Climbing / Resting

bkgator

All

Odd one here that I am curious about . What is cycling "etiquette" about stopping on a climb for a rest .

I can do most of the major climbs in wicklow relatively easy , but am hoping to try mount ventoux later in year and am daunted at prospect !

Is it ok to take a rest say half way up and then tackle rest of the climb ? Can one day you have conquered a climb if have to rest for a bit ?

I did a 10km avg 6% last week in canaries which was tough as hell but I managed it in one go so I'm reasonably fit for my age (I'm 50)

So ultimately can you rest on a monster climb and still say you have conquered it ?

Thanks !

B

wanderer 22

I personally don't think you can say you've conquered a climb if you've stopped at any point!

07Lapierre

Stop before the summit? God No!

cdaly_

5 minutes every 3km on the climb to the Col de Tourmalet a couple of years ago. Turned into 5 minutes every 1 km near the top...

jon1981

You can only stop if you do so due to falling over.

Also Rule 5.

Derrydingle

I be sick with myself if I stopped before the top and it be the same if I was doing a run and walked some of it . It's a no no

bkgator

Thats clear so ! .. I best get some serious training in for Ventoux in September so !

Alek

I personally don't think you can say you've conquered a climb if you've stopped at any point!

Mt. Leinster mast, Jun-Jul, see you there.


:P

wanderer 22

Alek wrote: »

Mt. Leinster mast, Jun-Jul, see you there.


:P

Yep; my white whale...

Alek

Mine too, still!

Cee-Jay-Cee

I wouldn't listen to anyone else, everyone has different levels of fitness and if your tiring then your best taking a break. It'd be worse if you ploughed on and had to turn and go back down because your energy levels were too low.

07Lapierre

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

I wouldn't listen to anyone else, everyone has different levels of fitness and if your tiring then your best taking a break. It'd be worse if you ploughed on and had to turn and go back down because your energy levels were too low.

I would! OP go for it! You can do it! PMA! you've plenty of time to train for it!

Thud

Never stop for a break.... stop to check what that rattling noise is or to take a picture

Bloggsie

Thud wrote: »

Never stop for a break.... stop to check what that rattling noise is or to take a picture

is that not Rule 5?

CramCycle

Alek wrote: »

Mine too, still!

I see a boardsie hill climb challenge coming up.

endacl

Stop for as many breaks as you need, but, and here's the trick.....

Don't tell anybody you stopped!

Lumen

If you have to stop, your gearing is wrong.

dragratchet

Alek wrote: »

Mt. Leinster mast, Jun-Jul, see you there.


:P

Im in Carlow next week with the bike. is mt. leinster a bit of a no-go in winter weather. illl give it a lash otherwise.

wanderer 22

CramCycle wrote: »

I see a boardsie hill climb challenge coming up.

Would be great to have another one of these; must be 5 years since the one on Stocking Lane?

Alek

is mt. leinster a bit of a no-go in winter weather.

I wouldn't go downhill there if there was even minimal chance of ice. Uphill.. what's the worst that can happen? You can practice falling off the bike at 4kph in your backyard :P

Would be great to have another one of these

I said to myself no challenges this year, but I'd love to come and watch

daragh_

I the Evil not hilly enough for you?

Daroxtar

I stopped on the Angliru on the 23.5% ramp. I don't give a fck. That one deserves a pass.









I realy have to go back again to do it in one go though

TGD

Cycle up it any way you like and you'll still have cycled up it. Enjoy your cycling and don't let what others think put you off.

smacl

TGD wrote: »

Cycle up it any way you like and you'll still have cycled up it. Enjoy your cycling and don't let what others think put you off.

Yes indeed. As the Floyd put it, 'I'll climb the hill in my own way'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeyHPAdxuy0

moonshadow

Lumen wrote: »

If you have to stop, your gearing is wrong.

Soooo , what is the correct gearing for someone strong in a group but lags a bit on the hills ?

blobbie

Confucius quote: “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”


Note: Only applies at sub 4,000m

daragh_

colm18 wrote: »

Would be great to have another one of these; must be 5 years since the one on Stocking Lane?

Let's do it!

Lumen

moonshadow wrote: »

Soooo , what is the correct gearing for someone strong in a group but lags a bit on the hills ?

Small enough gears so you don't have to stop

Buzwaldo

I was in the position to get to climb Mt Ventoux last year about 2 weeks before the Tour went up it. I would say keep an eye on the forecast - Not every day is suitable for climbing to the top. Even the Tour last year finished at Chalet Renard as forecast was uncertain.
If the OP can get to the top without stopping he can definitely say he conquered it, but I'll never 'conquer' it if that's the yardstick. Wouldn't mind going back though.
Similarly, I passed the 50 mark last year a few months before my effort,and it was one of my most memorable days on the bike.
Good Luck

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=100272357&postcount=18

bkgator

Buzwaldo wrote: »

I was in the position to get to climb Mt Ventoux last year about 2 weeks before the Tour went up it. I would say keep an eye on the forecast - Not every day is suitable for climbing to the top. Even the Tour last year finished at Chalet Renard as forecast was uncertain.
If the OP can get to the top without stopping he can definitely say he conquered it, but I'll never 'conquer' it if that's the yardstick. Wouldn't mind going back though.
Similarly, I passed the 50 mark last year a few months before my effort,and it was one of my most memorable days on the bike.
Good Luck

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=100272357&postcount=18

Thanks for the encouragement buzz ! .. Daunting prospect but with a good bit of training between now and Sept hopefully i will be able to do it in similar vein to yourself

Kaisr Sose

If your goal is to get to the top, then stop as many times as necessary to achieve it. If your goal is to ride it without stopping — instant fail if you stop. 😀

Wishbone Ash

bkgator wrote: »

...I can do most of the major climbs in wicklow relatively easy , but am hoping to try mount ventoux later in year and am daunted at prospect...

It's the length rather than the gradient that is the main challenge in the big continental climbs so take it at a pace that is lower than you would in Wicklow. In my experience, the key is to not allow yourself to get out of breath. Stay in the lower gears and if you are with others, do it at your own pace and agree to meet at the top. Don't attempt to stay with those who may be stronger as you'll destroy yourself and be utterly miserable before reaching the summit.

If you do find yourself struggling but are keen not to stop, select a point in the near distance and commit to getting to that point, and then repeat with another point etc.

And stop if you have to - there's nothing wrong with it.

De Bhál

Get off for a break when ever you feel you need it.
Not conquering a climb only occurs when you have to get off and walk.

disco1

would put you off listening to some of this shoite....listen if you need a break take one.its meant to be fun and the moment its not then the yearn to go out on the bike is lost. you see lads at all levels especially competition with broken spirits because tbey take it all too seroiusly.
enjoy the climb coming up.

Deagol

bkgator wrote: »

All

Is it ok to take a rest say half way up and then tackle rest of the climb ? Can one day you have conquered a climb if have to rest for a bit ?

B

I'm 46, I did 2000mtrs to the big crater on Mount Teide last year and had to stop 3 times. If anyone tells me I didn't conquer it, expect to get punched on the end of your nose :P

OP, it doesn't matter if you stop 20 times, getting to the top is the challenge.

Best of luck!!

Buzwaldo

In fairness, I think (hope) that some of the early replies saying you hadn't conquered a climb (particularly one like Ventoux) if you stopped, were a bit tongue in cheek. At least that's the way I read them.
Would agree though that it's always better to stop, take a rest, and plough on again, rather than resort to walking up a hill.
Anyway, enjoy it, and do come back and give us a report when you have conquered it.

Kaisr Sose

The only failing is in not trying!

Galego

Daroxtar wrote: »

I stopped on the Angliru on the 23.5% ramp. I don't give a fck. That one deserves a pass.









I realy have to go back again to do it in one go though

Try and climb The Gamoneiteru (through Polar de Lena) next time you go there. Angliru's evil brother.

siochain

Ego is the enemy ....


Is you need a stop take it and the beauty about many of these climbs is the epic screnry it would be a shame not to take it all in

Wishbone Ash

disco1 wrote: »

....with broken spirits because tbey take it all too seroiusly....

Don't take it so seriously disco1. The irony in the comments above seem to have gone over your head!

Deagol wrote: »

I'm 46, I did 2000mtrs to the big crater on Mount Teide last year and had to stop 3 times. If anyone tells me I didn't conquer it, expect to get punched on the end of your nose :P....

Just to the crater? Oh dear, the climb ends at the cable car station at 2320m!

*runs for cover*

Hauki

colm18 wrote: »

I personally don't think you can say you've conquered a climb if you've stopped at any point!

I'd say that you have conquered the climb if you ride your bike from the bottom to the top

NeedMoreGears

Based on my own experience of doing some long European climbs may I suggest

1 - They are quite doable ; they're just long.

2 - 34/32 gearing is your only man

3 - Take it easy at the beginning and in the middle. If you've anything left you can push on a bit at the end (or not)

4 - Your climb is all that matters ; no-one else's.

5 - If you find yourself at the top of the mountain, then you've climbed it.

Daroxtar

Galego wrote: »

Try and climb The Gamoneiteru (through Polar de Lena) next time you go there. Angliru's evil brother.

Have it pencilled in I was thinking of going across via El Cordal and Cuchu Puercu or would you recommend via Corbertoria?

Deagol

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Just to the crater? Oh dear, the climb ends at the cable car station at 2320m!

*runs for cover*

Grrrrrrrrr........

Yea, I know the highest tarmac is there, but I'd ran out of water completely. Anyway, after 2020mts, another few metres would've been easy :P

wanderer 22

Hauki wrote: »

I'd say that you have conquered the climb if you ride your bike from the bottom to the top

Nah, foot down = a fail

You can stop but only if you trackstand :pac:

nordicb

Perhaps some of these sound silly, but if I'm struggling there in the wind, hill or just from fatigue, few things that work for me:
- Taking corners at their widest, they are usually steepest in the apex or zig-zagging side to side if the road is safe and wide enough
- Find the manageable sustainable rhythm - pace, cadence...
- Stay on the saddle as much as possible
- Alternating muscle groups, up to pulling up more than pushing down at times
- Think of the stroke efficiency, there should be no pushing only, but also pulling up and pushing through TDC and BDC while trying to keep the core stable.
- Break the challenge into segments, say, make a next visible corner a target, then another one, etc
- Keep mind somewhere else, for example how great it will be to finally reach the top, it will come eventually
- You are not the only one suffering, in fact many of us here have never cycled anything that steep and long, what you will be doing is a feat.
- Hills is a quick way to make you stronger and faster, love them basteds.
- Or how they say, pain is temporary and quitting lasts forever, think of it when you want to come off...
- Stopping is nothing to be ashamed of (to check shoe laces, ha).

Regards

dragratchet

if you watch the col collective videos on you tube, the chap climbing them nearly episode suggests stopping at this point to take on water, a breather, admire the scenery, the message id take from that is climbing a mountain means just getting to the top.

CramCycle

You don't see mountain climbers claiming they didn't conquer a certain mountain because they stopped for food. So long as you make it and you don't walk any of the distance, you done it.

Lumen

CramCycle wrote: »

You don't see mountain climbers claiming they didn't conquer a certain mountain because they stopped for food. So long as you make it and you don't walk any of the distance, you done it.

Your reasonableness is endearing but walking isn't cycling.

We should at least aspire to completing climbs in one go. Pacing is an important part of cycling. There's really no physiological reason to stop, if you're going at the right pace.

dragratchet

Lumen wrote: »

Your reasonableness is endearing but walking isn't cycling.

We should at least aspire to completing climbs in one go. Pacing is an important part of cycling. There's really no physiological reason to stop, if you're going at the right pace.

maybe no physiological reason but there are many others. take in the scenery, refill your bottles, take on nutrition, remove/put on clothing, wait on a friend...some of these are fairly essential maneuvers that people mightn't be too adept at one hand on the bars halfway up the tourmalet. i agree, walking isn't cycling but stopping for a rest or whatever else whilst climbing a monster mountain idoesn't make it any less an achievement than doing it in one go.

Galego

Daroxtar wrote: »

Have it pencilled in I was thinking of going across via El Cordal and Cuchu Puercu or would you recommend via Corbertoria?

I'd rather do it via Cobertoria and then take the turn on your right to the Gamoneiteru. You can now climb it all the way to the antenna with a road bike.

My favourite one in Asturias is Casielles. Very short, but also very hard, and absolutely stunning views from the top. If climbed in mountain bike it goes on all the way to the top (another 4 km approx.)