cadence. The above physics certainly suggests he is not making 800W total. Seems more like 500W unless weight is very high. My friend has an e-bike (Orbea road bike) and his definitely struggles on gradients above 20%. While he can easily cruise away from me on a typical 7 or 8% slope, I can actually pass him on very steep slopes above 20%.
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#128
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I had a friend who came with me bicycle camping near Matachewan, Ontario, Canada. After climbing one of the dirt/gravel road hills he said that he'd walk the next one. After walking the next hill he then said he'd ride the next one no matter how slowly as riding was easier than trying to push that loaded bicycle up the dirt/gravel hill.
As far as I'm concerned though, I think it's better to walk up a hill than risk a heart attack trying to ride up it if the gearing or fitness level are not up to that gradient. Besides, you just might see something interesting that you wouldn't see if you were riding.
Cheers
As far as I'm concerned though, I think it's better to walk up a hill than risk a heart attack trying to ride up it if the gearing or fitness level are not up to that gradient. Besides, you just might see something interesting that you wouldn't see if you were riding.
Cheers
#129
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There's a smaller hill at our Malden Park, and where I bike at Heron Park in east windsor.The old dump. It's actually quite a nice park. Great for people like myself who have no interest in jogging but would like to get our heart rate to the next level walking. On a bike its easy enough to get my heart rate up on a flat road with a taller gear and more muscle.
Last edited by xroadcharlie; 11-11-22 at 02:16 PM.
#130
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What I find funny about this thread is the idea that people need to be told it's ok to walk up the hill.
It's your ride, if it's ok with you, it's nobody else's business.
That being said, jumping off a cliff is not ok unless you're a hang glider.
It's your ride, if it's ok with you, it's nobody else's business.
That being said, jumping off a cliff is not ok unless you're a hang glider.
#131
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I've got my touring bike geared so low, it's easier to pedal than push; low of 15.7 gear inches. Still, if I head out without training I'll get off and push at the end of a long day. It uses different muscles and that can feel like a relief. I really don't care what people think. And I always tour alone, so there's no issue with others needing to wait.
#132
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I walk a lot of hills. The last one was on a little exploratory side jaunt up unpaved Grotzman Rd. It was only a few hundred feet long, but it was 20% or more grade, rutted, and covered in loose dirt and river gravel. I rode down, smashing my squealing rim brakes to keep me around 7-10 mph on that loose, rutted surface with a snug turn at the steepest part. I kept expecting to go down as we bounced and hopped, but my butt far behind the Princess' saddle helped offset the weight of my heart in my throat and I made it to the bottom. I'm certain that 26" wheels factored in. I probably could have walked it down, but I there was a risk I'd slip and fall; when I fall I tend to sprain or break things, so I actually felt safer on the bike.