Can't Climb--Stay Home!
12-27-04, 11:51 PM
#51
No climb too steep!
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Originally Posted by LordOpie
TC, I'm confused, why are you even riding it? Seriously. It's only 33 miles and 2300'. Is the road closed to bikes normally? FAQ didn't say anything about that.
12-27-04, 11:56 PM
#52
Enjoy
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Originally Posted by HigherGround
they were ahead of you - otherwise getting around them would not have been an issue! 
If you're such a stud, why did it take you so long to catch them, and why do you have to start early this year? 
If you're such a stud, why did it take you so long to catch them, and why do you have to start early this year? 
Originally Posted by TripleCrank
I've been doing it for years!
12-28-04, 12:00 AM
#53
Are we having fun yet?
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If people can't take on something difficult (cycling up hills, for instance) and risk failure (having to walk their bikes up a hill), they will never improve. Would you have the hill walkers become couch potatos, drive everywhere in giant SUVs that are big enough to comfortably hold them, and run cyclists off the road for sport? The ones who end up walking should have our admiration because they were willing to make the attempt.
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12-28-04, 12:08 AM
#54
climber has-been
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Originally Posted by pacesetter
It's a great race, heres more info on it https://presteza.homestead.com/MtGrahamindex.html it climbs high enough to where you ride thru the clouds! over 9,000 ft with a lot of steep switch backs.
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12-28-04, 01:45 AM
#55
Changing every other day!
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Originally Posted by TripleCrank
A recent thread, "Hills are Weird", got me thinking about a ride I did last year, the Chilly Hilly (Bainbridge WA), and will be doing again this year. There's one particularly steep climb that got the best of many folks. Many of the riders started going sideways up the hill, jumping off their bikes, and eventually creating a huge pile up that made it treacherous for the rest of us with the ability to motor up it.
I don't get it. I wouldn't ride it if it was beyond my ability. Many just grab their bikes for the first time all winter and do the ride. They end up walking most of the hills but yet aren't ashamed to tell others that they rode the Chilly Hilly. My suggestion: If you're one of those who walks the hills, please stay home this year so the rest of us can enjoy it.
Actually, I'm getting an early start this year so I'll have dropped the slow pokes long before the big climb. And, if you're one of those who ends up walking, be honest with yourselves and friends, you WALKED the Chilly Hilly, you didn't RIDE it!
I don't get it. I wouldn't ride it if it was beyond my ability. Many just grab their bikes for the first time all winter and do the ride. They end up walking most of the hills but yet aren't ashamed to tell others that they rode the Chilly Hilly. My suggestion: If you're one of those who walks the hills, please stay home this year so the rest of us can enjoy it.
Actually, I'm getting an early start this year so I'll have dropped the slow pokes long before the big climb. And, if you're one of those who ends up walking, be honest with yourselves and friends, you WALKED the Chilly Hilly, you didn't RIDE it!
What are the pros who walk the cobbled hills of Liege-Bastogne-Liege or the Tour of Flanders supposed to do, stay home? Sometimes you don't know how difficult a hill is until you start climbing it. I know I don't have the time or the luxury to scout out every hill of the rides I do. Does that mean I should stay home since some of the hills may be challenging?
Anyways, enjoy your ride. And I hope everyone else who participates in the Chilly Hilly enjoys the ride also.
12-28-04, 07:17 AM
#56
slower than you
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I think more of us should be spreading the word about running the gearing that fits us best.
Lance & I don't always run the same ratio's, at points throughout the race, we could be very well spinning in different gears. (Difficult to write this with a straight face.)
You're probably the same. If Lance can climb most hills using a 23, does that mean we can? Only in our dreams.
I run a triple and I'm putting together a custom cassette to help me ride longer and climb higher.
I'm 47 and just not able to keep getting second winds during a ride.
I get tired, that's just life.
If I have to ride with a sprocket the size of a dinner plate, I'll do it. All that matters is being a participant in life, being a spectator isn't for me.
Lance & I don't always run the same ratio's, at points throughout the race, we could be very well spinning in different gears. (Difficult to write this with a straight face.)
You're probably the same. If Lance can climb most hills using a 23, does that mean we can? Only in our dreams.
I run a triple and I'm putting together a custom cassette to help me ride longer and climb higher.
I'm 47 and just not able to keep getting second winds during a ride.
I get tired, that's just life.
If I have to ride with a sprocket the size of a dinner plate, I'll do it. All that matters is being a participant in life, being a spectator isn't for me.
12-28-04, 08:41 AM
#58
rider of small bicycles
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Originally Posted by Mojo GoGo
I did the Highlander https://www.highlandercycletour.com/cycle_tours.htm last year. Their site provides recommended gearing and suggested riders do hill training prior to the ride. With that being said (and with over 2000 miles on my legs and century rides on 3 of the 4 weekends prior to the Highlander), it still beat my @ss and stressed my system enough that I fell ill for 2 weeks after the ride.
6.5 hours of road time
7 hours of total time
1 year of that feeling of accomplishment until I do it again next year.
I will say that I have NO FEAR of hills at this point ... meaning that I doubt there's a single hill out there that could hurt me the way that the combination of Bopple, Gannett, and Sliter did.
-mark
12-28-04, 08:59 AM
#59
Former Hoarder
Originally Posted by Applehead57
...If I have to ride with a sprocket the size of a dinner plate, I'll do it. All that matters is being a participant in life, being a spectator isn't for me.
55/Rad
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12-28-04, 09:14 AM
#60
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Originally Posted by 55/Rad
Very well stated.
55/Rad
55/Rad
12-28-04, 10:11 AM
#61
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I did my first organized ride last October. I did pretty well except on one hill. I made all but the biggest and then I had to walk. That's OK though, because now I have a new goal....to conquer "The Big Hill"!!! Not everyone suceeds the first time they try something. Heck, I couldn't even ride a bike the first time I tried!! I think it's good for people to test their limits. How do you know what you can do unless you try? I agree that the way should be left clear for other riders, but I don't think a fun ride should require every rider to be able to make every hill.
I think it's good for people to test their limits. How do you know what you can do unless you try? I agree that the way should be left clear for other riders, but I don't think a fun ride should require every rider to be able to make every hill.
12-28-04, 10:19 AM
#62
Descends Like Avalanche
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Originally Posted by 53-11 alltheway
There is a lot of ******** machoism in this forum. Thank God I'm not a part of it
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12-28-04, 11:06 AM
#63
No climb too steep!
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Originally Posted by 53-11 alltheway
There is a lot of ******** machoism in this forum. Thank God I'm not a part of it
12-28-04, 12:08 PM
#64
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Originally Posted by Applehead57
I think more of us should be spreading the word about running the gearing that fits us best.
Lance & I don't always run the same ratio's, at points throughout the race, we could be very well spinning in different gears. (Difficult to write this with a straight face.)
You're probably the same. If Lance can climb most hills using a 23, does that mean we can? Only in our dreams.
I run a triple and I'm putting together a custom cassette to help me ride longer and climb higher.
I'm 47 and just not able to keep getting second winds during a ride.
I get tired, that's just life.
If I have to ride with a sprocket the size of a dinner plate, I'll do it. All that matters is being a participant in life, being a spectator isn't for me.
Lance & I don't always run the same ratio's, at points throughout the race, we could be very well spinning in different gears. (Difficult to write this with a straight face.)
You're probably the same. If Lance can climb most hills using a 23, does that mean we can? Only in our dreams.
I run a triple and I'm putting together a custom cassette to help me ride longer and climb higher.
I'm 47 and just not able to keep getting second winds during a ride.
I get tired, that's just life.
If I have to ride with a sprocket the size of a dinner plate, I'll do it. All that matters is being a participant in life, being a spectator isn't for me.
Lance used a 39/27 in Passo Mortirolo.
https://www.mortirolo.net/profilo%20Mortirolo.jpg
Originally Posted by Lance
"It's a terrible climb...it's perfect for a mountain bike. On the hardest parts, I was riding a 39x27 and I was hurting, really hurting. (Mortirolo) is the hardest climb I've ever ridden. My time up the climb? It's not important; I rode the Mortirolo to have some fun and ride with the 'cicloamatori'...there were a few raindrops, but it was a great day.
12-28-04, 01:06 PM
#65
NEVER WALK A HILL
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Should we give you an award for being able to climb a hill? Sure...and let's spit on the poor saps in their granny gears on the way up the hill to give it to you. Or maybe we should just live and let live. These folks showed up for a good time. Give em a break. Not everyone can be like Lance.
12-28-04, 01:37 PM
#66
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Originally Posted by galen_52657
If the Seattle area riders would just shave, they could prolly climb the hills....
12-28-04, 01:39 PM
#67
Former Hoarder
Originally Posted by TripleCrank
Now, if we could just figure out how to temper that 55/Rad guy--he's the trouble maker around here.
55/Rad's Mother
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12-28-04, 01:50 PM
#68
No climb too steep!
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Originally Posted by cycleprincess
Should we give you an award for being able to climb a hill?
12-28-04, 02:22 PM
#69
Out the door
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My first century ride was the Sierra Century (https://www.sacwheelmen.org/sc2005/sc2005.html). I trained as well as I could. I thought I was ready. Well, as it turned out, both my gearing and my body weren't quite up to what the ride required. About halfway up Slug Gulch I got off and walked. But, by God, I finished that ride and it inspired me to see what I was capable of. Two years later I attempted, and finished, RIDING the whole way, the Markleeville Death Ride. My having to walk turned out to be a positive for me in the long run. I am still damn proud of what I was able to do on that first century.
Don't put down the walkers. Just being there may be a big accomplishment for them.
Don't put down the walkers. Just being there may be a big accomplishment for them.
12-28-04, 02:32 PM
#70
Whateverthehell
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Originally Posted by TripleCrank
Sure, I'll take it. My mantle is crowded but I can always find room for one more -- especially from fellow BikeForum member who cares enough to recognize my talent.
12-28-04, 02:36 PM
#71
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TripleCrank, it's people like you that take the FUN out of cycling for others. Who the hell cares what hills you climb. Personally, I think the reason you started this forum was to get attention by telling people that you can ride your bike up an elevated road.
12-28-04, 03:35 PM
#72
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TC, the sad thing is, you ain't even funny. I know you want to be, but you ain't. At least 53-11 is humruous. You, you're just arrogant in a vicious sort of way. I hope you aren't really like this in real life..
12-28-04, 03:46 PM
#73
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Why does everything always have to mean something?! Why don't you go play with your cloner, like we know you do.
12-29-04, 12:08 AM
#75
Burnin' and Lootin'
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Originally Posted by galen_52657
Well...that is definitely true!!!
However, triple has some valid points. Would you set sail to a far-off island without knowing how to pilot a boat? or read a nautical chart or compass? People just don't think about what they are doing or the consequences to others. So many morons sign up for a bike tour and don't have the foggiest idea what they are doing. They are a hazard to themselves and others. Riders without pumps, tubes, patch kits, enough air in their tires, ancient bikes with bolt-on wheels and they don't have a wrench.... the list goes on.
I went on a ride last year - 9000 feet of climbing in 85 miles. The toughest climbs I had ever been on in my life. Guy shows up on titanium recumbent (with a triple). Stop me if I have told this story.........
Anyway, 3 miles from the start is the first climb, this guy rolls to the front at the bottom of the climb before it gets hard. He is going to show up all the 'uptight upright' riders. Well, we hit the steep part and this guy is soon in his granny cog and is running out of gears. Just about everybody had passed him before he just can't turn is lowest gear and falls over in the middle of the road.
I really have no sympathy or tolerance for morons.
However, triple has some valid points. Would you set sail to a far-off island without knowing how to pilot a boat? or read a nautical chart or compass? People just don't think about what they are doing or the consequences to others. So many morons sign up for a bike tour and don't have the foggiest idea what they are doing. They are a hazard to themselves and others. Riders without pumps, tubes, patch kits, enough air in their tires, ancient bikes with bolt-on wheels and they don't have a wrench.... the list goes on.
I went on a ride last year - 9000 feet of climbing in 85 miles. The toughest climbs I had ever been on in my life. Guy shows up on titanium recumbent (with a triple). Stop me if I have told this story.........
Anyway, 3 miles from the start is the first climb, this guy rolls to the front at the bottom of the climb before it gets hard. He is going to show up all the 'uptight upright' riders. Well, we hit the steep part and this guy is soon in his granny cog and is running out of gears. Just about everybody had passed him before he just can't turn is lowest gear and falls over in the middle of the road.
I really have no sympathy or tolerance for morons.
going fast enough to see him fall......
