The Climbing thread
11-09-05 | 04:04 PM
#26
RacingBear
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 9,053
Likes: 68
From: NorCal
Originally Posted by 'nother
Only 2 miles? Try a 20-mile descent. It's not so much the speed, or the stopping that bothers me on descents, but the mental fatigue (and some physical fatigue: I'm susceptible to Tennis Elbow which can be brought on by the action of braking hard or frequently). Gotta watch the ruts, gravel, cars, other cyclists, etc. etc.. Going up there are a lot fewer issues. Just keep moving 
11-09-05 | 04:23 PM
#27
still fuzzy
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
From: hoosier
Bikes: Nova
Originally Posted by 'nother
Only 2 miles? Try a 20-mile descent. It's not so much the speed, or the stopping that bothers me on descents, but the mental fatigue (and some physical fatigue: I'm susceptible to Tennis Elbow which can be brought on by the action of braking hard or frequently). Gotta watch the ruts, gravel, cars, other cyclists, etc. etc.. Going up there are a lot fewer issues. Just keep moving
Braking hard or frequently? Was I supposed to slow down at all? Now why would I do that?
I like flats for a race, 'cause you get to keep a good pace and draft and it's all very precise. I love hills, though. Going up is great, for all the reasons mentioned in this thread, and when you get to the top, you get to go down again! (usually) Win-win!
I'm 5'11, 156lbs. I can climb and sprint, but don't specialize in either. (or both, I would prefer to think)
11-09-05 | 04:35 PM
#28
Dagger Boy
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,247
Likes: 0
From: Southern California
Bikes: 1999 GT 5.0i mountain, 2004 Basso Reef road
Originally Posted by OC Roadie
That section past the tunnels (known as the Hogsback) is the nastiest section until the switcbacks. If you make over the Hogsback, you might as well stick it out until at least the village, there's even a short downhill to help recover. Over the summer, I did Baldy from the corner of Mills Rd and Mt Baldy Rd at least once a week, and it never it got any easier. I'm planning on doing a century over Thanksgiving weekend that starts in Anaheim Hills and goes to the Mt Baldy Ski Lifts and back. On our last attempt of this ride, we pussed out just before the switchbacks, it was 104 degrees outside. GMR is a really fun climb .
.I gotta remember to bring warm clothes for this excursion!
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11-09-05 | 04:47 PM
#29
Out of Commission
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,272
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From: SoCal
Bikes: Felt FC, S-Works Roubaix, Epic Comp, Cyfac Proxidium
Originally Posted by Extort
Come on, do Baldy with us! It is a hellish ascent (at 95 degrees) and at the pace that OC puts forth we can die together halfway up! Sounds like fun, doesn't it?
I gotta remember to bring warm clothes for this excursion!
I gotta remember to bring warm clothes for this excursion!
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11-09-05 | 04:55 PM
#30
semifreddo amartuerer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,599
Likes: 2
From: Northern CA
Bikes: several
Originally Posted by hairyleg
Braking hard or frequently? Was I supposed to slow down at all? Now why would I do that?
11-09-05 | 05:11 PM
#31
106 kg of Pure Power
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 647
Likes: 0
From: Off the front
Bikes: 03 Fuji, 04 Cervelo Dual
Originally Posted by 'nother
Fine for you, but I'm not too keen on careering off the side of a mountain because I failed to slow down for a switchback, etc.. Though I don't think you have these kinds of concerns there in Terre . . . "Haute", LOL.
11-09-05 | 05:47 PM
#33
Dagger Boy
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,247
Likes: 0
From: Southern California
Bikes: 1999 GT 5.0i mountain, 2004 Basso Reef road
Originally Posted by GeorgeK
I have climbed about every single Swiss Alps pass. Here is the upper half of one of my favorites.
Screw Baldy, OC and I (and anyone else that wants to join us) need to go an conquer that wee little hill!That is some serious climbing!
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Women think they're so clever because they can fake an orgasm for the sake of a relationship, but men can fake a whole relationship for the sake of an orgasm.
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11-09-05 | 05:51 PM
#34
semifreddo amartuerer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,599
Likes: 2
From: Northern CA
Bikes: several
Originally Posted by Extort
Screw Baldy, OC and I (and anyone else that wants to join us) need to go an conquer that wee little hill!That is some serious climbing!
11-09-05 | 06:09 PM
#36
riding once again
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,359
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA
Bikes: '06 Cervelo R3, '05 Specialized Allez
Okay, I'll join OC and Extort up that hill after I manage to huff up Baldy. Umm, where exactly is it?
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11-09-05 | 06:23 PM
#37
Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
It is the St Gothard in the Swiss Alps, between Airolo and Andermatt. Now for the killer: it is cobblestones. 3000ft in about 8 miles. There are worse climbs. The Swiss Touring Club has an organised ride that takes us over 3 passes in 75 miles, with 15000 ft total elevation.
11-09-05 | 06:29 PM
#38
106 kg of Pure Power
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 647
Likes: 0
From: Off the front
Bikes: 03 Fuji, 04 Cervelo Dual
Originally Posted by GeorgeK
It is the St Gothard in the Swiss Alps, between Airolo and Andermatt. Now for the killer: it is cobblestones. 3000ft in about 8 miles. There are worse climbs. The Swiss Touring Club has an organised ride that takes us over 3 passes in 75 miles, with 15000 ft total elevation.
11-09-05 | 06:37 PM
#39
Clinically Insane
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 765
Likes: 1
I live in the foothills of the Apalachin Mountains in eastern PA. One of my routes actually takes me right along the base of the mountain for about 20 miles. My ride consists of about 80% climbing. Climbs all the way out an climbs all the way back. There are no flat roads, just roads that are slightly downhill or slightly uphill. Its all rollers, most hills are less than a mile long, but most are about 5-15% grade, more towards 10% grade for the majority of them. I truly think I live in one of the hardest places to train, and riding here realy creates climbers. There is no resting part of the ride, its all climbs and short descents, all the time.
11-09-05 | 07:04 PM
#40
Out of Commission
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,272
Likes: 0
From: SoCal
Bikes: Felt FC, S-Works Roubaix, Epic Comp, Cyfac Proxidium
Originally Posted by GeorgeK
It is the St Gothard in the Swiss Alps, between Airolo and Andermatt. Now for the killer: it is cobblestones. 3000ft in about 8 miles. There are worse climbs. The Swiss Touring Club has an organised ride that takes us over 3 passes in 75 miles, with 15000 ft total elevation.
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