How are road bikes for uphill?

[Craiigman]

At the moment I have a Carrera Subway Hybrid: http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...uctId_810731_langId_-1_categoryId_165534#tab3

However it's not very good at uphill, or it's just me, I don't know. I'll explain further:

I currently only ride once a week to coach football for kids, the journey to is all down hill and the journey back is all up hill (What must go down, must come back up, right? Wait that's not right..). Anyway, I struggle with the uphill section. At first I thought it was me, low fitness and stuff, but I've been doing that journey for nearly a year now every Saturday, but I still struggle with it. It's not even that far, juts under a mile and a half. But the uphill section is quite steep.

Anyway it's gotten to the point now where I think the bike just night not be very good at uphill. It's just so slow at it and my legs become tired almost instantly and that's only on 6th gear, by the time I get to the top I'm on 3rd gear as it's often too much. I've thought about possible reasons, like soft tyres. They always feel soft, they don't lose any air, but when ever I ride they look flat. But they aren't. Maybe I'm just too heavy?

If it isn't the bike then I guess it is me. However if that does sound like something that might happen with a hybrid bike then my question is, is a road bike any better at uphill? The one I had in mind is this: http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_810707_langId_-1_categoryId_165710

But again, if it's not the bike then I will just have to work on it, and buy a better seat cause it's damn uncomfortable. Any suggestions on a seat?

 

[Hill Wimp]

Hell yes much better !

 

[HLaB]

They are generally lighter and position I think allows them to be faster uphill and their gearing may help to by forcing you to ride harder up them.

 

[Hill Wimp]

I have Hybrids and got my first road bike in May. They are a totally different type of ride but hills are so very much easier as the bike is lighter and im no bike techie but i think i have far more gears on my road bike.

 

[Kbrook]

Not necessarily better, when I got my road bike I was worse climbing than on both my mountain bike and hybrid. Couldn't work it out turned out my rear cassette was too small hence I had nowhere near the low gears as I had on my mountain and hybrid bikes. I have changed the cassette and its much better however I honestly feel that there are hills that are nearby that I know I could get up with my mountain bike but still fear getting up on my road bike. I still don't have the same low gears . Before you take the plunge and buy a road bike, check that your tyres are sufficiently inflated, your brake pads aren't sticking, your seat is at the right height etc . If everything is right on your hybrid then I don't think a road bike is the answer to your prayers.

 

[downfader]

Road bikes are fine for going uphill but that isnt the problem imo.

If you only ride a very short distance and once a week you wont build up the cycling specific muscles in the legs, back and bum. Your fitness and stamina can be fine in other respects though.

If you want to get better at riding uphill dont worry about buying a new bike (presuming yours is the right size for you), just ride more and at least 3 times a week. Doing a distance of 5 miles each time would see your hill climbing come on leaps and bounds.

..or you could just walk up the steep bit as a few do down here..

 

[Banjo]

To be completely honest with you if your only doing one short ride / week you wont ever improve much and would be wasting your money on another bike.

If 3d gear is too hard drop down into 2nd or 1st as you need to. Its easier on your knees to turn the pedals faster in a lower gear.

The Subway hybrid is regarded as a pretty good bike,pump the tyres up to max pressure .

Unless you have plans to increase your cycling then I would stick with the Subway, If you did a similar ride 3 or 4 times/ week you would soon start to notice the hills get easier.

PS I thought of deleting this as its almost identical to downfaders post which was written simultaneously to mine.Will leave it up so you can see it is more than just an individual opinion.

 

[HLaB]

I have Hybrids and got my first road bike in May. They are a totally different type of ride but hills are so very much easier as the bike is lighter and im no bike techie but i think i have far more gears on my road bike.

With out seeing the spec of your bikes its hard to say precisely but hybrids are usually lower geared tripples and road bikes are generally higher geared compacts or traditional doubles, mean you have less gears but this compensated massively IME by the road bike's lightness and the higher gear may force you without trying to get uphill faster making them seem easier.

 

[swede54]

If you have a couple of spare gears try using them. You may find spinning easier than grinding up the hill.

 

[youngoldbloke]

Its strange - 50 years ago when I was 16 my road bike was really good at going uphill. Nowadays none of my road bikes seem very good at going uphill .........

 

[downfader]

Its strange - 50 years ago when I was 16 my road bike was really good at going uphill. Nowadays none of my road bikes seem very good at going uphill .........

Thats just your age ;-) We're all getting that way

 

[oldfatfool]

Its strange - 50 years ago when I was 16 my road bike was really good at going uphill. Nowadays none of my road bikes seem very good at going uphill .........

That will be this new fangled carbon fibre stuff they insist on using.

 

[downfader]

If you have a couple of spare gears try using them. You may find spinning easier than grinding up the hill.

And align the gears... so small cog on the cranks/pedals side, and large on the wheel will give the easiest hill-climbing gears and reduce the risk of stretching the chain.

 

[MontyVeda]

...
I've thought about possible reasons, like soft tyres. They always feel soft, they don't lose any air, but when ever I ride they look flat. But they aren't. Maybe I'm just too heavy?
...

some inexpensive pumps can be dire at putting a decent amount of pressure in... maybe your pump is the route of the tyre issue?

On long uphills, I opt for a low gear, sit myself bolt upright and just take my time. I ride a 'citified' MTB, so not too different a machine to your hybrid.

 

[Saluki]

Have you thought of moving to Norfolk or somewhere similar with a lack of hills rather than buying a new bike.
My roadie goes much faster up the wee bumps in Norfolk than it ever did in Inverness.