Any tips for clipping in on a steep hill

WilcoYHF

I moved over to Birmingham recently and last week I headed for what is apparently one of Britains toughest climbs Asterton Bank (it didn't disappoint). The problem is theres a cattle grid at the bottom but over here they're flat unlike the cylindrical ones at home. As I went over the back wheel slipped, as I thought it might, and I had to clip out and stop.

At that point it was too steep (about 15-25%) to get back in the pedals and had to walk up.

Any tips for getting into pedals (SPD) on a steep hill. It looks so excruciatingly painful that im dying to go back!!

AltAccount

It might just be practice, but I find I can just mash my foot onto SPDs and it'll generally click.

Otherwise just sit your arch of your foot on the pedal until you're moving and then clip in.

stecleary

is there anything to lean on? put the bike in a low gear and start with both feet clipped in?

WilcoYHF

leaning on something should work. can't believe I didnt think of it, that masters in mechanical engineering came in handy!!

stecleary

its not like an engineer to ever over think

daragh_

Go to Yorkshire where the real climbs are.

Roger Hassenforder

go back down for a flatter bit and turn around
or go back down to the bottom and start again!

Darkglasses

Keep pedaling with the one foot in and one foot resting on top of the pedal, until you get to the bottom of the next stroke.

MrCreosote

Best to arrange for a large group of drunken Dutch people to be there to push start you. It works most effectively if they're dressed as spermatozoa.

denbatt

Sounds like you need a new bike.

Lumen

Cycle across the hill to clip in.

Lusk_Doyle

Lumen wrote: »

Cycle across the hill to clip in.

But not the white line, right?

rollingscone

I'm an mtb pedal using failure at life but on the likes of Knockmaroon hill I've been able to get going again with a strong pedal stroke from my clipped in foot followed by half a stroke back so both cranks are horizontal with the unclipped pedal forward and then go.

Usually takes a few false starts but it's better than walking.

DaveR1000

Roger Hassenforder wrote: »

go back down for a flatter bit and turn around
or go back down to the bottom and start again!

Sound advise there.

walk up a bit after cattle grid - turn around - clip in and do a U turn back up.

or is the road wide enough to cycle across

smacl

Loosen the SPD tension a bit, and getting in should be much easier. I find for hill starts I can get a turn of the cranks without being clipped in handy enough, though I've a low granny gear which also makes it way easier.

WilcoYHF

Thanks for all the advice I actually do think going back down to the bottom will be the best option. Leaning against something might work but I still think it might be too steep for that as well.

Rambling Man

Mind that grid or you'll end up in a continuous ascending descending pattern!