how to tackle a massive hill @ the start

[swee'pea99]

I too have a similar problem to the OP.

My solution is to push the bike up the hill. Works for me.

 

[Matthames]

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.

I have a nemesis hill that rises just over 20m at 14% gradient. To make it worse it is also from a standing start because of a set of traffic lights at the bottom. By the time I have reached the top I am beginning to hurt, however it is not quite the top as the road continues to climb slightly (5m over 1km), so you end up hurting even more just to keep going. Then there is a drop of 25m in 1/2 km, which I have to slog up on the way home when I have barely warmed up. Still on the outward journey I have yet another hill to contend with that is equally as punishing as my nemesis hill. It is a 25m 12% gradient, to make things a bit more interesting there is a pinch point where the up hill traffic gives way to down hill traffic, as you can imagine I am praying that there is nothing coming the other way.

Tackling that steep hill on the way back, I just select a low gear and just spin my way up it. The trick really is to not rush it, but keep the cadence up.

 

[photography27]

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

toyou it might be nothing, but to me andmaybe some other people it is a hard obsticle to overcome.

advice is what i asked for on this subject and fair play to many they gave good advice, i did not ask for critisism or unfair remarks.

anyway, i read the advice and this morning tackled that hill, and i did it, very easily i might admit!!

i was up the hill before i knew it, it was a pleasent surprise.

Thank you all for your advice, worked a treat

 

[BentMikey]

this morning tackled that hill, and i did it, very easily i might admit!!

i was up the hill before i knew it, it was a pleasent surprise.

Good job! I told you so - just a matter of changing your expectations. There's no reason a hill ten times the size should beat you either.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Buy a house at the top of the hill.

Simples

 

[on the road]

Buy a house at the top of the hill.

Simples

Only problem, you've got to ride up it to get back home.

A bit of a DOH moment

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Buy two houses, one at the bottom and one at the top.


Oh, hang on ...

 

[just jim]

Halfway up?

 

[Rhythm Thief]

We're probably going beyond a house ownership threshold the OP is comfortable with now ...

 

[Crankarm]

Use the c....ar ?

 

[ttcycle]

Use the c....ar ?

Crank!! You had to take it too far didn't you?

I demand this thread be locked - flounce!!!!