905 

The only way to boost morale when approaching something like that is to imagine it could be worse.

ThermionicScott 

Ha! Good one, 905.

905 

I cycled up a steep hill, seeking wisdom and enlightenment. It took so many days and nights. I lost track of time. There seemed to be no end to the climbing. I nearly got off and walked, such was my weariness, but I was afraid that if I did, enlightenment would not be given to me. I could not spin; it was too steep, my gearing too unforgiving. I could only honk. At one point a flock of geese flew by low, honking as if to mock me. I passed the bones of others who had come before, and failed. They must have lost hope. I was not made of better stuff than them; I was merely more stubborn. Finally when I thought I could climb no higher, I reached the top.


At the top there sat a very old man. He looked at me and asked "Why do you come?" I said, "I have come to understand hills." He said, "Only after ten years can you begin to understand hills." So I sat with him there for ten long years. He wasn't a conversationalist; we said nothing. I merely contemplated hills. Occasionally I brought him a cup of tea, which he always spit out. This I took as a bad sign, but still we said nothing.


After the ten years had passed, I said: "Now tell me about hills." He said, "What goes up must come down." I said, "I already knew that." He said, "So why did you ask?"

delcrossv

The climb is prepayment for the downhill.

aaronmcd

This. And also, on long rides where I live, once I get over the 30 minute climbs it's all downhill to this:

John Redcorn

I made it to work today! 1st time ever. The hills weren't near as bad as riding with a backpack and helmet for the 1st time and it was only 70 degrees, got way sweaty under those. I guess I'll see what that feels like on the way home 20 degrees warmer.

spdracr39

This

Roopull

I live just East of Atlanta. It's all rolling foothills, here.

For years after it made sense, I rode a bike with downtube shifters. So, I only shifted when I really really really had to. As a result, I rarely shifted to climb and just powered up them. This made shorter hill climbs pretty fast, but made longer ones a nightmare.

I have sense had to re-train myself to accept the higher cadence of granny-gearing it up long hills... Much nicer... easier to last through long rides like that rather than standing on the pedals & torquing my way up a hill.

Aside from saving some energy for longer rides, I'm told it's easier on the drivetrain and rear wheels. That being said, I never had any issues with either on my old bike.

905 

Isn't that Walking Dead country? Fortunately the walkers no longer have the coordination to be riders, else those hills really would be nightmares.

Roopull

Yeah, we've got plenty of zombies out here... mostly going 45mph in the fast lane, though.