tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post4657155413889832509..comments2024-01-02T07:16:03.732-07:00Comments on Endless Velo Love: Quick and Significant Hill (Mountain) Training for a Non-Climber?G.E.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13429419832660419144noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-47026225924738719032013-09-12T21:25:10.136-06:002013-09-12T21:25:10.136-06:00Ten rides! That's asking a lot of me as far as...Ten rides! That's asking a lot of me as far as anxiety levels. It's probably the biggest issue though - that I keep switching back and forth - one ride I use them, then I don't for several, then I think I should try again. As I tend to be a bit scatter-brained, I worry that I will forget and end up laying on my side, cars running me over. At least I carry an ID, so they can identify G.E.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02748009691282638366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-36341151380857696462013-09-12T19:26:52.795-06:002013-09-12T19:26:52.795-06:00I believe those pedals you provided the link for g...I believe those pedals you provided the link for give you the option of clipless or platform, but not really both. Therefore, the full force of the SPD cleat is transmitted through the sole of the shoe. That may not be an issue for you and many riders. It was for me. <br /><br />I had these pedals http://www.ems.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12790577&cp=3677345.3737446.3726839<br />on aAugsburghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06109555620818668190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-39119293231663989892013-09-12T19:02:33.355-06:002013-09-12T19:02:33.355-06:00I agree - converting a double to a triple is proba...I agree - converting a double to a triple is probably beyond what anyone would want to do. My original comment pertained to swapping cogs, but only if you already had a triple.<br /><br />It hit 93 yesterday in Seattle, mid-80's today. Just means we will pay for it later this year . . . Augsburghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06109555620818668190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-33799819729557696942013-09-12T16:49:46.747-06:002013-09-12T16:49:46.747-06:00I have a triple on my Rivendell (9x3)... but my ro...I have a triple on my Rivendell (9x3)... but my road bike is a compact double (10x2). I put the triple on the Riv because of its weight and attempting to get up hills was incredibly painful with the double. It worked out well on that bike. I suppose I don't really want to go through the work of finding a new crank (nor the expense), so I'm just attempting to figure out a way to make G.E.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02748009691282638366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-36075172776531508632013-09-12T16:44:28.942-06:002013-09-12T16:44:28.942-06:00The pedals that I have on my road bike are one sid...The pedals that I have on my road bike are one side clipless, and the other side platform (like these: http://www.ems.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3661465&emssrcid=PPC%3AgooPLAs%3AbrandShimano&utm_source=gooPLAs&utm_term=brandShimano&utm_campaign=Product+Listing+Ads+-+Out+of+Trade&device=c&network=g&matchtype=&gclid=CKXhuvn2xrkCFc4-MgodcgcA5g), and I like havingG.E.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02748009691282638366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-13103266742864748102013-09-12T13:48:07.644-06:002013-09-12T13:48:07.644-06:00I rode with Shimano SPD clipless pedals for years ...I rode with Shimano SPD clipless pedals for years and absolutely loved them. I used the mtn. bike version and was devout when it came to these clipless pedals. I found them much safer than toe clips or nothing at all.<br /><br />However, eventually, the hotspots they create due to the pressure point they induce under the ball of your foot caught up with me. Over time (about 10 years), I Augsburghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06109555620818668190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-60441113006372603602013-09-12T13:34:02.332-06:002013-09-12T13:34:02.332-06:00Is your compact crank a double (two-ring) crank, o...Is your compact crank a double (two-ring) crank, or a triple? Your rear cassette is about as low as you can go, if you already have a triple. Conceivably, you can go to about a 34 on the rear, but there are limits to how much gear spread you can have due to the limit on how much chain a long throw derailleur cage can take up. A two-chainring compact crank might have a 50 and 36 or 50 and 34. Augsburghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06109555620818668190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-64098534241503032612013-09-12T08:39:07.247-06:002013-09-12T08:39:07.247-06:00This is actually a point of contention in our hous...This is actually a point of contention in our household at the moment. I don't ride with any sort of clip pedals (I have varyious forms of platforms on everything I ride). I actually put the SPD cleats on my shoes the other day (I do have them, but don't use them) and I attempted to use the clipless side of the pedals on my road bike. It went fine as far as unclipping and clipping on my G.E.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02748009691282638366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-59912915861466725182013-09-12T08:33:31.415-06:002013-09-12T08:33:31.415-06:00I have an 11-30 cassette on the rear and a compact...I have an 11-30 cassette on the rear and a compact crank, so I'm not sure I can get any lower than that - though perhaps I'm wrong? I think I'm just a weak climber... but I'm working on it. :O) I think David's suggestion below to actually do the climb that I fear before the ride makes sense... it's close by and there's no reason to not give it a go (except for my G.E.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02748009691282638366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-29150274627220950272013-09-12T08:18:33.967-06:002013-09-12T08:18:33.967-06:00Make the switch to clipless pedals if you haven...Make the switch to clipless pedals if you haven't already. Shimano spd mountain bike cleats at the loosest setting are easiest to learn on.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-60841815172642158382013-09-12T08:17:12.202-06:002013-09-12T08:17:12.202-06:00I get a lot of hills riding around here, and I def...I get a lot of hills riding around here, and I definitely think it helps to get them in regularly. I think my biggest concern at the moment is that 8 mile climb into Jamestown - as David pointed out below. I think I just have to get it through my head that if I need to stop on the way up, I will stop. Unfortunately, I just don't have a lot of time any longer to train the way I would like. I G.E.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02748009691282638366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-19276827509697043422013-09-12T08:12:29.698-06:002013-09-12T08:12:29.698-06:00It's funny that you bring that up because I wa...It's funny that you bring that up because I was just thinking it would be a good idea to just ride up to Jamestown. But then I thought that if I didn't make it I wouldn't want to do the ride at all. :O) Unfortunately at the moment we're experiencing so much rain and flooding that I can't really practice my climbing as I would like. Hopefully, by next week I'll be able to G.E.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02748009691282638366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-39301141226242501622013-09-12T07:53:54.857-06:002013-09-12T07:53:54.857-06:00Go ride just to Jamestown slow and easy, enjoying ...Go ride just to Jamestown slow and easy, enjoying the scenery on the way. You'll do it and be rid of the fear of the unknown. It is actually a lovely ride and you can take it as slow as you like, spinning all the way knowing there is no time requirement to bother with.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09262868726902432235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-45668740823428086082013-09-11T21:05:07.572-06:002013-09-11T21:05:07.572-06:00I find that if I do a couple short rides each week...I find that if I do a couple short rides each week focusing only hills, I notice an improvement in my skills pretty quickly. I keep the rides to no more than about 10-15 miles so I don't worry about wearing myself out on the hills. I make sure there are at least one or two hills that really push me to my limit - lowest gears, breathing hard. Then, when it's time to do the longer rides, I CJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00017769898837546593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-766629281600830752013-09-11T19:19:41.257-06:002013-09-11T19:19:41.257-06:00If you fear the climb - and I understand, then don...If you fear the climb - and I understand, then don't be afraid to expand your gear range. Knowing you always have more gears can ease the fear. Remember, with a low enough gear, you can climb as slow as walking speed and your energy output is about the same as walking up the hill. Bicycles in the US are often equipped with close ratio cog sets that are perfect for an extremely fit racer. Augsburghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06109555620818668190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-38222777376117105892013-09-11T16:30:44.077-06:002013-09-11T16:30:44.077-06:00I definitely don't mash or stand while going u...I definitely don't mash or stand while going up hills - at least not long climbs. I think the biggest challenge at the moment is just to stop fearing the climbing. There is no escaping it here, but when heading into the actual mountains I suddenly start believing that there's no way I can do it. I'm going to do my best to train as well as I can for the climbing in the little bit of G.E.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02748009691282638366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-86976502222462024292013-09-10T17:50:20.642-06:002013-09-10T17:50:20.642-06:00I live in Seattle. Climbing is a fact of life her...I live in Seattle. Climbing is a fact of life here. Ditto for cross-country mountain biking. Check out a video on YouTube of the Tour de France riders in a mountain stage. Unless on the attack, they sit and spin. Watch their belt line from behind. Their hips are rock solid level while their legs pump. They only rock their hips when out of the saddle. No one can climb long out of the Augsburghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06109555620818668190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-36960798779825668822013-09-10T11:32:36.295-06:002013-09-10T11:32:36.295-06:00I think my gearing is good, but always a good remi...I think my gearing is good, but always a good reminder. I appreciate the thoughts to check how I'm riding/climbing up hills too. I'll have to be more aware on the next ride to see that I'm using all the muscles I should be. I suspect some of my problems may stem from long-term, permanent back issues as well, but I'm not entirely convinced that I can't climb because of these G.E.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02748009691282638366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4948910318159742024.post-3396481010821433992013-09-10T04:05:19.058-06:002013-09-10T04:05:19.058-06:00Change gearing if needed to get a ratio you can do...Change gearing if needed to get a ratio you can do comfortably for a long while. I spin a little slower on climbs than flats, but I still spin. Also, classic - use the muscles on back of legs to climb. Slide hips back on saddle and press down with heels to make leg biceps and glutes work. Practice this before the big day. Remember to breathe and have fun!Fully Luggedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06860026531565091865noreply@blogger.com