how to tackle a massive hill @ the start

[BrumJim]

Do the Haka. Works for rugby players. Might get some strange looks from your neighbours, but hopefully they will know what it is in your neck of the woods.

 

[magnatom]

I wouldn't say I'm at all fit, experienced, or fast, and my recumbent goes uphill like a lead slug. Lucky I've got a 27" bottom gear. Me, no pride, equals granny ring.

24m climb? Complaining about that is most definitely cause for some proper teasing!!! I hope you won't take it too seriously, photography27!! It's only meant in jest.

Come on BM. You cycle a fair distance to your work each day, and you teach inline skating (that's right isn't it?) for a living. To suggest that you are not fit is a little absurd.

In fact, I reckon I am pretty fit. I can do 100 miles (with a couple of 1000 ft hills in it and some other reasonable bumps) in 6 hours 30 mins, which by cycling standards might not be amazing, but in terms of the general population it is pretty damn good. Yet having changed my commute to a new 10 mile commute with some more hills in it, nothing major but a few shortish >10% climbs, I find it a bit hard doing it every day (although I am getting there). I think you dismissed my hills as well. Now I am pretty thick skinned and I just ignored the comment, but the OP might not be.

We all had to start somewhere, and an experienced cyclists (you are one) bump is a beginners mountain.

 

[BentMikey]

Oh come on - it's a bloody 24m hill.

 

[magnatom]

Oh come on - it's a bloody 24m hill.

I have a hill that (upon checking with bikely) that rises just over 20m. It has a signpost indicating a 12% gradient. This is it here. I have to power up it (out of the saddle, usually from a standing start (due to traffic). Due to it's short distance I assume it is mostly anaerobic effort (my heavy breathing kicks in just after I reach the top). I wouldn't want that at the start of my commute without some for of warm up.

20m can still be hard work.

 

[magnatom]

Oh, and just a quick message for the OP, you might want to make sure in the future that any routes that you share don't start right on your doorstep...

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Oh, and just a quick message for the OP, you might want to make sure in the future that any routes that you share don't start right on your doorstep...

If I was going there, I wouldn't start from here ...

 

[jimboalee]

I went on an Audax once in Meriden. The first 2 miles were straight up a hill.

Before the start, the local lads were doing squats with one of their buddies on 'Piggy back'.

 

[jimboalee]

I have a hill that (upon checking with bikely) that rises just over 20m. It has a signpost indicating a 12% gradient. This is it here. I have to power up it (out of the saddle, usually from a standing start (due to traffic). Due to it's short distance I assume it is mostly anaerobic effort (my heavy breathing kicks in just after I reach the top). I wouldn't want that at the start of my commute without some for of warm up.

20m can still be hard work.

Your heavy breathing should have started a good 2 minutes before the start of the hill to get some O2 in your blood.

 

[ttcycle]

If you have a turbo or rollers you could have a quick warm up on that in the house before you exit the door?

 

[jimboalee]

Your heavy breathing should have started a good 2 minutes before the start of the hill to get some O2 in your blood.

Part of a test I did once was to swim 50m under water.

I did the heavy breathing BEFORE the swim, not after.

 

[jimboalee]

If you have a turbo or rollers you could have a quick warm up on that in the house before you exit the door?

True.

The last thing you should do is go at it with cold muscles and cold lungs.

I still think the squats with 2 x the weight of a hefty bike is adequate.

 

[ttcycle]

True.

The last thing you should do is go at it with cold muscles and cold lungs.

I still think the squats with 2 x the weight of a hefty bike is adequate.

quite old fashioned though and a bit difficult to do for some, even just a light jog on the spot or in the back garden would suffice to warm up

 

[buddha]

Okay, here's how to to a warm up without knowing it:
When you get home the previous evening, don't put your keys, mobile, wallet etc where you usually do. The following morning spend 20 minutes frantically running up and down the stairs looking for everything you have 'misplaced'. Then ride.
Works for me everyday

 

[Downward]

I start my day off by riding down hill then up the other side. I have always just put into into 2nd and spun up. By the time I'm at the top i am nice and warmed up.

 

[Twanger]

I have a similar problem to the OP.

My solution is to ride the bike up the hill until I start thinking "stuff this for a game of soldiers". Then I get off and push.

Works every time.

The problem about cycling up a hill when you have had no warm up at all is that, whatever other evils it brings, it's just no fun. You push yourself to get up the hill, and you knacker yourself. This casts a dismal pall over the rest of the commute.