Epic Fail!!!

Schoie81

So I cycled home from work tonight on a route ive never cycled before, including three hills I knew would be a challenge. I was defeated by not one, not two, but all three of them. Had to stop and walk. First one 0.6miles long, 250ft climb, had to walk 100m about 2/3 of the way up. 2nd 0.3miles long, 135ft of climb, had to walk 160m towards the top, and the last one, 0.6miles long, 300ft climb - nearly did that one, but had to walk 75m at the top. So my 15.25mile commute that i'd hoped to do in an hour, took me 10mins more than that at 13mph. Reality check!!

The first hill has a hair pin corner about 3/4 of the way up, after which it flattens off, and if I'd known that beforehand I might have pushed myself to the corner and then been ok... the second I had no chance and the third I was very close to beating - it just got me at the end where it just kicks up a bit again. I suppose there's always next time. Might avoid them for the time being and work on getting better on hills I know I can do for a while. Have only notched up a total of 102 miles (after tonight) on my road bike, so still a newbie.. And next time I can alter the route so I do the first one, but avoid the second two - so maybe do that until I conquer the first one, then try the others. Was a nasty headwind of 20-25mph, but can't blame that, especially not for the first as its in a tree covered valley and there wasn't a breath of wind there. I guess it will have taken a bit extra out of me on the flats though, between the hills.

Some work to do methinks...

rubertoe

was you grinding up? or sitting and spinning?

failing that EPO works.

Schoie81

Sitting and spinning (but not really spinning, they weren't going around fast enough to call it that!)

EPO???

neal1984

Try try again!

My epic fail last night was to go out without a good front light and end up in the pitch dark lanes through a country park with virtually zero visibility. Lesson learned, never again. Bought a Lezyne SuperDrive XL today.

Gizmodo

The beautiful thing about hills is the more you ride, the easier they become. Next year you'll be posting about breaking your PB times up those hills. Either that or you'll move to Norfolk.

rubertoe

Ask Lance Armstrong about EPO.

Have a look around the forum plenty of tips for climbing, its just one of those things, you'll get there in the end.

Nick_M

Schoie81 wrote:

Sitting and spinning (but not really spinning, they weren't going around fast enough to call it that!)

EPO???

I share your pain. I really struggled with hills when I started (and I'm still not great at them a year later).

One thing that really helps is to shift to a standing-on-the pedals, out-of-the-saddle, climb before you get too close to keeling over in the seated position. I find I can climb standing on the pedals at 45 RPM cadence on slopes that would be impossible for me in a seated climb. Keep the speed down and concentrate on maintaining a steady pace.

This works on hills near me that are big enough to actually have a name that includes the word "hill".

rolf_f

It's OK to fail but it is pointless to walk. Walking doesn't improve your climbing - stopping, catching your breath for a few minutes and getting back on the bike does improve your climbing no matter how many times you have to repeat the process. Obviously, sometimes the gradient can be too steep to do anything but walk - but usually that sort of gradient you know you won't manage before you've got to it.

djm501

Not an epic fail. A good bloody try first time mate! Don't shorten it, don't avoid them, just keep doing them until you've conquered them and that will be an awesome achievement.

We've all started out with big hills that killed us - once you've done them you will be seeking out longer and steeper hills until you run out of nearby ones and start reading up on the 100 Toughest Cycling climbs... Hardknott Pass will be a dream...8-)

Schoie81

Rolf F wrote:

It's OK to fail but it is pointless to walk. Walking doesn't improve your climbing - stopping, catching your breath for a few minutes and getting back on the bike does improve your climbing no matter how many times you have to repeat the process. Obviously, sometimes the gradient can be too steep to do anything but walk - but usually that sort of gradient you know you won't manage before you've got to it.

Well, stopping and catching my breath is what I was doing, but it just seemed a bit pointless just standing there. Given I was only doing 15miles, I didn't take a drink with me - I will do next time - then if I have to stop, I can just stop and have a drink - give me something to do and will let me convince myself that I've stopped for a reason, not because of the hill!

@rubertoe - I get ya on the EPO now!! Don't think that's for me though!

djm501

Schoie81 wrote:

The first hill has a hair pin corner about 3/4 of the way up, after which it flattens off, and if I'd known that beforehand I might have pushed myself to the corner and then been ok...

Some work to do methinks...

This is called getting to know your enemy by the way. Once you know what's ahead it becomes much easier to conquer the beast. Knowing you've only got to get around that hairpin before it flattens off enables you to put in a blast of power to get your through. Not knowing whether or not there is another 500 ft of 10-15% around that hairpin is a different beastie...

marylogic

Schoie81 wrote:

Well, stopping and catching my breath is what I was doing, but it just seemed a bit pointless just standing there. Given I was only doing 15miles, I didn't take a drink with me - I will do next time - then if I have to stop, I can just stop and have a drink - give me something to do and will let me convince myself that I've stopped for a reason, not because of the hill!

My OH often has difficulty with sweat/suncream in his eyes which only seems to occur on steep hills. I remember on another ride a friend being overcome by the urge to phone his wife halfway up a big hill. I think there are many good reasons to stop

On a more serious note there are lots of good tips on climbing technique if you use the search function. For hairpins if possible depending on the road and traffic try to take the bend at it's widest part to flatten out the slope a bit.

slowbike

Schoie81 wrote:

Rolf F wrote:

It's OK to fail but it is pointless to walk. Walking doesn't improve your climbing - stopping, catching your breath for a few minutes and getting back on the bike does improve your climbing no matter how many times you have to repeat the process. Obviously, sometimes the gradient can be too steep to do anything but walk - but usually that sort of gradient you know you won't manage before you've got to it.

Well, stopping and catching my breath is what I was doing, but it just seemed a bit pointless just standing there. Given I was only doing 15miles, I didn't take a drink with me - I will do next time - then if I have to stop, I can just stop and have a drink - give me something to do and will let me convince myself that I've stopped for a reason, not because of the hill!

@rubertoe - I get ya on the EPO now!! Don't think that's for me though!

On short climbs I promise myself a drink when I've got to the top - totally daft, but seems to get me there...

izza

Slowbike wrote:

Schoie81 wrote:

Rolf F wrote:

It's OK to fail but it is pointless to walk. Walking doesn't improve your climbing - stopping, catching your breath for a few minutes and getting back on the bike does improve your climbing no matter how many times you have to repeat the process. Obviously, sometimes the gradient can be too steep to do anything but walk - but usually that sort of gradient you know you won't manage before you've got to it.

Well, stopping and catching my breath is what I was doing, but it just seemed a bit pointless just standing there. Given I was only doing 15miles, I didn't take a drink with me - I will do next time - then if I have to stop, I can just stop and have a drink - give me something to do and will let me convince myself that I've stopped for a reason, not because of the hill!

@rubertoe - I get ya on the EPO now!! Don't think that's for me though!

On short climbs I promise myself a drink when I've got to the top - totally daft, but seems to get me there...

Yes but if there are more than 4 hills you could the get caught by s30 RTA 1988.

http://www.statutela...xtDocId=2276581

Schoie81

djm501 wrote:

This is called getting to know your enemy by the way. Once you know what's ahead it becomes much easier to conquer the beast. Knowing you've only got to get around that hairpin before it flattens off enables you to put in a blast of power to get your through. Not knowing whether or not there is another 500 ft of 10-15% around that hairpin is a different beastie...

Yeah, I have driven up this road in the past, but not for a very long time, so I knew the hairpin wasn't the top of the hill, but had forgotten that the climb eases off after the corner, now that I know that I reckon I'd be able to put in the extra effort to get up this one. And the third hill I should have pushed myself to get up, I was so close to doing it. The middle one is a beast though...

My local "I'll do them one day" hills are Sheldon Dale, then Rowlsey Bar and finally Winnats Pass (in that order) - if any of you know of them! (once i've conquered these three of course! )

slowbike

izza wrote:

Slowbike wrote:

On short climbs I promise myself a drink when I've got to the top - totally daft, but seems to get me there...

Yes but if there are more than 4 hills you could the get caught by s30 RTA 1988.

chrisaonabike

I haven't had to stop and get off yet on White Down Lane but it was very close the first couple of times. Now that I've done it a few times, I know I can, so there's no fear associated with it. And it's over now a little more quickly.

It does get easier, although it doesn't seem to feel easier.

djm501

Schoie81 wrote:

djm501 wrote:

This is called getting to know your enemy by the way. Once you know what's ahead it becomes much easier to conquer the beast. Knowing you've only got to get around that hairpin before it flattens off enables you to put in a blast of power to get your through. Not knowing whether or not there is another 500 ft of 10-15% around that hairpin is a different beastie...

Yeah, I have driven up this road in the past, but not for a very long time, so I knew the hairpin wasn't the top of the hill, but had forgotten that the climb eases off after the corner, now that I know that I reckon I'd be able to put in the extra effort to get up this one. And the third hill I should have pushed myself to get up, I was so close to doing it. The middle one is a beast though...

My local "I'll do them one day" hills are Sheldon Dale, then Rowlsey Bar and finally Winnats Pass (in that order) - if any of you know of them! (once i've conquered these three of course! )

Winnats Pass I've heard of but not my neck of the woods. My two hills of unfinished business are a local one in Pontypridd called Penheol Ely Road (or Pontypridd gold course road) - it's about 800 ft and has 27% sections. This one I will do - I nearly did it the one time I have tried it but like you I did not know the hill and quit just before the end of the brutality :roll:
The other is the Devil's Staircase in Ceredigion, Wales. That I'm not sure about doing - it's 80 miles to cycle there from home and there are big mountains in the way - it is also are real brute of a climb with 25% sections for long periods. I didn't even get to the first hairpin on that. But try it again I shall...

Some of my audaxing buddies recently completely an insane 600 km ride called the Pendle 600 which, after 500 km(!) required them to ascend both Wrynose Pass and Hardknott pass in quick succession. Ouch ouchy ouch. I shall pass on that sort of thing myself for some time I think.

Schoie81

Theres an organised ride this weekend up here - 100miles, 9,000ft of climb. The route basically winds its way around the Peak District purposfully seeking out every big hill there is!! Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your outlook) the police have prevented them from including Winnats Pass, as they say the volume of cyclists, riding slowly and stopping/walking would cause too much of a hazard on the road. The fastest time last year was a little over 6hours 7mins... :shock:

Maybe next year...

djm501

That's quick. I did a similar sounding sportive in Pembrokeshire a couple of months back where the first rider did it in about 7 hours (108 miles, 10,000 ft climbing). My time was a much more modest 9 hours and I was reduced to walking some of the climbs from about 7000 ft onwards. This stuff takes time to build up to, so don't beat yourself up too much at the start - I think it will take me a couple of years and some serious weightloss to get the real hardass climbs under my belt.
In less than a year though I've graduated up to take on and beat some major famous climbs in South Wales though and I weigh 230 lbs - so trust me, you can do it!

gimpl

Strangely for our area (Milton Keynes) we do have one hill in particular that is 22% in one place ! Failed the first two times on a triple last year but managed it the other week on my compact so very happy even if I did nearly collapse at the top.

Edited to remove rather grand claim !! :oops:

djm501

Here's a thread where one of the Pendle guys is talking about it by the way. Check out the video link showing at one point one of theme zig-zagging up Hardknott. Brutal stuff - need some long miles in your legs before you attempt that sort of thing. viewtopic.php?f=40013&t=12929391&p=18400302#p18400302

djm501

Gimpl wrote:

Strangely for our area (Milton Keynes) we do have one hill in particular that is 33% in one place ! Failed the first two times on a triple last year but managed it the other week on my compact so very happy even if I did nearly collapse at the top.

Where is that then? I grew up in Bedford so I'd be interested to check that out next time I'm in the area...

Schoie81

djm501 wrote:

Here's a thread where one of the Pendle guys is talking about it by the way. Check out the video link showing at one point one of theme zig-zagging up Hardknott. Brutal stuff - need some long miles in your legs before you attempt that sort of thing. viewtopic.php?f=40013&t=12929391&p=18400302#p18400302

Its funny you should say that - it did cross my mind last night at one point to wander across the road, just to get a break from going up for a few metres (its a very quiet road - didn't see a soul...). Maybe I should have given it a go!

Where's 'Hardknott' then - haven't heard of it (no real surprise - i'm not that well travelled...)

gimpl

djm501 wrote:

Where is that then? I grew up in Bedford so I'd be interested to check that out next time I'm in the area...

Church Road, Bow Brickhill.

Strava link http://app.strava.com/segments/957076

Apologies it's actually 22%, I got my information form here http://www.teammk.com/node/8214 and they were talking about another hill that was 33%

djm501

Cheers, 22% is still quite nasty. I did wonder about 33% around there.


Blimey, I'm doing a 600 km Audax from Leighton Buzzard on 13th July and I was thinking of cycling from Bedford to the start. Looks like that hill is almost on route! I had spotted a big hill between Bedford and LB already though so I changed my mind. 600 km with 6500 m of climbing shall be enough I think seeing as its my maiden 600.

djm501

Hardknott and Wrynose passes are in the Lake District I think although I've not been there either. They're just notoriously hard climbs for those who like to seek out such things. I think the only rivals they've got in the UK are the Devil's Staircase and Bwlch y Groes in Wales and The Rosedale Chimney in Yorkshire.

In my experience though, there are plenty of other brutal climbs around that don't have the headline name and you'll encounter them unawares..

rolf_f

djm501 wrote:

Hardknott and Wrynose passes are in the Lake District I think although I've not been there either. They're just notoriously hard climbs for those who like to seek out such things. I think the only rivals they've got in the UK are the Devil's Staircase and Bwlch y Groes in Wales and The Rosedale Chimney in Yorkshire.

There's lots of climbs of equal nastiness around if you go looking for them. Hardknott and Wrynose standout because of their proximity, the superb scenery, the sheer horror of what's ahead of you as you approach Hardknott from the West and their importance as routes across the Lakes. If you want to seek out a hard time, buy the two Simon Warren guides to UK cycle climbs (100 greatest cycling climbs and Another 100 greatest cycling climbs - they aren't such good value if you live in East Anglia).

I recently did Mytholm Steeps - an obscure climb in the Calder Valley that Simon Warren scores the same as Hardknott - and I probably agree. But the pain is a different sort of pain.

marylogic

I love those books...and also detest them - I blame them for my hill obsession.

My own personal challenge is to complete all the climbs in the blue (scottish) section.

rpherts

Rolf F wrote:

It's OK to fail but it is pointless to walk. Walking doesn't improve your climbing - stopping, catching your breath for a few minutes and getting back on the bike does improve your climbing no matter how many times you have to repeat the process. Obviously, sometimes the gradient can be too steep to do anything but walk - but usually that sort of gradient you know you won't manage before you've got to it.

Good luck restarting with clipless pedals on a 10%+ climb!

rpherts

djm501 wrote:

Hardknott and Wrynose passes are in the Lake District I think although I've not been there either. They're just notoriously hard climbs for those who like to seek out such things. I think the only rivals they've got in the UK are the Devil's Staircase and Bwlch y Groes in Wales and The Rosedale Chimney in Yorkshire.

In my experience though, there are plenty of other brutal climbs around that don't have the headline name and you'll encounter them unawares..

Driving up Hardknott scared me. It is an utter bastard. You might find a short stretch of road almost as steep, but you'll struggle to find a climb as long and as nasty.