Oh, so THAT is a hill then!

[Andrew_Culture]

Well here's the ride I did yesterday http://www.strava.com/activities/82896536

I used my geared bike and when we were going up hills the easiest gear was nowhere near low enough! Everyone else was spinning but I was having to shove so hard my front wheel was lifting up. The we'd hit a descent and at first I thought it would be a chance to rest, till I looked down at my GPS and realised I was going over 50 mph! My poor old Ribble Audax frame was terrifying and I've never pulled the brakes so hard and for so long in all my life, I swear I could smell them.

Then there was the weather, there was ALL the weather. Some hills were like fighting my way up a mountain stream in a monsoon hurricane. I couldn't enjoy those descents because it was raining so hard I could barely see, even under the trees. The roads were also covered with slippy leaves.

Honest to Jebus it was like this was the first time I had ever ridden a bicycle. There should be one Strava for Southerners and one for northerners.

We accidentally became part of the Tour of Britain peloton at one point - cars was hooting at us and I turned round and saw it was the Garmin Sharp team car with about ten riders behind it!

At the end of it all the forty miles we did took a bigger toll than any 100+ miles I've ever done in Suffolk. But we did find a put that did three pints of strong local ale for just £4.50!

Now I understand why compact chain sets exist.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Here's the steel cogged sod I was pushing:

And here's the work of art my mate was gliding vertically on:

If I didn't think my wife would castrate me I'd drive to ribble and burn my credit card on a new bike.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

You'll be walking ! Suffolk and hills, pah !!!

I only had to get off and walk once! Where the river was deep enough to cause too much rolling resistance!

 

[Andrew_Culture]

is there not a proper bike, you know, with gears you could borrow?

I did, but sadly I didn't manage to borrow any legs.

 

[Hacienda71]

So your mate was on a compact 34 : 32 Cervelo weighing in at about 7kg and you were on a standard double with a 39 : 25 Ribble weighing in at 9.5 kg.
Did he set the route? cunning buggers Northeners!

 

[Crackle]

Is it my imagination or is the climbing wattage getting lower as that ride progresses. Lots of enthusiasm up the first big hill though

 

[totallyfixed]

dr_pink raced the Blackstone Edge hill climb on Sunday in atrocious weather on a 39 x 25, just over 2 miles and 8% average, it seemed to suit her because she was first lady by almost 5 mins, clocking 10.04 mins and 13th overall, beating the majority of the men, very proud. Rob3rt on here came 5th, a cracking ride too.
The Pennines have got a wealth of good hills to practice and hold events on, but damned hard work on fixed for anything bigger than medium gear, and the downhills are even harder.

 

[avalon]

but I now realise Suffolk hills are very different!

I spent some of my early years growing up in Suffolk but I can't remember any hills.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Is it my imagination or is the climbing wattage getting lower as that ride progresses. Lots of enthusiasm up the first big hill though

Until it felt like my lungs had ruptured through the back of my ribcage!

 

[ColinJ]

dr_pink raced the Blackstone Edge hill climb on Sunday in atrocious weather on a 39 x 25, just over 2 miles and 8% average, it seemed to suit her because she was first lady by almost 5 mins, clocking 10.04 mins and 13th overall, beating the majority of the men, very proud. Rob3rt on here came 5th, a cracking ride too.
The Pennines have got a wealth of good hills to practice and hold events on, but damned hard work on fixed for anything bigger than medium gear, and the downhills are even harder.

Excellent efforts dr_pink, and Rob3rt! I was wondering how the event unfolded. I did a short walk in the valley here at that time and got soaked, so I was glad that I had seen sense and chosen not to ride up to watch!

 

[totallyfixed]

Excellent efforts dr_pink, and Rob3rt! I was wondering how the event unfolded. I did a short walk in the valley here at that time and got soaked, so I was glad that I had seen sense and chosen not to ride up to watch!

Apologies to Andrew first for skewing the topic slightly, but does anyone who is into Strava have the QOM record for Blackstone Edge, someone said on another forum that a certain Jo Rowsell holds it with a slower time than dr_pink and over a shorter distance! Can this really be true?

 

[Hacienda71]

http://app.strava.com/segments/957393

Don't know if that is the one.

 

[Hacienda71]

Although her ride is not on a TT just a training ride.

 

[Saluki]

Well here's the ride I did yesterday http://www.strava.com/activities/82896536

I used my geared bike and when we were going up hills the easiest gear was nowhere near low enough! Everyone else was spinning but I was having to shove so hard my front wheel was lifting up. The we'd hit a descent and at first I thought it would be a chance to rest, till I looked down at my GPS and realised I was going over 50 mph! My poor old Ribble Audax frame was terrifying and I've never pulled the brakes so hard and for so long in all my life, I swear I could smell them.

Then there was the weather, there was ALL the weather. Some hills were like fighting my way up a mountain stream in a monsoon hurricane. I couldn't enjoy those descents because it was raining so hard I could barely see, even under the trees. The roads were also covered with slippy leaves.

Honest to Jebus it was like this was the first time I had ever ridden a bicycle. There should be one Strava for Southerners and one for northerners.

We accidentally became part of the Tour of Britain peloton at one point - cars was hooting at us and I turned round and saw it was the Garmin Sharp team car with about ten riders behind it!

At the end of it all the forty miles we did took a bigger toll than any 100+ miles I've ever done in Suffolk. But we did find a put that did three pints of strong local ale for just £4.50!

Now I understand why compact chain sets exist.

Blimey.

I think that I will stick to riding in Norfolk & Suffolk.

Would your wife really castrate you if you got a new bike?? Surely she would understand, in the circs.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

If I didn't think my wife would castrate me I'd drive to ribble and burn my credit card on a new bike.

On the other hand, if you don't still have the balls to do it....

(That's a naughty post. I feel ashamed of myself.)