mrodgers

Same as everyone else stated. Definitions on spinning, grinding, and hills need to be made more clear.

I ride a hybrid. I am in the 26/34 gear often. I climb a lot. Saturday was an easy ride at 1800 feet in 25 miles. Typical easy road riding in western PA. I was in that 26/34 combo often enough.

Last year was my best year overall distance in 3.25 years of riding. 2000 miles and just over 100,000 feet of climbing. That's about 50/50 of flat trail riding and road riding the hills. I'll have to compile the numbers and see what the climbing was just for road riding as the trail riding really only gets me less than 750 feet in 60-75 miles while road riding can get me 2000+ feet in 20 miles or so.

If I had 42/32 gear combo, I'd be walking an awful lot. There are some hills that my bike computer doesn't show speed because I'm going too slow. I am at 2 mph a LOT on my rides and with 42/32, that would be grinding out at 20 rpm.

Thus, per the OP's information, they are not climbing any hills.

As for technique, it all comes down to what you are comfortable with. I'm not comfortable at spinning a high cadence and climbing. I have the gearing and I just drop it down and grind it out (talking 60-75 rpm) and ride slow. I have a lot of extra weight on not only my person (need to lose about 50 lb.) but also in the amount of water I carry. I have bags so I use them as I drink a lot of water (3 gallons worth in an all day casual 75 mile ride with friends.) I'm starting out carrying 15-20 extra pounds worth of drink.

If you're limited on gearing, then you don't have much of a choice. If you're limited to 42/32, then all you have is grinding out at a slow speed.

RockiesDad

I just did a ride a few days ago where it was rolling hills for the first 8 miles or so then decided to try the hill that I usually pass by. Its about four miles staight up at about an 8-9% grade the whole way (2000ft elevation for 4miles???). I thought I was in decent condition but I think I must have stopped about a dozen times to rest. It was when both my legs and lungs were about to explode.

I never walked up though. This thread started me thinking about technique. I think that a combination of standing/mashing in a higher gear mixed with spinning at a lower gear would be the trick. Knowing when to do each during the climb would be different for different folks. I need to work on that and find out what works for me...

Leebo

Seems the OP needs some lower gearing. at least 1:1, so something like a 32:32 for starters, if not lower.

fietsbob

you are going up hill against gravity, you are just working on getting into shape..


Younger and lighter ... in the 80's, Mt Tam road hill climb 36:28 low, often not even in the 28, but the 20 or 24.

wphamilton

There is no objective definition of hill and steep that everyone can agree on. The best that I've seen is, if it's steep enough and long enough that it knocks you down to your lowest gears, and you still can't keep your preferred cadence up, it's a steep hill.

MRT2

True. My idea of a steep hill might be someone else's modest incline. And my idea of a modest incline might be someone else's steep hill.

mrodgers

This just comes from being new to hills. First time I rode a hill it was only about half a mile long at maybe 9% grade and I had to stop halfway up to catch my breath. Thought my heart was going to explode. I still have a lot of extra weight to pull up while I'm climbing but a 9% grade is nothing for miles. But I am constantly in hills so it will be much different for me than for someone who hits a hill now and then.

njlonghorn

I do this too, except that I use a bungee cord. It is easier to mentally hook them on to something.

Another trick is to pick a tune that sets a steady tempo in your mind. When I first started doing this, I'd pick a different song each time, but inevitably, my mind would drift to "du DUH du DUH du DUH DUH du DUH... du DUH du DUH du DUH DUH... du DUH du DUH du DUH DUH du DUH... Pop Goes the Weasel." I fought this for years, but have given in to the irresistible power of the subconscious.

njlonghorn

True, and it also varies over time. The hill near me that I originally called Mount Nemesis (see this thread) is now an easy climb.

caloso

You are on the right track.

Drew Eckhardt 

You need to limit yourself to a power output you can sustain for the given duration. 5% harder than you can sustain for an hour drops your endurance to 20 minutes. 5% more power cuts that farther from 20 minutes to 10.

If you have low enough gears, spinning seated while doing that will be least fatiguing; although for some definition of "hill" you won't have gears that low. Staying seated still remains more efficient as your cadence drops until that no longer works. This is especially true if you have extra (beyond 2 pounds per inch of height) mass which will waste energy if it bobs around.

Joel Friel opines in https://www.joefrielsblog.com/2010/08...-or-stand.html
If you choose to stand, you'll waste less energy and it will feel better at a slightly harder gear. Switching between standing and sitting can be less fatiguing.

Dropping below ~50 RPM you'll need to stand to keep the pedals turning.

Maelochs

My body mass is pushing 3.5 ... i think i should forget hill-climbing and see a doctor.

tara1234

42 small ring with 32 cassette

fietsbob

Merckx climbed mountains with a 42:28.. Freewheel.

Maybe you want a triple crankset, or one of the 46 -30 double cranks.. ?

MRT2

Spinning that gear at, say, 80 rpm is about 8 to 9 mph. Not blazingly fast, but not walking pace either.
https://www.bikecalc.com/gear_speed

linberl

Stupid question: if you are spinning and then realize you need to stand to make that last push, do you shift before you stand or stand and pedal in the same gear you were spinning in (I find my foot bottoms out)? What's the best timing and how many gears do you go up if you are going to mash it? Same question on the reverse if you go back to spinning....are you likely to drop a chain on a steep hill?

caloso

I will usually shift before standing if that's possible. But you can still shift while out of the saddle. As long as you maintain a steady cadence and pressure on the pedals, a well-tuned modern drivetrain will shift under load.

morfeeis

I Must see this bike! an MTB with aero bars sounds freaking awesome!

BobbyG

I might sound awesome, but I don't think it looks that way. The words "interesting" or "kludge" come to mind. But it does make for fast cycling on the flats, and as stated above, comfortable climbing.

morfeeis

i'm still new so that may be why; but i have never seen or heard of something like that. that is a very cool idea.

BobbyG

Oh, there are others who do it and make it look awesome.

Maelochs

I bet you don't even bother to lock it ...

Double points for innovation.

canadian deacon

I thought the answer was HTFU.


https://www.bikeforums.net/singlespee...r-bicycle.html

Leebo

Get some lower gearing, not a pro roadie race set up. At least a 1:1 so like 32-32 or lower. My touring bike has a 22-34, use it all the time.

andrei_r

Now that's some serious climbing! What technique do you use on that infinite % grade? A hoist?