I can't climb hills Help me please ?

[Jamie Wilson]

Why can't I climb hills ?
I mean some small hills are ok, but I hit some strong hills, and I really
struggle after 5 minutes.
I am fairly fit, and can ride 100 k's rides no problem, with good average
speeds, and I can sprint short bursts pretty good, but I get to a hill, and
I am pooped.
I have a 2004 Trek 1400 with Shimano 105's groupset, I don't know a lot
about bikes, but could it be the gearing that Trek give you on this bike is
not suited for steep hills.
Anyone here have a 2004 Trek 1400 ?
and ifso do you find the gearing a little hard for climbing ?

What should I do, as I love to climb some good hills.
Thankyou.

 

[dtmeister]

Jamie Wilson <[email protected]> wrote:
> Why can't I climb hills ?
> I mean some small hills are ok, but I hit some strong hills, and I really
> struggle after 5 minutes.
> I am fairly fit, and can ride 100 k's rides no problem, with good average
> speeds, and I can sprint short bursts pretty good, but I get to a hill, and
> I am pooped.

Have a read of this. It helped me. Actually, this is a good all around
site, so look at his other cycling stuff.

http://www.cptips.com/climb.htm

> I have a 2004 Trek 1400 with Shimano 105's groupset, I don't know a lot
> about bikes, but could it be the gearing that Trek give you on this bike is
> not suited for steep hills.
> Anyone here have a 2004 Trek 1400 ?
> and ifso do you find the gearing a little hard for climbing ?

Well, it could easily be the gearing. It all depends on how steep the
hill is, how fit you are and then do you have the gearing to cope. How
do you get pooped? Do your legs start burning, do you run out of breath?
You probably want a gear that will allow you to spin (if you want or
need to) at 90 RPM or more up your hill.


--
..dt
1996 Diamond Back 'Expert Tg' Roadie (7spd DT shifters, favourite bike!)
2004 Trek 2300 Roadie (9spd Ultegra)
2003 DiamondBack 'Criterium' Roadie (8spd Sora, rain bike)

 

[Jamie Wilson]

Yes legs start to burn, and I run out of oxygen fast.
"dtmeister" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Jamie Wilson <[email protected]> wrote:
> > Why can't I climb hills ?
> > I mean some small hills are ok, but I hit some strong hills, and I
really
> > struggle after 5 minutes.
> > I am fairly fit, and can ride 100 k's rides no problem, with good
average
> > speeds, and I can sprint short bursts pretty good, but I get to a hill,
and
> > I am pooped.
>
> Have a read of this. It helped me. Actually, this is a good all around
> site, so look at his other cycling stuff.
>
> http://www.cptips.com/climb.htm
>
> > I have a 2004 Trek 1400 with Shimano 105's groupset, I don't know a lot
> > about bikes, but could it be the gearing that Trek give you on this bike
is
> > not suited for steep hills.
> > Anyone here have a 2004 Trek 1400 ?
> > and ifso do you find the gearing a little hard for climbing ?
>
> Well, it could easily be the gearing. It all depends on how steep the
> hill is, how fit you are and then do you have the gearing to cope. How
> do you get pooped? Do your legs start burning, do you run out of breath?
> You probably want a gear that will allow you to spin (if you want or
> need to) at 90 RPM or more up your hill.
>
>
> --
> .dt
> 1996 Diamond Back 'Expert Tg' Roadie (7spd DT shifters, favourite bike!)
> 2004 Trek 2300 Roadie (9spd Ultegra)
> 2003 DiamondBack 'Criterium' Roadie (8spd Sora, rain bike)

 

[dtmeister]

Jamie Wilson <[email protected]> wrote:
> Yes legs start to burn, and I run out of oxygen fast.

Well, you probably don't have low enough gearing for your particular
combination of fitness and hill gradient/length.

If you speak with your LBS, they should be able to advise you on gearing
options. There's lots of stuff on the web too, see also :

http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/touring/gears.htm

--
..dt
1996 Diamond Back 'Expert Tg' Roadie (7spd DT shifters, favourite bike!)
2004 Trek 2300 Roadie (9spd Ultegra)
2003 DiamondBack 'Criterium' Roadie (8spd Sora, rain bike)

 

[flyingdutch]

Why can't I climb hills ?
I mean some small hills are ok, but I hit some strong hills, and I really
struggle after 5 minutes.
I am fairly fit, and can ride 100 k's rides no problem, with good average
speeds, and I can sprint short bursts pretty good, but I get to a hill, and
I am pooped.
I have a 2004 Trek 1400 with Shimano 105's groupset, I don't know a lot
about bikes, but could it be the gearing that Trek give you on this bike is
not suited for steep hills.
Anyone here have a 2004 Trek 1400 ?
and ifso do you find the gearing a little hard for climbing ?

What should I do, as I love to climb some good hills.
Thankyou.

aaah. once you ind the answer. let us ALL know!

gravity'n'weight basically vs power (or lack thereof )
are you a Beach Rd warrior? no hills there!

come try a BR(x) ride if your a Melbourn-ite. very mixed range of climbing ability amongst us (Im somewhere in the mddle-lower-order.sigh)

I personally like climbing alone ("He's pushing a MONSTER gear...") as i find pacing myself on someone else's wheel either makes me hold back on the bits where i feel good or get hammered on the bits Im dropping off the back...

all you evil-light-people do tell!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MikeyOz]

Why can't I climb hills ?
I mean some small hills are ok, but I hit some strong hills, and I really
struggle after 5 minutes.
I am fairly fit, and can ride 100 k's rides no problem, with good average
speeds, and I can sprint short bursts pretty good, but I get to a hill, and
I am pooped.
I have a 2004 Trek 1400 with Shimano 105's groupset, I don't know a lot
about bikes, but could it be the gearing that Trek give you on this bike is
not suited for steep hills.
Anyone here have a 2004 Trek 1400 ?
and ifso do you find the gearing a little hard for climbing ?

What should I do, as I love to climb some good hills.
Thankyou.

hmmm yep, lots of variables here, I dont think youre gearing would be holding you back that much, especially by the sounds of your other riding, but are you trying to ride 40 kph up hill !?? its all relative are you trying to emulate Lance....

also what hills are you talking about what sort of gradient, climbing is quite different to flat riding, some different muscles.

probably quite a few factors though, how much do you weigh also!??? I mean you didnt say but I assume you are not like 110 kgs ???

 

[JH]

Jamie Wilson wrote:
> Why can't I climb hills ?
> I mean some small hills are ok, but I hit some strong hills, and I really
> struggle after 5 minutes.
> I am fairly fit, and can ride 100 k's rides no problem, with good average
> speeds, and I can sprint short bursts pretty good, but I get to a hill, and
> I am pooped.
> I have a 2004 Trek 1400 with Shimano 105's groupset, I don't know a lot
> about bikes, but could it be the gearing that Trek give you on this bike is
> not suited for steep hills.
> Anyone here have a 2004 Trek 1400 ?
> and ifso do you find the gearing a little hard for climbing ?
>
> What should I do, as I love to climb some good hills.
> Thankyou.
>
>

Have a look at:

http://groups.google.com.au/group/a...e2c85af50e7/5ea0629785671bda#5ea0629785671bda
or http://tinyurl.com/9q64f

This covered a lot of ground about gearing/hills/Trek 1400

jh

 

[flyingdutch]

... you didnt say but I assume you are not like 110 kgs ???

and what's wrong with that?

F"85kg"Dutch

 

[MikeyOz]

and what's wrong with that?

F"85kg"Dutch

didn't saying anything was wrong with that I used to weight 110 kgs once
but if youre 110 kgs and a similar fitness to something who is 70 kgs.... I know who I would bet on.

 

[Absent Husband]

Technique can be a big issue too, dude.

As previously noted, a felow rider (*nods to Tam*) has given me some
technique tips and it has made a difference to my hillclimbing.

I'm still slow & ****. But at least now I'm not 'fighting myself or the
bike' while I'm doing it. A bit of pedalling efficiency goes a long
way....

Haven't looked at teh quoted links yet - but focus on any technique
tips, and see how you go...

Also - find a regular climb. Do it often. Use it as hill-training, but
also as a benchmark so you know if you are actually improving or not...

Abby (who finds it ironic that he's giving hill-climbing advice...)

 

[Tamyka Bell]

And long climbs just hurt. Full stop. If anyone disagrees, they're not
working hard enough. They're meant to hurt.

If you're good on the flat but not on the hills, then train hills.

If you want to train hills, repeats are a really good way of getting
strong. Ride until your form/focus slips, check the time. Ride back
down. It doesn't matter if this is only 200m up the road. Then try
again.

Chances are, if you just grind up hills senselessly, it will take a long
time before you improve. Hey, this works for running too.

Tam

 

[GPLama]

"Jamie Wilson" wrote in message ...
> Why can't I climb hills ?

A few things that has helped me out in the last few months.. remember what
works for one person may not work for anyone else..

- Do more hills
- Lost excess weight - from 84 down to 69kgs
- Keeping up regular training - w00t indoor trainer
- Technique - www sites and URLs people have posted here
- Lighter bike bits - wheels etc.

It really depends what you want to put into your cycling.. for some reason
I've been obsessed with it more than ever for the last 6 months - and while
I'm keeping fit and putting fear into other BR riders* - I'll keep it up


cheers,
GPL
:who pushed 39/21 up Doncaster Rd hill today:

* yes, an lame attempt to stir s*it.. cmon, more attacks off the front I
say!

 

[adam85]

And long climbs just hurt. Full stop. If anyone disagrees, they're not working hard enough. They're meant to hurt.

If you're good on the flat but not on the hills, then train hills.

If you want to train hills, repeats are a really good way of getting
strong. Ride until your form/focus slips, check the time. Ride back
down. It doesn't matter if this is only 200m up the road. Then try
again.

Chances are, if you just grind up hills senselessly, it will take a long
time before you improve. Hey, this works for running too.

Tam

Yeah repeats are good. A coach can tailor a program for you properly but here's a sample workout to give you an idea. Throw one of these drills in once or twice a week. Build up to it by doing the a) interval first then the b) the next time. Do strength efforts for say 2 weeks, then 2 weeks of fast climbs. Make sure you're fully recovered and be careful of your knees with the low cadence stuff. That posted article was quite good, heaps of stuff on the net.

Strength - Perform in large chainring on a long steady hill. HR: E3 for whole effort. Cadence: 50-70 RPM. Adjust gear to suit
conditions, cadence & heartrate. Rest: roll down hill. (Strength Endurance – Anaerobic Threshold Endurance)
a). 5x2min
b). 5x4min with 5sec burst at the end of each minute

Fastclimb – Using the same hill as in the strength efforts, reduce the gearing and ride on and off the seat.HR: E3-E4.
Cadence: 80-90 rpm. Rest: roll down hill. (Power - Anaerobic Threshold Endurance/VO2 Max Boosting)
a). 5x1min
b). 4x3min

Heart Rate Codes
REC (Recovery) - 50%-60% HR Max
E1 - 65%-75% HR Max
E2 - 75%-85% HR Max
E3 - 85%-92% HR Max
E4 - 92%-100% HR Max

 

[Marx SS]

Hill? What hill?
It's all in the mind. Your legs & lungs are just easliy fooled by your eyes & resistance in the pedals. It'll flatten out soon, no worries.
I used to not look up, like it's not there, just focus right in front of the front wheel.
Then I did the focus on the very top of the rise, tried to ignor everything else.
Nowadays when I'm on a road incline I just buckle down & sort my pedal strokes, fast or slow. If you've been riding for long enough (before you hit a big incline) you can match up your cogs to get that happy candece your legs love. Hills are almost a metal rest for me in that it's all physical, legs & lungs, turning over the crank. All I do is keep it upright, balanced, almost as if I'm on a excersie bike or air-trainer.

Also I find that getting over the top I don't just blow or stop/rest completely, just keep the cranks turning over the other side, go up through the cogs & keep spinning, you have just finished a climb, but also have began a decent.

 

[TimC]

On 2005-07-22, flyingdutch (aka Bruce)
was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea:
> all you evil-light-people do tell!!!!!!!!!!

I *should* be a good climber. I am one of these silly 2 pounds per
inch people.

--
TimC
 *** System shutdown message from root ***
System going down in 60 seconds

 

[hippy]

Technique can be a big issue too, dude.

As previously noted, a felow rider (*nods to Tam*) has given me some
technique tips and it has made a difference to my hillclimbing.

<snip>

Abby (who finds it ironic that he's giving hill-climbing advice...)

I find it ironic (or is the word: scary) that you are taking cycling tips from a triathlete!

Oooh, low blow! Tam thought she'd copped the last of the tri-bashing..
nuh uh!

hippy
"Don't like hills? Move to The Netherlands!"

 

[Michael Warner]

On Fri, 22 Jul 2005 14:39:27 +1000, Jamie Wilson wrote:

> Why can't I climb hills ?
> I mean some small hills are ok, but I hit some strong hills, and I really
> struggle after 5 minutes.
> I am fairly fit, and can ride 100 k's rides no problem, with good average
> speeds, and I can sprint short bursts pretty good, but I get to a hill, and
> I am pooped.

Here are some tips that have helped me a lot:
- Lose excess weight. It's possible to be very fit and still overweight.
- Sit up and back, relax and breathe deeply and slowly. Any muscular
effort or tension outside your legs is wasted.
- Breathe on alternate legs, otherwise you tend to favour one over the
other.
- Don't let your cadence fall below 80 or so
- Stand up regularly to stretch your back and legs, going up a
gear or two. Your speed should only drop a little.
- Don't gaze up the hill too much. You'll feel faster and stronger if you
concentrate on the road just ahead of your wheel whizzing by.

Assuming your small chainring is a 39, a 25 rear cog should get
you up all but the nastiest hills. If you only have a 23, it might be
worth swapping it for a cluster with a 25 until you're stronger.

--
Home page: http://members.westnet.com.au/mvw

 

[dave]

Jamie Wilson wrote:
> Why can't I climb hills ?
> I mean some small hills are ok, but I hit some strong hills, and I really
> struggle after 5 minutes.

And?

> I am fairly fit, and can ride 100 k's rides no problem, with good average
> speeds, and I can sprint short bursts pretty good, but I get to a hill, and
> I am pooped.

Ride more hills

Seriously the only person I know who just flat cannot climb hills is my
aunt (Hi Marylyn) and she has a heart defect) She is ok on the flat and
suicidely brave downhill but can;t climb.

Even Ian can climb.. (At max 160 heartbeats) And he has had a triple
bypass.

> I have a 2004 Trek 1400 with Shimano 105's groupset, I don't know a lot
> about bikes, but could it be the gearing that Trek give you on this bike is
> not suited for steep hills.

Bloody steap hills maybe. But no its fine.

Different techniques work for different people.. tho.. try other stuff..
I like to do out of the saddle mostly... sit down for a few secs then
back out Some people (Like lance find spinnning insanely works for them)


Dave

 

[dave]

MikeyOz wrote:
> flyingdutch Wrote:
>
>>and what's wrong with that?
>>
>>F"85kg"Dutch
>
> didn't saying anything was wrong with that I used to weight 110 kgs
> once
> but if youre 110 kgs and a similar fitness to something who is 70
> kgs.... I know who I would bet on.
>
>

All over things being equal the opposite person to the one you would bet
on in a punch up