Should I be standing up for hills? Why? Why not?
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Ha! Good one, 905.
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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?"
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?"
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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.
Last edited by John Redcorn; 06-24-14 at 08:19 AM.
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Your weight doesn't make a difference at to whether you stand or not. If the hill is short and I've got a lot of speed, I'll attack the hill and stand. If the hill is a long one, I'll gear down but I also stand occasionally on long hills to work a different set of muscles. There's really no rule.
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
Isn't that Walking Dead country? Fortunately the walkers no longer have the coordination to be riders, else those hills really would be nightmares.
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