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Post by taffytim on Apr 9, 2014 5:16:34 GMT
I went for my first ride in the Devon country yesterday and what a shock to the system it was. It made me remember how easy the riding is in Bournemouth, I don't think Devon knows the meaning of the word flat!
I'm ashamed to admit it but on a couple of occasions I had to leave the bike all together and push up some of the hills!!
I had planned 3 rides in this holiday with the Bovey Tracey route being the hardest, yesterday's route was my middle difficulty route according to bike hike. On bike hike it had some climbs that were over 30 on its gradient scale(I've not worked out what percentage of slope that means yet) which is double the toughest climbs I normally find at home.
On the biggest hill yesterday I approached it with as much will power as I could muster but I really did not have the fitness or strength to get up there and desaddled.
Half way up my climb I thought I'd get back on. I clipped in to the bike and peddled 3 rotations when my legs came to a grinding halt, I didn't see this coming and didn't have time to declip and had my first fall (I've only just switched to clipless). Luckily this route was so remote there was not a sole to see me flap on the floor trying to unattach myself like a landed fish. Also I was lucky enough to be able to hit a grassy bank rather than hit the black stuff so i didn't injure myself (apart from 2 stingy nettle stings) and more importantly didn't damage the bike.
When I cycle at home I've taken the mindset that standing is cheating, so I do all of my cycling sat down. Yesterday I tried standing to get my body weight to help apply power and the riding style is totally different, I was no good at at all. Does anyone have any tips on how to keep a smooth momentum while going up crazy hills out of the saddle? I'm hoping to never have to do the walk of shame again but in this county I can see it happening tomorrow!
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Post by cocopops on Apr 9, 2014 6:19:22 GMT
There.s no shame in walking. One day you will get to the top. Glad your Ok anyway
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brianevesham
Domestique
A short ride is better than no ride.
Posts: 503
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Post by brianevesham on Apr 9, 2014 7:14:11 GMT
Glad you are ok, there is one big bugger near me I still haven't ridden up to the top. Oh and welcome to hills!
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Post by Radchenister on Apr 9, 2014 7:41:33 GMT
Practice, there's some hill climbing threads somewhere.
For the record, it's rare to find over 30% anywhere in the UK on road, not saying that it wasn't but often web tools register glitches.
When beginning hills anything over 15% peak and 6 or 7 % average for a long spell will feel difficult. Choose routes wisely, try too much or too many in one go and everyone struggles, you just improve what's possible over time.
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Post by captslog on Apr 9, 2014 8:00:04 GMT
When I cycle at home I've taken the mindset that standing is cheating, so I do all of my cycling sat down. Yesterday I tried standing to get my body weight to help apply power and the riding style is totally different, I was no good at at all. Does anyone have any tips on how to keep a smooth momentum while going up crazy hills out of the saddle? I'm hoping to never have to do the walk of shame again but in this county I can see it happening tomorrow! That's something I don't find easy too, the first time I tried it, it really caught me out! The action just doesn't feel right. A couple of years back, it was David Walliams and others that were doing a ride for either Comic or Sports relief, I forget which. They always have an 'expert' with them, and on one particularly hard climb, he showed David how to make the slope less intense by crossing from side to side on the road. You travel further, and this irons out (a little) the severity of the slope. Of course, you can't do this just anywhere, but it does work. On the same ride, despite the crossing technique, Mr walliams came to a grinding halt and fell into a wall.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2014 12:03:41 GMT
They always have an 'expert' with them, and on one particularly hard climb, he showed David how to make the slope less intense by crossing from side to side on the road. You travel further, and this irons out (a little) the severity of the slope. Of course, you can't do this just anywhere, but it does work. On the same ride, despite the crossing technique, Mr walliams came to a grinding halt and fell into a wall. The bloke who cycled the Boris Bike up Mont Ventoux used this technique as he approached the top....check out the video.
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Post by fatmanona5a on Apr 9, 2014 12:23:45 GMT
One day I will laugh at hills, but until then the Triban is called "Dog!" As in "I need to take the Dog for a walk!"
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Post by captslog on Apr 9, 2014 13:28:01 GMT
One day I will laugh at hills, but until then the Triban is called "Dog!" As in "I need to take the Dog for a walk!" It's amazing just how far you can push a metaphor. You are "taking the dog for a walk", whilst meaning "riding a bike". Then there are others who go "dogging", which originally meant "taking the dog for a walk" and yet who are also "riding a bike"
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Post by ianmoss on Apr 9, 2014 15:40:22 GMT
No shame in walking up a hill. - Get it next time (or the time after that) they are there to be concurred!!!
The right gear choice is essential...
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Post by Radchenister on Apr 9, 2014 15:57:52 GMT
I've seen this before.
I think anyone organising an event where they catch people out like this wants shooting - with the right gears anyone can climb a hill like this.
On the other hand, impose it on people who may not know how to set up the bike, or tackle it properly, is darn right irresponsible IMHO (and before anyone thinks I'm a HnS geek, remember I am the bloke who sometimes rides without a helmet on just over walking pace rides and uses headphones in a considered way though of course).
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Post by cocopops on Apr 9, 2014 16:03:49 GMT
can see why i walk up hill now lol
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Post by fatmanona5a on Apr 9, 2014 16:32:20 GMT
One day I will laugh at hills, but until then the Triban is called "Dog!" As in "I need to take the Dog for a walk!" It's amazing just how far you can push a metaphor. You are "taking the dog for a walk", whilst meaning "riding a bike". Then there are others who go "dogging", which originally meant "taking the dog for a walk" and yet who are also "riding a bike" I'm not taking the "dog" for a walk whilst riding a bike, only when a hill interrupts the riding!
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Post by bandit3 on Apr 9, 2014 19:15:11 GMT
In the book "One man & his bike" He rides around the coast of Britain anti clockwise from London & it seems to be a rule if asked about the hills to come the reply is "Not to bad" Until he got near to Devon & Cornwall when he was then told "They are murder". It's a good read
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Post by taffytim on Apr 9, 2014 23:03:20 GMT
Thanks for the moral support guys. I've plotted a new ride for tomorrow. It was my easiest planned ride but there were still one or two hills over 20 so I've plotted around these. I feel a little disheartened for doing this but i know that it's still a challenging run (1649 feet up in 20 miles) and I'll enjoy it more when I'm at it tomorrow.
For safely reasons I'll leave the Bovey Tracey route for another time as I don't fancy another tumble. I'll be back!
Ps after looking again you are right rad it is under 30, where I joined the tumbling club it was about 25.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2014 5:43:44 GMT
One day I will laugh at hills, but until then the Triban is called "Dog!" As in "I need to take the Dog for a walk!" It's amazing just how far you can push a metaphor. You are "taking the dog for a walk", whilst meaning "riding a bike". Then there are others who go "dogging", which originally meant "taking the dog for a walk" and yet who are also "riding a bike" Where I'm from walking the dog means something different entirely - off down the pub for a few brown ales!
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