Yet another hill-climbing question

badhorsy
badhorsy Posts: 107
edited February 2011 in Road beginners
I encounter what I see as a tough (ish) hill on my daily commute home in London.
Basically, it's a 1km straight, that leads up towards Hampstead Heath. It rises around 80 meters.
My Garmin says that the grade is around 6-7% for the most part.

It kicks my ass, day after day.

My question - should I be ashamed to use my granny ring? I am pretty terrible at climbing - and whenever I attempt this beast without wanting to shift down, my legs just fill up with lactic acid and start to burn...
If I go onto the granny ring, I can typically make it up (spinning at around 70rpm to achieve around 10mph).

Is this acceptable - or should I be doing better than this? 6% doesn't seem like it should be hard...

Comments

  • BDFun
    BDFun Posts: 67
    I'm no expert, but I think you want to maintain a consistent and high RPM, rather than trying to stomp your way up the hill. You save more energy that way and more likely to make it to the top.

    I don't think there is any shame in switching to lower gears if you need to. If you want to get better, maybe on the last few hundred meters you could switch to a slightly higher gear and maintain the same RPM? That way you can build up your hill climbing stamina.
  • balthazar
    balthazar Posts: 1,565
    You shouldn't be embarrassed at all. It's nobody's business but yours how fast you ride. Many people would get off their bikes, faced with such a hill, and walk.

    In any case, 10mph is quite a respectable speed for a significant hill, even amongst experienced cyclists. And by riding daily, you're only getting faster!
  • sfichele
    sfichele Posts: 605
    should I be ashamed to use my granny ring? I am pretty terrible at climbing - and whenever I attempt this beast without wanting to shift down

    Not at all! You'll get better. There's a lot of people that are too lazy too even try.

    I have a massive steep hill 15%+ going home in Sheffield every day. Sometimes I can hammer up it, but usually after a long day at work I'm cooked and just want to spin in my granny gear.
    BMC: http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12749451
  • izza
    izza Posts: 1,561
    Agree with other comments.

    Are we talking about Fitzjohn's Road?

    Based on your locality, early on weekends 7.00 - 8.00 am you can head over to Highgate West Hill and Swain's lane for both practice and comparison with others. Usually a few people there.
  • badhorsy
    badhorsy Posts: 107
    izza wrote:
    Agree with other comments.

    Are we talking about Fitzjohn's Road?

    Based on your locality, early on weekends 7.00 - 8.00 am you can head over to Highgate West Hill and Swain's lane for both practice and comparison with others. Usually a few people there.

    Thanks for all the comments! I'm happy to know that I'm not a *complete* loser for having to resort to my granny ring.

    And yup, its Fitzjohn's Road. At least, it starts off as that, then it turns into Heath Street (also a little steep) before heading over Hampstead Heath...
  • sheffsimon
    sheffsimon Posts: 1,282
    sfichele wrote:
    should I be ashamed to use my granny ring? I am pretty terrible at climbing - and whenever I attempt this beast without wanting to shift down

    Not at all! You'll get better. There's a lot of people that are too lazy too even try.

    I have a massive steep hill 15%+ going home in Sheffield every day. Sometimes I can hammer up it, but usually after a long day at work I'm cooked and just want to spin in my granny gear.

    Which hill is this - just out of interest??
  • MaxwellBygraves
    MaxwellBygraves Posts: 1,353
    As others have said, no shame in granny ring at all. Gears are there to be used!
    "That's it! You people have stood in my way long enough. I'm going to clown college! " - Homer
  • edhornby
    edhornby Posts: 1,780
    when the road first starts to rise, try dropping into the small ring and at the same time, change up a gear at the back, this should give a similar ratio to the one you were previously in - it allows you to smoothly run down the sprockets at the back to keep the pedal revs consistent

    don't try to cross the chain too much i.e granny and smallest rear sprocket or vice versa)
    "I get paid to make other people suffer on my wheel, how good is that"
    --Jens Voight
  • bakerstreet
    bakerstreet Posts: 108
    MaxwellBygraves wrote:
    As others have said, no shame in granny ring at all. Gears are there to be used!

    Indeed. I have to give up on a hill the other day purley because I didn't change down to the granny ring early enough. Had to scoot over the otherside and ride down the bit I just rode up.

    Also had a thumping headache which didn't help :(
    2010 Giant Defy 2 running SRAM Force and Shimano RS80/C24s with Continental 4 Seasons
    1999 Carrera Integer MTB
    2014 Planet X SLX
  • sfichele
    sfichele Posts: 605
    @SheffSimon - Barber Road, past the co-op going back to Walkley
    BMC: http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12749451
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    MaxwellBygraves wrote:
    As others have said, no shame in granny ring at all. Gears are there to be used!
    +2 - It doesn't matter which gears you use, it's getting up the hill that's important! No place for pride.
  • sfichele
    sfichele Posts: 605
    Especially when you are cooked for a hard days grinding
    BMC: http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12749451
  • sheffsimon
    sheffsimon Posts: 1,282
    sfichele wrote:
    @SheffSimon - Barber Road, past the co-op going back to Walkley

    Nice :)
  • peejay78
    peejay78 Posts: 3,378
    there is no shame in sticking it in the granny and spinning it.

    however, it's nice to aspire to something, so why not try riding one cog off the bottom.

    the lightest ratio on my winter bike is 39:20. it's a bit tall, to be honest. but it confirms one thing i have always suspected, riding up hills is mostly in the mind.
    http://traumradfahren.wordpress.com/

Categories