How do you cycle up hills?

SarahChambers

Hi sorry if I sound stupid or anything I dont really cycle much but I have been cycling into college since i started but I have to stop at the hills, I cant get up them! :D:mad: How do you get up big hills?? My bike is pretty crappy by the way so I blame that!

kona

Im taking it your bike is a cheap MTB.

On the Left hand handle bar there should be a shifter for your gears, shift it down into number 1 when you get to a hill.

There is alot more to it but , play around with the gears yourself, its the best way to learn:)

xz

I cycle up hills badly, but what Kona is saying is right, play around with the gears until you feel comfortable on the hills................................I can't believe I'm agreeing with him:D:D

Captain Havoc

I'm not a good climber either. Get into gear before the hill, don't be changing on the hill, you'll tire yourself quicker. You can also put your hands in the middle of the handlebars.

kona

xz wrote: »

I cycle up hills badly, but what Kona is saying is right, play around with the gears until you feel comfortable on the hills................................I can't believe I'm agreeing with him:D:D

Its not personal mate, I just disagree, with your other thread.:)

SarahChambers

Ok yeah the gears make sense, so I should use lower gears and try to peddle faster on the hills? The hill near mount anville school is so hard though

xz

kona wrote: »

Its not personal mate, I just disagree, with your other thread.:)

I disagree with your disagreeing, so lets just leave it at that, and not bring the tone of this thread down;) actually thought it might have been locked or removed before now( the other thread that is)

Diarmuid

SarahChambers wrote: »

How do you get up big hills??

fast

kona

SarahChambers wrote: »

Ok yeah the gears make sense, so I should use lower gears and try to peddle faster on the hills? The hill near mount anville school is so hard though

The Idea would be to have a constant cadence when cycling comfortably(basically turning the pedals at the same speed).

So when you shift down, you work less hard.

Do you drive a car? Its the same Idea, when to go up a hill in 4th the revs drop and the engine labours, shift back to 3rd and the revs rise and the engine moves easier.

xz

Diarmuid wrote: »

fast

I want to do that, but unfortunately, I'm still a big guy, so slow and steady it is, but going down the other side................woah mama:eek:

SarahChambers

kona wrote: »

The Idea would be to have a constant cadence when cycling comfortably(basically turning the pedals at the same speed).

So when you shift down, you work less hard.

Do you drive a car? Its the same Idea, when to go up a hill in 4th the revs drop and the engine labours, shift back to 3rd and the revs rise and the engine moves easier.

Ah right I get it. I dont actually drive myself but yeah I know waht you mean. I think it is also hard because I have my laptop swinging around my back too Guess I should just learn to drive!

manofthemoment

I'm a very strong climber! I would say just horse into them, don't take the lowest possible gear, maybe middle on the front and one off the top on the back and just keep climbing hills and climbing hills!

kona

SarahChambers wrote: »

Ah right I get it. I dont actually drive myself but yeah I know waht you mean. I think it is also hard because I have my laptop swinging around my back too Guess I should just learn to drive!

You will find Cycling ALOT more pleasurable, if you were to buy a decent bike and some commuting gear.

Its not expensive, Youd get all sorted for around the e500 mark. Ask your employer about cycle 2 work.

For the laptop maybe get a messenger bag, itl stop the laptop flying about.

Bloody Nipples

Stand up on the pedals :pac:

kincsem

SarahChambers wrote: »

Ok yeah the gears make sense, so I should use lower gears and try to peddle faster on the hills? The hill near mount anville school is so hard though

That is a tough hill if coming from Foster Avenue. You may not have a gear low enough for that.

kincsem

Some time back I downloaded from MapMyRide the climbs around south Dublin and Wicklow. I have one for your route.

Foster Avenue, Roebuck/Callery Road crossroads. Mount Anville
Distance 0.6 kilometer, ten sections of 60 metres.
0%, 9%, 8%, 6%, 4%, 2%, 5%, 7%, 15%, 14%

Anything over 5% is getting tough. That last 120 metres is very tough.

velo.2010

if you really want to get those hills you could just buy a;
Trek Madone,
or a Scott Addict,
or Cervelo R3-SL
or Orbea Orca,
or Giant TCR,

or something similar. Price only around E3000-E5000!

kingofcastle

push it!

SarahChambers

velo.2010 wrote: »

if you really want to get those hills you could just buy a;
Trek Madone,
or a Scott Addict,
or Cervelo R3-SL
or Orbea Orca,
or Giant TCR,

or something similar. Price only around E3000-E5000!

Haha I could get a car for that!!

Ok I am ready, tomorrow I will get up the hill without stopping :D:D

Thanks all!!!!

mockler007

you pedal !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

shapez

Sit back in the saddle, focus on the breathing and pedal at a comfortable rhythm.

DirkVoodoo

kincsem wrote: »

Some time back I downloaded from MapMyRide the climbs around south Dublin and Wicklow. I have one for your route.

Foster Avenue, Roebuck/Callery Road crossroads. Mount Anville
Distance 0.6 kilometer, ten sections of 60 metres.
0%, 9%, 8%, 6%, 4%, 2%, 5%, 7%, 15%, 14%

Anything over 5% is getting tough. That last 120 metres is very tough.

I never realised it was that steep. It's a good hill, coming back down it is nice too as you have an almost straight run back to the dual carriageway. Just look out for the L drivers coming out of UCD!

You could bypass it completely by going down Roebuck road then left up towards the Goat.

Jumpy

SarahChambers wrote: »

Haha I could get a car for that!!

Ok I am ready, tomorrow I will get up the hill without stopping :D:D

Thanks all!!!!

Remember - If you dont puke when you get to the top, you didnt push hard enough.

Thats my motto.