Climbing - is it wrong...........

Steve_b77

I tackled my first sportive yesterday (the Jodrell Bank 80 miler) the notes said relatively flat, but the last few miles included climbing up and out of Pot Shrigley and a few other climbs.

Now it may sound strange but I enjoyed the climbs more than the flatter sections :shock:

Is this normal :?:

Brian B

No its right. I only enter hilly sportives and do hilly training routes. From there it leads to tackling famous climbs on the continent. Join the dark side you know it to be true :twisted:

Bobbinogs

Is this normal

Probably not!

However, you are not alone. I don't plan a route without adding in at least one hill for the fun factor, which is just as well given where I live (it is nearly impossible to get out of Cheltenham without a hill in the first 10 miles)

Steve_b77

Brian B wrote:

No its right. I only enter hilly sportives and do hilly training routes. From there it leads to tackling famous climbs on the continent. Join the dark side you know it to be true :twisted:

I didn't realise there was a darker side to the dark side (I'm a mountain biker normally - only had a road bike for 4 months)

morstar

I reckon it's the purity of the challenge. No arbitrary speeds to achieve or distances to travel. Quite simply, there is abig lump in front of you that can either be mastered or it can't, absolutely no ambiguity about it. The views often enhance the experience also.

velvetytoast

Hills .... what are they then?

flanners1

Brian B wrote:

No its right. I only enter hilly sportives and do hilly training routes. From there it leads to tackling famous climbs on the continent. Join the dark side you know it to be true :twisted:

I agree it is a perverse pleasure, East Sussex has some pleasure and pain, Les Alpes last Summer was just pure S&M

Splottboy

I thought it was just me! There's a slate quarry near me, it's a 1,000ft climb to get to it.
So, I do it, nearly every time I go out if possible...
Quiet roads, lans, cycle track, rough track. It's got it all.
I took some Junior Nat Squad riders up it once, they nearly died!

If I don't do it, I feel like I've cheated myself somehow!

Yes, we are Sick, Sad, Depraved, Sorry Gits, Overachievers, Self Obsessed...
AND I LOVE IT !

Rejoice in the sweat, pain, self flagulation....

Pross

I used to love climbing - 13 years away and 4 stone of extra belly and although I really want to climb some big hills again the body refuses I can't wait to get fit enough to get myself back up the likes of the Tumble or Llangynidr Mountain again, a ride isn't a ride without a decent climb (and descent!)

softlad

Steve_b77 wrote:

I didn't realise there was a darker side to the dark side (I'm a mountain biker normally - only had a road bike for 4 months)

you wouldn't be much of a mountain biker if you didn't like climbing......mind you - I think these days they all get driven up the hills in a 4x4 before rolling back down again. I usually see a load of them puffing around Brechfa in full armour.....

Splottboy

Due to injuries, re-hab, I went from12st 1lb to 13s 5lb But, now down to 12st 12lbs, and still hammer the hills.
Just had 2 weeks off so looked for everything locally, which is loads!

They just take a bit longer/more effort. Hare v Tortoise thing...

If I get under 12st, look out, Buzz Lightyear, as I'll be "flying, with style..."

robmurr2000

Rode in the Spring Onion sportive in surrey yesterday,climbing was never a favourite of mine but Leith Hill-pah,no probs,Bedham,hard but good and then lastly at around the 85k mark,Combe Bottom- a challenging last climb.Now I am converted to this sense of pain is pleasure!!

Splottboy

You SICKO...Welcome to the Club !

Scrumple

I'm wondering how long it takes to be reasy for a sportive - as a rider who just rides, not "trains".
I only have a 12 months or so under my belt, and that was broken by the winter. I still feel like a beginner when I compare this to my old weight training days. Still finding my feet and worry any sportive will be just too much with hills (I flag badly on them on 50 mile weekenders).

redddraggon

The climbs near Pott Shringley are quiet tame.

rokkala

You'll do fine Scrumple, 12months is plenty. Just keep eating and drinking during it.

Find solace in the fact that there will always be somebody slower than you

Cumulonimbus

I like climbs, they add variety to the ride and a sense of challenge that riding to the fifth telegraph pole or next mile post dont. Also, the scenery changes quite a lot as you rise up. You can do too many though :shock:

Stevie2wheels

I also love climbing and like you Scrumprle I'm new to cycling (well returning after a 20 year absence!....kids, beer etc) I love climbing hills as this seems to give me the kick of fitness I needed. I love the sense of achievement climbing gives me! I also love the fact that If I fall off asending a hill I'll be fine! My bottle has gone on the desent though! Getting scared in my old age. I have lost 2 stone, down from 15 stone to 13 in the last 11 months. And plan to lose another stone just so I can climb like a cow :?

Good luck.

Stevie.

Steve_b77

redddraggon wrote:

The climbs near Pott Shringley are quiet tame.

Cheers for the vote of confidence

sagalout

I love the hills too, which is just as well living in the Yorkshire Dales.

kfinlay

When I was in my teens I enjoyed a lot of cycling and did a bit of racing but hated hills so stuck to TTs mainly. Now 25 years later, hills are what I crave and always ensure any rides include at least one reasonable (for me) hill. Is it an age thing? I've not lost my bottle on decents but have when the roads are wet and I just be careful on bends otherwise I feel like I'm still in my teens again (only slower )

guilliano

I hate hills on the MTB, but love them on the road bike. I love the descents on a road bike too...... always try to beat my previous best top speed on a big downhill.

robmurr2000

For me,when I sense the top of the climb is near,I can't wait for the descent-not for the rest- but for the rush of a speed fix!! Reached 45 mph on one descent on Sunday-loved it!!!

Paul E

I had a love hate relationship with hills on my mtb, if i am in shape I absolutely love them if not and my asthma is playing up they almost kill me :roll:

The last time I was in serious shape was last year and I took a trip with my best mate in Scotland to Glentress to do the red route (spooky wood etc etc) and after doing some serious road miles commuting doing my normal commute of 14 miles a day in total and 2 or three days in the week doing an extra 25 miles each day the initial climb and each climb after each descent felt almost effortless, was so good to go past people with all the gear and no idea.

I want that again now but I know it will take some time to get that level back.

Big Dave

I used to hate hills until I moved to Devon and I now have no choice but to live with them on every ride. Even though my job demands I spend too much time in the car and I am in the worst shape of my life a few years living down in the South West means that I can now winch myself up most gradients and still smile when I get to the top.

Its all in the mind I reckon

nickwill

I've lost a lot of weight this Winter and have gone from a masochistic delight in not being beaten by hills, to an enjoyment of being in control as I climb. I did read somewhere that to enjoy climbing you have to 'embrace the pain'. There is something in that!
To me hills are where cycling is at its most exciting, whether ascending or descending, riding oneself or watching races.

Chris James

Big Dave wrote:

I used to hate hills until I moved to Devon

I used to love hills until I moved to the Pennines. Then it became impossible to create routes that didn't consist almost entirely of hills. Now I tolerate, rather than love, hills!

Wappygixer

I spent 30 years of my life on the Lincolnshire flats and living on the big ring.
I now live in cheshire with the Peaks on my doorstep and I love climbing.
The climbs near Pott Shrigley are not massive but are short and sharp.If you go the next route over to the Cat and Fiddle route thats a nice climb, not steep just long.
I find Snake pass from Glossop the hardest around my area.Its pretty long at around 3 31/2 miles and a gradient of around 6-7%.

GiantMike

Longest continual climb I've ever done was 6,2000ft. Loved every minute of it.

redddraggon

GiantMike wrote:

Longest continual climb I've ever done was 6,2000ft. Loved every minute of it.

I like going in Aeroplanes too

sampras38

Brian B wrote:

No its right. I only enter hilly sportives and do hilly training routes. From there it leads to tackling famous climbs on the continent. Join the dark side you know it to be true :twisted:

Pretty much sums me up tbh, especially since experiencing the Alps. I just get more of a buzz out of pushing myself up a hill nowadays. I find it quite addictive actually, and the more you do it the better you get, and the more you do it..and so on..