Are You A Spinner Or A Grinder Up Hills?
#126
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A statement was made that there is an additional penalty for heavier riders (as compared to lighter riders) if they climb while standing because "you spend too much energy keeping that body weight going up and down", and you have echoed that. That statement is either incorrect or misleading, depending on how you look at it, and that is what my comment addressed.
Yes, bike weight does present a bigger burden for lighter riders while climbing, but that's true regardless of whether they're standing or sitting. It's incorrect, however, to conclude that this would make lighter riders uncompetitive on climbs -- it all depends on a rider's power-to-weight ratio, where weight includes the bike and the rider.
#127
hard to kill
Funny. I grew up in Texas and everything was a 'coke', so if you were getting the drinks and everybody in the crew wanted a 'coke', it meant you needed to know who wanted an actual coke or a dr pepper or a pepsi or a 7up or whatever
On topic and on the really steep sections of my daily, I used to be a standing grinder running 53/39 with a pine cone 13/21 seven speed. That was thirty-five years ago. Now I'm a sitting grinder on the steeps running 50/34 with an 11/28 eleven speed
And I'm ok with that
On topic and on the really steep sections of my daily, I used to be a standing grinder running 53/39 with a pine cone 13/21 seven speed. That was thirty-five years ago. Now I'm a sitting grinder on the steeps running 50/34 with an 11/28 eleven speed
And I'm ok with that
#128
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On topic and on the really steep sections of my daily, I used to be a standing grinder running 53/39 with a pine cone 13/21 seven speed. That was thirty-five years ago. Now I'm a sitting grinder on the steeps running 50/34 with an 11/28 eleven speed
And I'm ok with that
And I'm ok with that
I've had the privilege of leaving Texas twice in my life (Fort F*****ing Hood, blech) and fear I will not live long enough to experience that singular thrill once more. I got hit-n-runned and another time I was in a Honda car that rolled after hitting a dead cow left in the middle of a corner in the road. Such a terrible place, and every Texan describes -the hill country" as a real purty place. Utter tish-hole.
#129
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#130
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Also I got a PI (public intoxication) ticket in Austin when I was 19. We had just seen the Circle Jerks (punk band) at Joe's Generic Bar, and the only reason my squadmates paid for me is because I was too young to drink and I was therefore their designated driver. But I was with them and designated by the Texas officers as a fellow drunk.
Yeah, not a whole lot of positive memories of F*******g texas. Except that the same weekend I got that ticket, Willie Nelson (Austin's Own Son) was arrested by the same police dept for sleeping one off in his van by the side of the road. Way to be Texas!
Last edited by calamarichris; 03-11-24 at 10:34 PM.
#131
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#132
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Separate incident. I got hit-n-runned by a guy in a Ford Ranger turning right into me while looking directly at me through his aviator sunglasses. He was also wearing a flightsuit. Just lost a little skin off my knee and elbow, but the dude just drove off. Classic Texas.
Just remembered: got hit another time while riding in Texas. FUBARed my front wheel, but at least the guy didn't drive off in this instance. He stuck around, but never answered the phone. So I had to pay for a new front wheel myself. When I think of texas, well... civil society are not exactly synonyms that come to mind.
Just remembered: got hit another time while riding in Texas. FUBARed my front wheel, but at least the guy didn't drive off in this instance. He stuck around, but never answered the phone. So I had to pay for a new front wheel myself. When I think of texas, well... civil society are not exactly synonyms that come to mind.
Last edited by calamarichris; 03-11-24 at 10:50 PM.
#133
hard to kill
You had a 39 chainring living in Texas? Why? Because the 6% bridges over the freeways were too steep?
I've had the privilege of leaving Texas twice in my life (Fort F*****ing Hood, blech) and fear I will not live long enough to experience that singular thrill once more. I got hit-n-runned and another time I was in a Honda car that rolled after hitting a dead cow left in the middle of a corner in the road. Such a terrible place, and every Texan describes -the hill country" as a real purty place. Utter tish-hole.
I've had the privilege of leaving Texas twice in my life (Fort F*****ing Hood, blech) and fear I will not live long enough to experience that singular thrill once more. I got hit-n-runned and another time I was in a Honda car that rolled after hitting a dead cow left in the middle of a corner in the road. Such a terrible place, and every Texan describes -the hill country" as a real purty place. Utter tish-hole.
But now that you mention it I spent time in the hill country when I had relatives in Gatesville, and when my dad bought a '66 Mustang at a tiny little dealer near there in 1968 he handed me the keys when we walked out to the car and let me drive out to Ft Hood. I was 8
I'm not romantic about the place. When I think of Gatesville, I remember being dropped off with grandparents over the summer and the call of mourning doves. It's a lonely sound
You know, when I was growing up, only Texans lived in Texas. Imagine that
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#134
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My father was stationed at Fort Hood during my childhood. Then I suffered that grave misfortune myself as an Army private. I've lived in many places since then, magnificent places like Colorado, and the Netherlands where bicycle is king. I do no fear hell, for I have lived in Fort Hood. Twice. Bring it, Satan.
Last edited by calamarichris; 03-11-24 at 11:27 PM.
#135
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Are You A Spinner Or A Grinder Up Hills?
https://www.gear-calculator.com/?GR=...N=MPH&DV=teeth
#137
Full Member
Spin all day. Always have been but now especially due to having torn a meniscus last fall. Additionally. as a serious and consistent runner, trail running specifically, I'm acclimated to holding a relatively high heart rate on climbs and find I perform best when I get my heartrate up to where I would normally have it while running.
#138
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A "grinder," due to old injuries from way back. Have never felt comfortable being up out of the saddle, and I've rarely done "performance" cycling sufficient to find out-of-saddle climbing necessary. These days, a low gearing setup (of ~15 gear inches) allows me to grind reasonably well.
https://www.gear-calculator.com/?GR=...N=MPH&DV=teeth
https://www.gear-calculator.com/?GR=...N=MPH&DV=teeth
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#139
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As a recumbent rider, definitely a spinner. I was before when doing fully loaded touring with a tendem.
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#140
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#141
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A bit above 3mph would be my estimate ... at least, calculated, given ~70rpm (@gear-calculator.com). Roughly the lower limit of my ability to remain upright.
It's certainly not my normal 85-90rpm. But (with the injuries) it's about all the power I can put down on steeper inclines. Nice to have such a lower gear. If I end up needing more, it'll then be time for different drivetrain or even electric bike.
It's certainly not my normal 85-90rpm. But (with the injuries) it's about all the power I can put down on steeper inclines. Nice to have such a lower gear. If I end up needing more, it'll then be time for different drivetrain or even electric bike.
#142
A bit above 3mph would be my estimate ... at least, calculated, given ~70rpm (@gear-calculator.com). Roughly the lower limit of my ability to remain upright.
It's certainly not my normal 85-90rpm. But (with the injuries) it's about all the power I can put down on steeper inclines. Nice to have such a lower gear. If I end up needing more, it'll then be time for different drivetrain or even electric bike.
It's certainly not my normal 85-90rpm. But (with the injuries) it's about all the power I can put down on steeper inclines. Nice to have such a lower gear. If I end up needing more, it'll then be time for different drivetrain or even electric bike.
#143
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Back in the mid-80s it didn't impact me nearly so much. Test-rode a Ritchey Ultra, at the time, and for the test-ride I went straight up a steep hard-packed slope while sitting down on the saddle ... and I just selected the lowest gear, kept the cadence up, and powered right up that slope. Was about ~30 degrees or more, as I recall. Easy enough, with that bike. Can't remember what the gear-inches were (at the bottom end). These days, though, even a moderate rise up an overpass road aches, on a "regularly-geared" bike, while that same incline as simple on my own low-geared bike.
#144
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Being new to cycling I have been testing both recently. I have a MTB that has ridiculous gears 34x11-42 9spd and an old touring rig that has a 53/42x11-24 6spd. I ride both long low grade hills and shorter higher grade hills.
in all cases, Uphill,downhill and on the flats I prefer the bike with the "harder" gears. I absolutely loath the feeling of my legs spinning aimlessly and my bike going nowhere while my legs do 60MPH...id rather get off and walk than spin.
I have always had fairly powerful legs, even when I am not in good fitness and they can handle much more of a besting than my lungs can but like i said, it is more the feeling of my legs turning with no resistance that i dont like. I climb faster in my 42x24 gear, feel better during the climb and feel better at the top.
yes, i have two very different bikes and one is much heavier with much more rolling resistance and I am sure that comes in to play a bit but not much because, like I said, it's the "leg feel" that gets me.
I am in the same camp going down hill pedaling, I want resistance. Sometimes even my 53x11 isn't enough and leaves me wishing I had a 9 tooth option to get into on the drops...and my 35x13 certainly is not sufficient.
in all cases, Uphill,downhill and on the flats I prefer the bike with the "harder" gears. I absolutely loath the feeling of my legs spinning aimlessly and my bike going nowhere while my legs do 60MPH...id rather get off and walk than spin.
I have always had fairly powerful legs, even when I am not in good fitness and they can handle much more of a besting than my lungs can but like i said, it is more the feeling of my legs turning with no resistance that i dont like. I climb faster in my 42x24 gear, feel better during the climb and feel better at the top.
yes, i have two very different bikes and one is much heavier with much more rolling resistance and I am sure that comes in to play a bit but not much because, like I said, it's the "leg feel" that gets me.
I am in the same camp going down hill pedaling, I want resistance. Sometimes even my 53x11 isn't enough and leaves me wishing I had a 9 tooth option to get into on the drops...and my 35x13 certainly is not sufficient.
Last edited by Strawbunyan; 05-26-24 at 12:34 PM. Reason: Gear correction
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#145
From SF,CA. Depends on the steepness of the hill, as I'm getting stronger I try to stay seated and not using the lowest gear as possible, using 2 or 3 to lowest to train my legs, there are some very steep hills that I have to stand grinding.
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#147
Grupetto Bob
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Grinding is for coffee beans - an important part of cycling.
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#148
Being new to cycling I have been testing both recently. I have a MTB that has ridiculous gears 34x13-42 and an old touring rig that has a 53/42x11-24. I ride both long low grade hills and shorter higher grade hills.
in all cases, Uphill,downhill and on the flats I prefer the bike with the "harder" gears. I absolutely loath the feeling of my legs spinning aimlessly and my bike going nowhere while my legs do 60MPH...id rather get off and walk than spin.
I have always had fairly powerful legs, even when I am not in good fitness and they can handle much more of a besting than my lungs can but like i said, it is more the feeling of my legs turning with no resistance that i dont like. I climb faster in my 42x24 gear, feel better during the climb and feel better at the top.
yes, i have two very different bikes and one is much heavier with much more rolling resistance and I am sure that comes in to play a bit but not much because, like I said, it's the "leg feel" that gets me.
I am in the same camp going down hill pedaling, I want resistance. Sometimes even my 53x11 isn't enough and leaves me wishing I had a 9 tooth option to get into on the drops...and my 35x13 certainly is not sufficient.
in all cases, Uphill,downhill and on the flats I prefer the bike with the "harder" gears. I absolutely loath the feeling of my legs spinning aimlessly and my bike going nowhere while my legs do 60MPH...id rather get off and walk than spin.
I have always had fairly powerful legs, even when I am not in good fitness and they can handle much more of a besting than my lungs can but like i said, it is more the feeling of my legs turning with no resistance that i dont like. I climb faster in my 42x24 gear, feel better during the climb and feel better at the top.
yes, i have two very different bikes and one is much heavier with much more rolling resistance and I am sure that comes in to play a bit but not much because, like I said, it's the "leg feel" that gets me.
I am in the same camp going down hill pedaling, I want resistance. Sometimes even my 53x11 isn't enough and leaves me wishing I had a 9 tooth option to get into on the drops...and my 35x13 certainly is not sufficient.
The only time I "big ring" it and grind over climbs is when they are short punchy rollers. Or if they are 20%+ grades where grinding is the only option in whatever your lowest gear is. For me that's currently a 35/33 on my road bike and ideally I would like an even lower gear for the really steep climbs.
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#149
Senior Member
I used to be a OOS grinder due to my powerlifting background, but I've been training myself more to be a spinner while controlling my HR and watt output. I find if I focus maintaining a set HR, I can spin for a longer period of time. Also I came to a revelation that high cadence spinning can be insanely fast near max HR. The muscular lactate burning pain can be tolerated for a longer period of time, while OOS grinding will eventually lead to a blowout for me using type 2 muscles.
I'm now debating if I should experiment with a smaller chainring for my climbing bike while increasing my cadence in the process.
I'm now debating if I should experiment with a smaller chainring for my climbing bike while increasing my cadence in the process.
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#150
Just Pedaling
I too am/was/am a grinder. I think it comes from having been a MTBer before getting into road biking. I have been working on increasing my cadence for the last few years. It used to be around 65 and now I'm more comfortable around 75-80. But like StrawBunyun, I like the feel of taller gears, especially on flats. And you're right, even a 52/11 isn't nearly tall enough when on an even slightly downward slope or a tailwind. Lots of riders believe the old wive's tale that grinding will destroy your knee joints. At 76 my joints are just fine and I've been grinding up mountain trails for many years.
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