Average Climbing speed?
- Thread starter TeamSpine
- Start date
I don't have any 8 mile long climbs in my area but I am generaly around 8 to 10 mph on most significant climbs.
It really is an "it depends" kind of thing. I'd say on a slow grade I average around 14 km., but around here they're never more than a mile or so, so I don't know about my endurance. (P.S. 1 mile = 1.609 km)
Very steep grades I can drop as low as 7 or 8 (maybe less?). That is when I just repeat to myself "You will NOT, you will NEVER EVER, get off this bike and walk it up ANY hill."
As for the hills I take on regularly, it has been interesting to see the way performance has improved. Last year, I averaged between 12 and 14kph (tops) on one particular long low grade hill I take a lot. And I strained to get up it. Now I hum up the hill no stress at all at around 15-16, even 17-18 through the hairy intersection.
Knowing your regular route and speed, is great for measuring your progress.
It's an interesting question, because it also really depends on your attack, if you have to slow down/stop/start again, your bike, what you're carrying, and of course your energy level.
One consideration for me since I ride to meetings and such is "How much of a sweat do I want to work up and still remain presentable?"
Very steep grades I can drop as low as 7 or 8 (maybe less?). That is when I just repeat to myself "You will NOT, you will NEVER EVER, get off this bike and walk it up ANY hill."
As for the hills I take on regularly, it has been interesting to see the way performance has improved. Last year, I averaged between 12 and 14kph (tops) on one particular long low grade hill I take a lot. And I strained to get up it. Now I hum up the hill no stress at all at around 15-16, even 17-18 through the hairy intersection.
Knowing your regular route and speed, is great for measuring your progress.
It's an interesting question, because it also really depends on your attack, if you have to slow down/stop/start again, your bike, what you're carrying, and of course your energy level.
One consideration for me since I ride to meetings and such is "How much of a sweat do I want to work up and still remain presentable?"
Mine is also highly dependent on almost all the aforementioned factors. I even have become convinced that there is a large psychological influence with things like headwind and heat that amplify above the obvious real influences of them.
I have also found myself repeating such things in my head such as, "So you had to a real man and put a 11-23 instead of the 12-25...oh screw it a 12-27 on. Well are you satisfied now big man?...."
I have also found myself repeating such things in my head such as, "So you had to a real man and put a 11-23 instead of the 12-25...oh screw it a 12-27 on. Well are you satisfied now big man?...."
me and my friends do a hill thats about 3.5 miles long (albeit we do it 8 times-28 miles) and we race up it every time. By the end it's usually more like a time trial, but i can average at least 15-16 mph going up.
Originally posted by pace-line
If I always ride to my limit, aspire and trian to do more, one day, whether today or not, I will. A winners motto.
Um...actually, pace-line, that doesn't work.
I used to think so too, and while I always challenged myself by riding as hard as I could, I also always reached a fitness plateau I could not move beyond.
It was only by riding much slower and longer than I "could", and telling my ego to stuff it, that I was able to increase strength, form, and speed.
This is relevant to TeamSpine's question because I found that by doing so, my hillclimb speed on my test hill went up about 2 mph just within the last month, consistently. Which was totally unexpected. And I just want folks to not make the mistake I did, of "riding as fast as you can, all the time." That was, in fact, a loser's motto. Me being loser number one. Not that that's really changed so much, but y'know...
Pedantic platitudes sound inspiring and everything, pace-line, but I found out that real knowledge means a lot more. Keep living large, though, my man.
That's some interesting info, shawn. I'm always interested in what works for others, because very often when I try new things, I find improvements that I'm sure I wouldn't have otherwise.
That said, I've ridden a lot of hills around here, and in Pennsylvania and Upstate NY. I've run into hills that I could cruise up at 10-12 mph, and others that had I gone any slower, I'm sure I would have toppled over. SO many variables that it makes it impossible to make a choice in the poll.
That said, I've ridden a lot of hills around here, and in Pennsylvania and Upstate NY. I've run into hills that I could cruise up at 10-12 mph, and others that had I gone any slower, I'm sure I would have toppled over. SO many variables that it makes it impossible to make a choice in the poll.
Well there is a Mtn right where I live that is VERY VERY steep, Im talking about when I get to the top it only takes me 15 seconds or less to reach 45+ mph going down....I avg 8-10 mph going up, when I start to get a little tired from steep climbs it goes down to 5-6 mph, but its really variant...Going up Mt Mitchell 7k ft above sea lvl climb, I never go below 5th gear avg around 10mph
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