How do you continue peddling, when your legs are tired

[Deleted member 20519]

If clipped I'll pull the pedals up rather than push them down for a bit.

I didn't 'get' cadence until someone on here told be to always be in the gear below the one you think you should be in, and someone else told me you should be I whatever gear makes your legs feel like they're not doing anything.

I run out of gears though, what then?

 

[outlash]

I remember reading an article about hill climbing and the basic premise was 'manage your effort, not your speed', which is something I tend to stick to. Spin away if you have to, as long as you're still moving .


Tony.

 

[Leaway2]

shifting your weight backwards on the saddle can help, slightly.

 

[Feastie]

Maybe start out on a hill with less steep inclines and work up? Once you can manage a less-steep hill, move onto a steeper one and so on. I have a horrific hill on my way in every morning and have gradually conquered it via the method of attrition (v. unpleasant experience and makes you wish you had a portable shower with you!) because it's unavoidable 'hill training' every morning. I lost all hill fitness over the summer as it's totally flat round here and when I got back, was destroyed once more by said hill. Second time round, I used the method of taking an alternative route where the overall distance is longer but the inclines aren't as extreme (although eventually add up to the same) and then building up fitness on those first. It worked!

 

[berty bassett]

BURN

 

[GIOS]

I tell my legs to shut up.

 

[gavroche]

I've got a granny gear and no hill has beaten me yet I just sit and spin at about 4 mph

I have a granny gear too but it isn't always enough. I reckon I must have granny legs too!

 

[coffeejo]

When I first joined CC, someone said to me that the only way to get better at hills is to ride up lots of hills ... and then ride up some more. T'is true, alas.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

I run out of gears though, what then?

Put your feet on the ground bone shaker style.

 

[Kies]

Learn to love hills, see an ascent and smile at yourself as you approach base camp. Then climb the fother mucker !!!!

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I have a granny gear too but it isn't always enough. I reckon I must have granny legs too!

Two options change the rear cassette more teeth on the lower gears or a lower granny ring though this is more complex, you will need to check to see if the front and rear mech can cope, or just put some effort in on the hills it doesn't take long, but you do have to work at it.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Learn to love hills, see an ascent and smile at yourself as you approach base camp. Then climb the fother mucker !!!!

not sure about thee smile at base camp, but the smile at the summit is good.

 

[Sittingduck]

I used to despise hills. I now see them as opportunities
Hill avoidance is a short term path to happiness but in the long term it'll do you no good. Much better to ride up them (as slowly as you need to) and with each ascent, it will get slightly easier, or rather - you will get faster

 

[deanE]

I just wish that those going past me would not talk so much, when I am just trying to breathe.

 

[byegad]

I've got a granny gear and no hill has beaten me yet I just sit and spin at about 4 mph

I'm managing 2mph in my 12" bottom gear on 25-33% hills! You fairly fly up hills.