How much climbing?

Richa1181
Richa1181 Posts: 177
edited June 2011 in Training, fitness and health
A nice day in the hills was had today (Garmin link below) and we'll usually do anything between 2000-3500ft of climbing on a hilly day out. It seems quite epic at times and I wonder how much more I can get out of my legs with some practice, but it all seems quite feeble when you see the pro's doing 4 times as much in half the time. Yes, I know it's their job, but I was wondering how much climbing regular human beings are happy with in a days work..

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/89992550

Comments

  • inseine
    inseine Posts: 5,788
    That's quite a hard route. It's easier to work out in kms but I reckon that more than 1% climbing is a hilly route whereas your route is about 2%. I think the marmotte is about 3%. you don't need more climbing, just try to go faster!
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  • cristoff
    cristoff Posts: 229
    http://connect.garmin.com/activity/89251517

    I have just started going out with a group of guys and i am riding harder & further now. On longer runs, 3000ft is par for the course.

    That was my route last weekend, where I live, there is no avoiding hills.
  • Garz
    Garz Posts: 1,155
    I tend to agree that dependant on distance of course, a 3000ft of ascent for a ride is more than enough for an outing. If you categorise it into a days work however then some would think a higher figure is warranted!

    8)
  • mattshrops
    mattshrops Posts: 1,134
    not looking to be an @rsehole or anything but if you enable map corrections on garmin connect- you'll probably find you did about 2500ft or so. Still a decent ride tho. :D
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  • briantrumpet
    briantrumpet Posts: 20,443
    It also depends on the nature of the climbing - on Thursday I did a 77-mile route in the Lake District with 8,700ft of climbing, which was at the limit of what I would want to do in a day, yet last September's Tour Ride in Somerset/Devon had about 10,000ft in 107 miles, and felt less punishing. The difference between the two routes was the amount of brutal climbs, the Lake District route having its fair share, whereas the Somerset/Devon one had more long drags.
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  • Richa1181
    Richa1181 Posts: 177
    I much prefer the long drags to the short sharp hills but there aren't too many around here. This route has a couple of 25% and the other 3 big ones are probably 17%+. Good for the legs I'm sure but it certainly does hurt!
  • briantrumpet
    briantrumpet Posts: 20,443
    Richa1181 wrote:
    I much prefer the long drags to the short sharp hills but there aren't too many around here. This route has a couple of 25% and the other 3 big ones are probably 17%+. Good for the legs I'm sure but it certainly does hurt!
    And if you have to grind up the sharp hills it'll really take it out of your legs. I could have done with a granny ring on Thursday - the first time I would admit this, but keeping spinning on a compact up Wrynose Pass was beyond me. I was near the top, but had to admit defeat. This time.
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  • Garz
    Garz Posts: 1,155
    briantrumpet wrote:
    I was near the top, but had to admit defeat. This time.

    This time Brian!

    Next challenge:

    Wrynose or Bust (just wait for the 2012 edition).
    :D
  • JamesB
    JamesB Posts: 1,184
    And if you have to grind up the sharp hills it'll really take it out of your legs

    which explains now why my legs are tired tired today after riding up Bwlch Y Groes twice yesterday, once from each side :) ; south side being 3.6km @ 12% average maxm 20%

    http://connect.garmin.com/activity/90436155

    and why my legs were tired :( before that ride having overpushed on a 10 miles MTB ride, avoiding small ring on hard climbs :(
  • Richa1181
    Richa1181 Posts: 177
    That's a fair slog that one JamesB! We did those roads a couple of years ago coming up from Aberdare to Wrexham over a few days. Really tempted to go back this year and see how much fun it is actually being fit instead of hanging on for dear life!
  • antlaff
    antlaff Posts: 583
    mattshrops wrote:
    not looking to be an @rsehole or anything but if you enable map corrections on garmin connect- you'll probably find you did about 2500ft or so. Still a decent ride tho. :D

    Strange my 500 went the other way as disabled was 2400ft

    http://connect.garmin.com/activity/88655998

    were as enabled came out at 2700ft!!
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  • peterst6906
    peterst6906 Posts: 530
    I envy that much climbing.

    Wish I could find more than just a few metres of elevation change in my rides. Unfortunately Holland really is the flatlands.

    A typical profile for my rides:

    http://connect.garmin.com/activity/89981547

    Pretty crap for climbing in this part of the World. Biggest hills I have available are bridges over the canals and railways.
  • JamesB
    JamesB Posts: 1,184
    @Peter

    a nice holiday in Spain, Aljuparras area will help with that flatness issue:

    http://connect.garmin.com/activity/90553374

    Ascent to Puerto La Ragua :) a very very long way up--nice and steady gradient for over 20 miles though :)
  • Richa1181
    Richa1181 Posts: 177
    Looks like some good riding is being done here! I've been out this morning and done the Cat & Fiddle, much prefer it to the climbs done on Saturday. So much easier on the legs when you can sit into the climb and enjoy it!

    http://connect.garmin.com/activity/90572494
  • rhext
    rhext Posts: 1,639
    Managed about 8,000 feet a couple of days last year. That was "fun". But no particular fitness miracle - just a 10 hour slog in the Welsh mountains.

    My Garmin says just under 5,000 feet for a ride round the Roaches a couple of weeks ago, which included a stop at the Cat and Fiddle (probably the worst chip butties I've ever encountered).
  • bobtbuilder
    bobtbuilder Posts: 1,537
    I try and keep my ascent to approx 800 - 1,000ft for every 10 miles ridden. Saturday was 75 miles and 6,800 feet of climbing. :D
  • vorsprung
    vorsprung Posts: 1,953
    ISTR my usual commute round trip is 50km and 752m ascent

    When I was hill training I stretched it out to 60km and 1400m
    The event I was training for was the Mille Cymru, 1000km and 13,500m ascent

    These kinds of questions "what's a good average speed" or "how much ascent makes a training ride" or "how long should I ride for" are all best answered as "Whatever fits in with your goals and works for you"
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  • Richa1181
    Richa1181 Posts: 177
    rhext have you got the Garmin link for that Roaches ride? I keep meaning to go riding out that way but don't really know where I'm going! I've never stopped for food at the C&F, block of Soreen in the back pocket usually gets me home again!

    I guess I should probably enter a hilly event, at the moment I have no goals other than to improve my climbing. It's working but I guess it would be better to have something to aim for..
  • cristoff
    cristoff Posts: 229
    peterst6906 wrote:
    I envy that much climbing.

    Wish I could find more than just a few metres of elevation change in my rides. Unfortunately Holland really is the flatlands.

    A typical profile for my rides:

    http://connect.garmin.com/activity/89981547

    Pretty crap for climbing in this part of the World. Biggest hills I have available are bridges over the canals and railways.

    You say that Peter, but if you are riding hard on flat ground then that can be really tough going i find. You get no respite like going downhill.

    At least on hills you have an excuse for getting dropped! On the flat it always seems more embarressing!
  • RossW
    RossW Posts: 77
    Our average climb with the club is normally around about 4000-5000 for a 60mile route, However 90% of our rides are on dartmoor.

    Although,quite often we ride 1500ft over 7miles to the cafe stop. (Horrorbridge, Pork hill, merrivel)

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