FiveThirteen

Haha! I had the same thought. But then, I realized that it could have two layers like those insulated bottles. Thin outside layer with colored fluid that is separate from the H20 holding portion.

Prodigy4299

I think the reason people feel like they suck at climbing is just because it separates the good rides from the not-so-good in a much more uncompromising fashion. It's easy to feel good about yourself crusing down a flat road, going 30 km/h.

dysFTP

Incorrect. I feel like I suck at climbing because I know I suck at climbing; I'm 5-11/180.

youcoming

I'm a big guy 6'1" 230lbs and I love to climb, we have no mountains but do have some pretty intense climbs. One hill that sticks out is called the Starkville Steeple or that's what local cyclists call it. It's only 1k long but averages 14% grade, you pray at the bottom and the top, it's were I go for hill repeats but hey you are surre to hit 50mph on the way down.

dysFTP

OK. But the question wasn't whether you like to climb, it was whether you are good at it. WADR, no 230 lb rider (or 180 for that matter) is gonna keep up with the true climbers (fleas).

invwnut

I'm 5'5" and a bit stocky @142-145lbs depending on the day. I think that I'm a good climber but I get pooped out quickly. I'm learning to better tap into the endurance part of me.

monk

I'm heavier than I want to be, and always thought that was part of why I wasn't a very good climber. But, the other day I got blitzed on a hill by a guy much heavier than me - - passed me sitting down like I was standing still. Now what excuse do I have?

dysFTP

Genes?

Randochap

When I'm in top shape, I'd say I'm a pretty good climber. I tend to excel on relatively short but very steep climbs. I can put my foot down and power over these in the saddle. On rolling landscape like this, I pull ahead.

On very long climbs at a lesser grade (main highways in the mountains, for instance) I'm nothing out of the ordinary. And I suck in headwinds!

I'm 5' 4" and 130lbs. Mesomorph.

yogi13

I have a friend who is a former Cat 1. His strength was climbing. You'd never guess it by looking at him; he looks more like a football player than a cyclist. Says he used to surprise people when he would take off on a steep section because he looked like a sprinter. Some people are just better at it.

The guy who passed you might be a former pro, might do a million feet of climbing a year like umd, or may just have inherited the lungs and legs to do it.

It does crush your soul when a big guy passes you on a climb, though.

Corsaire

I have a bad back (seriously) which which rigs my lower back and leg muscles with sciatica and tighness which prevents me from being the best climber ever, better than Pantani I suppose. Some days are better or worse than others. Bites!

whiplashsmile

No, but thanks for asking!

I'm on the Ethiopian diet this year. Nothing but dirt and bugs til I get down to 150 pounds!

dysFTP

Ever been to an Ethiopian restaurant? Pretty good stuff.

umd

My ears are burning...

wcoastbikr

I'd say I'm ok...not awesome at it. Especially for my weight.

But I like it...if I had to choose between 100 miles of flat or 100 miles of climbing. I'd choose climbing. Flats are boring, unless you're in a group hauling ass.

dysFTP

Fixed ^

icyclist 

My family moved to the Santa Monica Mountains when I was a skinny ten-year old. I rode an ancient, three-speed bike. One day, a couple of new friends, each a year older then me, asked if I wanted to accompany them on a three-mile ride to the fire station on Mulholland Drive and back.

My friends - much bigger and obviously stronger than me - warned me I might have a problem on the hills. When we reached the first hill, I rode my old clunker to the top - not without some effort - while my two, somewhat annoyed friends, fought gravity on their feet, walking their steeds in my two-wheeled wake.

Ever since, I've known that I'm good at climbing.

nogearCX

I would say yes and no. But it is definitely something you can work at. When I began cycling, I wasn't the greatest climber and had no expectations of being a great climber at 6'2" 180lbs. But one day I simply had an epiphany: if I stay on top of a gear and forget about conserving any bit of energy up the hill...I actually climb quite well, better than most of the guys in my current group in fact. The only guy faster is like 100 years old, and weighs about 100lbs...but he is killer when faced with a slope.

Find what works, get a diet that works with you and work on tempo. Good tempo and climbing go hand in hand.

3dsteve

you will like the 3S3M it is a very good ride (as long as the weather is good) the support is 2cd to none .

save10

when ever that happens, just say you're brakes were rubbing against the wheel. Or just say, "this is the second time I've climbed this hill today"

save10

As for me, I guess I'm ok. I just need to be good enough to climb Haleakala in April.