Struggle on Hills on Road Bike

[ColinJ]

Does it even need explaining? If you are recovered - it's possible. If you are not recovered - it's not possible. As 'often as possible' means exactly that.

To you - no. To other people - yes!

A friend of mine commuted on his bike right through one winter - that was clearly possible. He continued through to the spring - possible. He came with me to Spain and did 800+ hilly/mountainous miles in the fortnight - possible. He was feeling good when he came back so he started extending his commutes - possible. He did long rides every weekend - possible ...

His improvements stalled but it was still possible to push himself so he did. Further, faster, more often ... And eventually he fell apart from overtraining. It took him 6 months to fully recover.

It is possible to jump in front of a speeding train. It just isn't very sensible ...

 

[Dogtrousers]

If you are recovered - it's possible. If you are not recovered - it's not possible.

If you are not recovered, it's inadvisable. But entirely possible.

 

[Dogtrousers]

He came with me to Spain and did 800+ hilly/mountainous miles in the fortnight - possible.

800+ rides in a fortnight? That's 60 rides a day. Either they were very short rides, or I think you're verging on the impossible there

 

[S-Express]

 

[ColinJ]

800+ rides in a fortnight? That's 60 rides a day. Either they were very short rides, or I think you're verging on the impossible there

I thought for a second there that I HAD typed 'rides' ... 'MILES'!

It was quite spectacular when my pal's overtraining started to take hold. He fought it for a few weeks but was finally forced to admit defeat. He gave up all riding except for some bike commutes and he did those on alternate days and much slower than before. It was the only year that I got fitter than him!

View attachment 335639

The thing is that I know what you mean and you know what I mean but there are people out there who think that since 'some' = good, 'lots more' = better, and 'absolutely the maximum' = best!

 

[Tin Pot]

To you - no. To other people - yes!

Indeed & thanks.

 

[Nibor]

Biggest and best tip I ever got and it is very similar to the bubble analogy.
"Ride your own hill"

 

[Deleted member 35268]

I forgot to say, with hills you have to go at your own pace, and ignore everyone else.

 

[Lee_M]

A few points I would mention:

The older you are the harder it is, no matter what young whippersnappers say. I'm loads fitter (weight, heart rate, fat %) than I was 10 years ago, but I'm also slower.

If you're of the larger stature its harder up hill, you'll never stay with a 65kg goat.

When you start a hill go at your pace not anyone elses. In my view its better to get up whatever speed than it is to go fast then walk the rest.

You have a decent range of gears, so you should be able to get up most things, if you don't go too fast and hard.

Until you lose weight it will continue to be hard. (I Was 16 stone, I'm now 14 1/2, this is purely due to doing miles)

One other thing, check your bike fit, if your seat is set incorrectly tyhen you arent using all your power. I raised my seat by 1/2 inch and the difference was massive, hills I previously struggled with became easy.

Stick with it, it does get easier (despite what people say), it's just that people start to push themselves more which is why it seems to stay hard. Last time I went out with a friend I'd not ridden with for about a year, he still stuggled up nemesis hill (our name for it as it seemed so hard), I coasted up it and then went back down and encouraged him up - the only difference between me and him was I'd kept riding hills and he hadnt

 

[S-Express]

The older you are the harder it is, no matter what young whippersnappers say. I'm loads fitter (weight, heart rate, fat %) than I was 10 years ago, but I'm also slower.

Evidently - from a cycling perspective - you are not loads fitter, then. Unless you can clarify what you mean.

 

[GuyBoden]

Use a triple on the front chainring or testosterone and Epogen..............

 

[Banjo]

You may be able to fit an 11 /34 cassette without a new rear mech.I know you can with 105 not tried it with claris.Maybe ask at your bikeshop or they may have an old worn out 11/34 you could experiment with.probably need a new longer chain.

I have 34 /50 cranks and 11 /34 cassette.On a big climb after a long day its worth its weight in gold.

 

[ColinJ]

The older you are the harder it is, no matter what young whippersnappers say. I'm loads fitter (weight, heart rate, fat %) than I was 10 years ago, but I'm also slower.

Evidently - from a cycling perspective - you are not loads fitter, then. Unless you can clarify what you mean.

OMG - I don't know how it happened, but ... I agree with you!

 

[screenman]

OMG - I don't know how it happened, but ... I agree with you!

You may need to go and lay down.

 

[bigjim]

Evidently - from a cycling perspective - you are not loads fitter, then. Unless you can clarify what you mean.

Why? Fitness is not measured by speed is it? You can fly up a hill but be knackered once you get to the top but plodders like me can crest the rise and pass you with a good steady cadence. My super fit, boxer, youngest son comes out with me on his super dooper carbon bike. He weighs 2.5kg less than me. His bike is 3kg less than mine and he is half my age. He flys past me on hills. Thats it! He has to work to stay with me on downhills and on the flat. Is he fitter than me?
And stop agreeing with people! What's that all about?