|
Post by zoltansocrates on Sept 6, 2013 18:22:59 GMT
If it is a prolonged 40 - 50% , I think you might be in for a shock - doing the odd spot of really steep is not so bad but if it is longer than say 50 - 100 metres, then best of luck, don't say I didn't warn you . could you take my next of kin details pleeeez ach rad i remember this one from the old days,no new to me, jus suck it up and turn ther brain off
|
|
|
Post by Radchenister on Sept 6, 2013 18:46:30 GMT
Don't ride with headphones phred1812, personal choice, just don't say I can't or don't know how to - 'cause I do !
|
|
|
Post by Radchenister on Sept 6, 2013 18:47:49 GMT
If it is a prolonged 40 - 50% , I think you might be in for a shock - doing the odd spot of really steep is not so bad but if it is longer than say 50 - 100 metres, then best of luck, don't say I didn't warn you . could you take my next of kin details pleeeez ach rad i remember this one from the old days,no new to me, jus suck it up and turn ther brain off I don't think it is as bad as the dodgy data shows - looks quite a good one, as the nasty stuff is behind you quickly.
|
|
|
Post by zoltansocrates on Sept 6, 2013 19:43:19 GMT
part of the pentland hills range which geographically and meteorologically separates the city of ediinburgh from the outside world, great for snow protection, skiing and mtb routes, the roads can get a bit 'lowered saxo gt' at times as there is an abundance of small racy roads lined with abandoned ruined castles and other such celery, somewhere n there is roslin chapel of holy grail and davinci code fame, the pentlands are like a massive uluru (ayers rock) steeper at the bottom and rounding out at the summit but the views down towards edina are cracking - used to go up there back int day when lungs werent so weak and legs were definitely stronger but not been up for a while other than when travelling down to anglaterre on business, the run to peebles is great, so too biggar
im sure you aint surprised but i find turning off the mainframe in situs like this is great, as l ong as you can zone out to the surroundings, even visually, you can achieve
(yes i meant closing my eyes)
|
|
|
Post by Radchenister on Sept 6, 2013 20:35:33 GMT
Stayed in Biggar a couple of years ago, couple of days visiting the sites and fishing the Clyde with a pal from near there; we were en-route to a week Eilean Shona - stunning part of the world (both spots).
|
|
|
Post by zoltansocrates on Sept 6, 2013 21:11:04 GMT
aye the river clyde, from source to sea is a story in itself, it passes through absolute beauty, abject poverty, abandoned industry and new glasgow wealth, itd probably make an interesting tv programme that
i dont know eilean shona personally but it is a beautiful part of the world and one id like to get the bike up to, you dont quite appreciate how far away it is though, looking at the map doesnt help, with the roads etc that part of the world is a good 5hrs from edinburgh, thats the same as a drve to london
|
|
|
Post by phred1812 on Sept 6, 2013 21:11:13 GMT
Don't ride with headphones phred1812, personal choice, just don't say I can't or don't know how to - 'cause I do ! Wouldn't dream of it Rad. It's a personal choice. I rather envy your Vangelis moment but want to hear what's going on around me when riding.
|
|
|
Post by Radchenister on Sept 6, 2013 21:34:04 GMT
We've done this one to death on the 'Music for Cycling' thread - I respect people's concerns but there are some risks that I might take and don't really feel I need to justify it too much, except to say don't do it without understanding the risks and actually just don't if it concerns you - that's what the survival instinct is all about. People may feel that I have or haven't thought long and hard over it and believe or may not believe that I have acquired the skills to manage the situation as much as possible in the circumstances lol . ...but for me the pluses outweigh the negatives (not that I always ride with tunes on though); if I haven't got it sussed, then Darwinism takes its course, fear not for me good friends ... or perhaps not even care , as it all might be governed by chaos theory ... or pre-destined ... or just chance ... or karma or ... ah woteva !
|
|
|
Post by phred1812 on Sept 7, 2013 9:25:31 GMT
We've done this one to death on the 'Music for Cycling' thread - I respect people's concerns but there are some risks that I might take and don't really feel I need to justify it too much, except to say don't do it without understanding the risks and actually just don't if it concerns you - that's what the survival instinct is all about. People may feel that I have or haven't thought long and hard over it and believe or may not believe that I have acquired the skills to manage the situation as much as possible in the circumstances lol . ...but for me the pluses outweigh the negatives (not that I always ride with tunes on though); if I haven't got it sussed, then Darwinism takes its course, fear not for me good friends ... or perhaps not even care , as it all might be governed by chaos theory ... or pre-destined ... or just chance ... or karma or ... ah woteva ! I curse you Rad. Not for this music for cycling discussion which, as you say, has been done for death. No its for reminding me about Vangelis and the whole Prog Rock music scene of the 70's. In many ways the 70's was a depressing decade in the UK after the optimism of the 60s and musically it became so for me with advent of Punk. Some people thought Punk fresh and vibrant but in my opinion it was musically cr**p. The apogee of Prog Rock for me was Yes. Their greatest track "Awaken" will be played at my funeral. Its a long one and will probably bore the pants of anyone who turns up but I just crack up every time I hear it. Similarly with this one from Vangelis. It is a bit long but the best bit comes at the end. There is someting about the timbre of Jon's voice that just breaks me up. I just cannot get it out my head now. Play in surround sound at full volume www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLLJA-sm-z8
|
|
|
Post by lowey on Sept 7, 2013 13:19:39 GMT
Since this thread started, all I've been thinking about is having another crack at Leith Hill. I've attempted it twice before and both times failed to make it to the top without having to stop for a breather and let the legs recover a bit. So today was going to be the day that I gave it another shot. It didn't start out the greatest...set off in light drizzle and within 5 minutes it was hammering down. At this point I was questioning whether or not I was going to complete my ride, let alone have a bash at Leith Hill. But the further I went on the blue sky over Ockley began to look appealing. As I approached the turn off for Leith Hill, it was almost as if the T3 wanted to tackle it, even in the wet, so I just followed my front wheel and off we went. I say 'we' as I feel the bike and I have become a team. I've had the T3 for over a year now and cycling has become more than the latest fad, it's become a passion.
Anyway...back to the climb. I made a conscious effort to take on some of the advice in this thread. On previous attempts I had spent too much time focusing on the top of the climb and letting myself get psychologically beaten by the length and gradient, which is partially why I think I had failed to make it to the top. This time I just focused on the few yards in front of me and keeping a steady cadence. I was well and truly in the granny ring and churning away as if my life depended on it. A couple of times I got out of the saddle and dropped down a couple of gears on the cassette to grind over the steepest sections.
Did I make it...YES and I felt bloody brilliant when I came over the final rise. The legs were aching and the lungs were burning. but it didn't matter...I'd made it . I felt so elated that I didn't want to stop, so extended my ride by another 30km. Even a couple more downpours on the way home couldn't wipe the smile off my face. Attachment Deleted
|
|
|
Post by DelB on Sept 7, 2013 13:28:48 GMT
Good on you, lowey. Great read too.
|
|
begbie
Peloton Rider
Posts: 14
|
Post by begbie on Sept 7, 2013 14:24:02 GMT
Nice work Lowey. I'm going to have to give Leith hill a go since I'm not too far from it and that I've also entered for the London - Surrey 2014 ride, so no doubt there will be the 3 loop sessions for this hill again
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2013 15:23:12 GMT
Great read lowey!
|
|
|
Post by baz on Sept 11, 2013 14:27:45 GMT
Wouldn't it be Great .......
|
|