Some Hill Advice?

[threshold]

Hiya, I'm just looking for some sage counsel as to how long it might take me to 'conquer' my bl****y work commute route. I thought I was reasonably fit, but after 2 weeks of commuting, and my regular circuit training sessions,Istill have to get off and push on at least two occasions at every ride, and its becoming depressing! I don't think its a terribly hilly route, but have included a readout of the elevations in the hope that those of you who have far greater knowledge than I might be able to take a look and comment, or offer ANY advice at all? I'm on a pretty low end hard tail MTB ( 15 gears) with rack, and even my temper will not drive me all the way up the worst inclines! Thanks in anticipation ( oh, and by the way, I will do it eventually, or have a paramedic team do CPR in the event of coronary implosion!!)

 

[hackbike 666]

Don't push yourself too hard you could do yourself a mischief.I just think hills take a bit of practice and im not very good with them either.

 

[RedBike]

Have you tried fitting slick tyres?
This will make the bike roll quicker and make it slightly easier to climb the hill(s).

 

[peanut]

I would suggest you look at fitting narrower tyres (oops as redbike suggests )ie 25c and pumping them up to at least 90lbs preferably 110lbs

Secondly I would make sure your saddle is set high enough. Its very common for saddles on MTB bikes to be set up low for off road use. You need to set it higher for road use to maximise your effort .

As a rough guide put one pedal at the bottom and place your heel on the pedal . Your leg should be almost straight

 

[colly]

Do you grind up in a high gear or twiddle away in the lowest gear?
The worst hill there seems to be around a mile long and with a rise of about 200ft it seems not so bad.

Depends on how long you have been riding I suppose. When I took up cycling in my early 40's I had to get off and push up a hill that I barely notice now. It does take a little time.
If you can sit and twiddle a low gear and not worry about how long it takes I would opt for that. Pretty soon you will be belting up the hills with no problems.

And all what Peanut said.

 

[levad]

I agree with that, slick, slightly narrower tyres. Also remember its a commute not a race, change to a lower gear earlier than you think is necessary and have patience.

 

[HLaB]

Snap I climb 348ft too (in 3.2miles). Keep at it, practice is the key you'll get there, in the meantime you can always blame the bike.

There's some good advice in the other post about seat height and tyres.

 

[Banjo]

Hi Threshold. Im certainly not an expert .I have been riding and commuting for about a month or so on a second hand hybrid.First few weeks my legs were burning then listening to advice on here about how to set the bike up made a big difference. Getting the seat at the right height made a huge difference also keeping the tyres at the max pressure makes hills easier.After about 3 weeks I stopped walking the steepest bits,still puffing a bit at the top but much more manageable now.

Stick with it mate.

 

[Bman]

All I can say is: Pace yourself. Don't overdo it.

 

[hackbike 666]

All I can say is: Pace yourself. Don't overdo it.

That's what I was trying to say.

 

[Fab Foodie]

get the saddle height right,pump the tyres up to the max,make sure all bearings etc are running smooth.
At the hill; Sit back on the saddle, find a nice gear to pedal, relax upper body completely, just drive from the legs and lower back... Oh and relax the upper body and arms, did I mention that? Nice gentle breathing, and think one metre at a time.

How to fit a bicycle:
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm

 

[threshold]

Thats what I like about this community, so many people wiiling to help so quickly. In answer to a couple of points, I have swapped the tyres for some skinnier continental commuter slick(ish) ones and keep the pressures well up. I do think, seeing the replies that saddle height may need to go up, but I'm on tippy toes now to reach the ground! Yes, I've tried spinning in the lowest of low gears, but the hills finish with nasty little incline increases which floor me. I think I just don't have enough leg strength yet, but, I'm starting to think a lighter quicker road bike might help my gross physical shortcomings, and they're ooooh so shiny!!.
Thanks to everyone for the help!

 

[HJ]

Select a low gear early and keep the RPM up, if you are struggling to keep 80 RPM, you are in too high a gear...

 

[HJ]

Thats what I like about this community, so many people wiiling to help so quickly. In answer to a couple of points, I have swapped the tyres for some skinnier continental commuter slick(ish) ones and keep the pressures well up. I do think, seeing the replies that saddle height may need to go up, but I'm on tippy toes now to reach the ground! Yes, I've tried spinning in the lowest of low gears, but the hills finish with nasty little incline increases which floor me. I think I just don't have enough leg strength yet, but, I'm starting to think a lighter quicker road bike might help my gross physical shortcomings, and they're ooooh so shiny!!.
Thanks to everyone for the help!

Well there you are then, the obvious option we were all to polite to mention, you neeed to get a new bike... always the best option in the end, or so I have been trying to tell the wife...

 

[Fab Foodie]

Well there you are then, the obvious option we were all to polite to mention, you neeed to get a new bike... always the best option in the end, or so I have been trying to tell the wife...

Cycling; It's not about the wife...