rumrunn6

this is where adult children w/ a driver's license, who haven't yet moved out, really earn their keep

Eric F 

Yes!! I would definitely call my kid before my wife.

tpuglisi

I don't think there's a walk of shame, unless you've done something shameful of course. Sometimes you have to walk your bike up a hill, for whatever reason, and that's fine.

badger1

"Mechanical issue" ... now, that's a euphemism that I can appreciate: 'Not tonight dear; I have a mechanical issue.'

big john

I wasn't suggesting it would work with a loaded tourer. I never carried as much stuff as you have and I wouldn't try to carry mine. I did have a nice Blackburn rack on the back which made a convenient handle for letting the bike down a flight of stairs.

rsbob 

I did ‘the walk’ last summer on a ‘new to me’ stretch of road climbing a mountainside to a cell tower. After a mile of 15-18% it kicked up to 20% and I walked. Only walked about a tenth of a mile up until it ‘leveled-off’ and went back to 15%. rode until it kicked back to 20 and I said f it. No shame in walking if the hill is kicking you in the teeth.

When I got down to the bottom, I understood why the road was blocked off, but the tarmac was so pristine!

grantelmwood

It's funny you say that.
My bike isn't even loaded, but as I was pushing it up the 15%,
I was thinking to myself that this is also a lot of work and tiring.
But, I refused to stop and stand there, so I kept walking.

grantelmwood

15% for a mile sounds like a brutal hell on earth. Good for you.
An 8 mile ride with 15% hills is harder than a 100 mile ride on a cute little bike path for kids and grannies

beng1

Walking up hills is as good for exercise as riding a bicycle. If I am not feeling up for it I hop off my bike and walk up steep hills all the time, especially on long rides where I want to keep my energy up. Olympic runners in training will often stop running when they get to a hill and walk up it as both activities can keep the heart rate the same. 80%+ of an olympic athletes training is kept at a lower heart-rate and effort, if they max out their effort every day then they are actually making no progress or even going backwards.

I had the typical close-minded cyclist stop and ask me why I was walking my bike up a steep hill, they thought the only reason for it was something must be wrong, but the only thing wrong is their lack of education. When you see a really serious and well-educated cyclist, they will be taking it easy most days you see them riding.

downtube42

Agreed. I was in Nijmegen a few weeks ago and did a 70 mile ride, on a Dutch-style upright bike. I don't think I shifted the 7-speed internal hub below 5th gear. Contrast to a couple loops around here where stalling and falling is a real possibility, that was ezpz. The Nijmegen ride was enjoyable, pretty, I'd even say lovely, but not a great workout.

TMonk

You sure about that? For a fit athlete with an appropriately geared bicycle, hills shouldn't be too inherently difficult. Unless you are under-geared, one's effort is independent of the terrain in which they ride.

Granted, my perspective is from a modern, competitive cyclist of 15+ years using modern technology (power meters, electronic shifting etc).

TMonk

I can't argue that hills are inherently harder - that's just physics. I just think that saying an 8 mile hilly ride is harder than a 100 mile flat ride is a bit of an exaggeration.

Jughed

Just a weeee bit of an exaggeration.

Hills can be harder - but if I climb at 250w, or ride the flats at 250w - same effort.

Koyote

I've ridden with kids and grannies who, unlike you, have no difficulty going further than eight miles.

Jughed

When I see really serious/well educated cyclists - they take it easy by doing flat rides.

When I see really serious/well educated cyclist that are also very fit - they can climb, on the bike, at what is an easy pace for them.

big john

So a guy has empathy and asks if you are OK because he was a nice person, and you respond by insulting and denigrating him on a public forum.

big john

[QUOTE=grantelmwood;22938377]15% for a mile sounds like a brutal hell on earth. Good for you.
An 8 mile ride with 15% hills is harder than a 100 mile ride on a cute little bike path for kids and grannies[/QUOTE ]
Have you ever done a century? A 15% grade is tough for many of us, no doubt. But a fit climber will have no trouble with it if that climber is not exhausted.

There is a climb to Mount Baldy that we do. There is over 5000 feet of climbing to get to the Village, about 25 miles, depending on the route. After that there is a 4 mile section which gains 2000 feet with extended 15% grades. I have climbed that section without stopping on 34x29 low gear, and I'm old and over 200 pounds. I have stopped to rest on it other days.

When the Tour of California went up there, the racers had something like 12,000 feet of climbing in their legs before the steep part. We rode up to watch them fly up it.
When the Tour went up Balcom Canyon, there was a short section of 23%. Here, these guys were on Rock Racing but not on the race team. They rode the course as part of the caravan.

Black wallnut 

This thread needs a bunch of Rule 5!

Jughed

Since that seems to be a manly man list of rules... rule #7 can be adjusted/exceptions can be made for the ladies. Tube tops, shorter shorts are acceptable.

Black wallnut 

Sugar shorts and tri tops for the ladies. Said in my most appreciative sexist tone.

Eric F 

Do a 100 mile ride and then get back to us with your comparison. Also be aware that flat terrain doesn't necessarily mean riding slowly.

tomato coupe

Sure, and running up a few flights of stairs is harder than running a marathon.

big john

Flat terrain, a little headwind, and chasing faster riders is harder for me than doing long climbs at my own pace.

indyfabz

Your attempts at insulting people are impotent.

shelbyfv

Seems to me the activity is cycling. If you have to walk up hills "all the time" I'd suggest changing your route, your gearing or get a motor. Climbing is just another skill to develop and conquering/ surviving a locally notorious climb always adds a little something to a ride.