Lots of climbs trust me, not much over 1km in length though. I am not really super strong, I have learnt to ride efficiently.sogood wrote:then you are either super strong or don't have much of a climb. :pcolaiacw wrote:I am rarely in the 39/25 combination for the climbs unless I am really stuffed.
Gearing for climbs
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Re: Gearing for climbs
Postby colaiacw » Wed Dec 21, 2011 9:41 am
When you feel yourself struggling up a hill, just get over it!
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Re: Gearing for climbs
Postby sogood » Wed Dec 21, 2011 10:46 am
There's precious little one can do to climb efficiently if one doesn't have the gearing to match power. To be efficient, one needs to spin. And if you can still keep a decent cadence with 39/23 or higher, then either you have the power or the gradient is insufficiently extreme.colaiacw wrote:Lots of climbs trust me, not much over 1km in length though. I am not really super strong, I have learnt to ride efficiently.
RK wrote:And that is Wikipedia - I can write my own definition.
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Re: Gearing for climbs
Postby Baldy » Wed Dec 21, 2011 1:03 pm
Content removed by moderator. Argue the topic, not the person.sogood wrote:There's precious little one can do to climb efficiently if one doesn't have the gearing to match power. To be efficient, one needs to spin. And if you can still keep a decent cadence with 39/23 or higher, then either you have the power or the gradient is insufficiently extreme.colaiacw wrote:Lots of climbs trust me, not much over 1km in length though. I am not really super strong, I have learnt to ride efficiently.
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Re: Gearing for climbs
Postby ausrandoman » Wed Dec 21, 2011 1:17 pm
What is the gradient?colaiacw wrote: Lots of climbs trust me, not much over 1km in length though.
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Re: Gearing for climbs
Postby colaiacw » Wed Dec 21, 2011 1:53 pm
It varies, but the hardest section is around 900 meters that averages at 11% and peaks at 14%. There are not many flat sections on the 90 km route that i ride. They are just big hills not mountains.ausrandoman wrote:What is the gradient?colaiacw wrote: Lots of climbs trust me, not much over 1km in length though.
cheers.
When you feel yourself struggling up a hill, just get over it!
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Re: Gearing for climbs
Postby sogood » Wed Dec 21, 2011 2:23 pm
I am satisfied that you have the power to not have to drop into 39/25 at 14%.colaiacw wrote:It varies, but the hardest section is around 900 meters that averages at 11% and peaks at 14%. There are not many flat sections on the 90 km route that i ride. They are just big hills not mountains.
RK wrote:And that is Wikipedia - I can write my own definition.
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Re: Gearing for climbs
Postby mikesbytes » Wed Dec 21, 2011 3:29 pm
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Re: Gearing for climbs
Postby ausrandoman » Wed Dec 21, 2011 4:41 pm
You obviously have a much higher power to weight ratio than me.
mikesbytes:
You are not alone. When I first took up cycling, in the days of five speed screw-on clusters, 28 tooth cogs were for touring and recreational bikes and no self-respecting racer would use anything bigger than 13-15-17-19-21. Nowadays, even elite road men sometimes use 32 tooth cogs on extreme climbs. I guess the availability of 10 or 11 cog cassettes instead of 5 cog clusters and better knowledge of physiology has led to greater use of lower gears.
I can't prove it but I think one reason that I can now ride as fast as I could 40 years ago* is that I have never slogged along in big gears. Another reason (for me) is better knowledge of training and cheap heart rate monitors.
*Which, I should point out, is not particularly fast and never was.
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Re: Gearing for climbs
Postby pawnii » Wed Dec 28, 2011 2:43 am
I've been slowing down my cadence to about 70-75 when out of the saddle and i find can maintain speed/heart rate for longer on steep >10% sections.
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Re: Gearing for climbs
Postby AndrewBurns » Wed Dec 28, 2011 1:05 pm
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Re: Gearing for climbs
Postby Daccordi Rider » Wed Dec 28, 2011 2:57 pm
Hi Pawnii, that's very common. I find if I concentrate on my knee lift when out of the saddle it helps maintain a 90 climbing cadence on those tougher pinches. You will find this is where you can drop most people (if that is your pleasure ), few people can maintain cadence out of the saddle without blowing quickly but it certainly takes practice.pawnii wrote:does anyone climb out of the saddle at 90rpm?
I've been slowing down my cadence to about 70-75 when out of the saddle and i find can maintain speed/heart rate for longer on steep >10% sections.
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Re: Gearing for climbs
Postby ireland57 » Wed Dec 28, 2011 6:45 pm
Daccordi,Daccordi Rider wrote:Hi Pawnii, that's very common. I find if I concentrate on my knee lift when out of the saddle it helps maintain a 90 climbing cadence on those tougher pinches. You will find this is where you can drop most people (if that is your pleasure ), few people can maintain cadence out of the saddle without blowing quickly but it certainly takes practice.pawnii wrote:does anyone climb out of the saddle at 90rpm?
I've been slowing down my cadence to about 70-75 when out of the saddle and i find can maintain speed/heart rate for longer on steep >10% sections.
Could you be more specific about "knee lift"? Do you mean positioning, timing, (um, that's about it) or something else?
Cheers
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Gearing for climbs
Postby pawnii » Wed Dec 28, 2011 11:54 pm
Ireland... I assume it's timing. Getting a feel for and maintaining cadence.
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Re: Gearing for climbs
Postby sogood » Thu Dec 29, 2011 11:13 am
You just have to train that's all, and so do the pros to achieve that. Find a long hill and repeat. Over a period of weeks to months, aim to extend the point by which you must sit down.pawnii wrote:Hmmm knee lift aye? Fantastic idea! I'll give it a go. I see the pro dudes on tv off the saddle for ages when they climb. Wish I looked that comfortable
RK wrote:And that is Wikipedia - I can write my own definition.
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Re: Gearing for climbs
Postby Daccordi Rider » Fri Dec 30, 2011 4:11 pm
Sure, what I mean is when out of the saddle concentrate on the pull part of the pedal stroke by focussing on pulling the knee up towards the handlebars. I reckon most people when standing only push down and hence the cadence slows a lot and they lose the effeciency of the pedalling action (push/pull). You also will generate more power and help with those steeper pinches whilst maintaining speed.ireland57 wrote:Daccordi,Daccordi Rider wrote:Hi Pawnii, that's very common. I find if I concentrate on my knee lift when out of the saddle it helps maintain a 90 climbing cadence on those tougher pinches. You will find this is where you can drop most people (if that is your pleasure ), few people can maintain cadence out of the saddle without blowing quickly but it certainly takes practice.pawnii wrote:does anyone climb out of the saddle at 90rpm?
I've been slowing down my cadence to about 70-75 when out of the saddle and i find can maintain speed/heart rate for longer on steep >10% sections.
Could you be more specific about "knee lift"? Do you mean positioning, timing, (um, that's about it) or something else?
Cheers
So Good is right about the training bit, find a nice long hill, get out of the saddle and go as far as possible. Keep repeating, this is a neglected part of cycling I think and one that is reasonably easy to get significant gains in. Hope this is of some help.
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Re: Gearing for climbs
Postby sogood » Fri Dec 30, 2011 4:29 pm
Then when you are back down in your saddle...
RK wrote:And that is Wikipedia - I can write my own definition.
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Re: Gearing for climbs
Postby sumgy » Fri Dec 30, 2011 4:47 pm
His 90RPM looks more like 70RPM to me(unless he has cadence sensors on both cranks).
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Re: Gearing for climbs
Postby sogood » Fri Dec 30, 2011 7:02 pm
Yes, noted that. But he is the coach, Lance is his star pupil with the abilities.sumgy wrote:I have watched that Carmichael video a couple of times now.
His 90RPM looks more like 70RPM to me(unless he has cadence sensors on both cranks).
RK wrote:And that is Wikipedia - I can write my own definition.
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Re: Gearing for climbs
Postby sumgy » Fri Dec 30, 2011 7:06 pm
I have had coaches like that.
"Do as I say, not as I do".
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Re: Gearing for climbs
Postby sogood » Fri Dec 30, 2011 7:14 pm
RK wrote:And that is Wikipedia - I can write my own definition.
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Re: Gearing for climbs
Postby toolonglegs » Fri Dec 30, 2011 7:30 pm
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Re: Gearing for climbs
Postby ireland57 » Sat Dec 31, 2011 9:46 pm
Sure, what I mean is when out of the saddle concentrate on the pull part of the pedal stroke by focussing on pulling the knee up towards the handlebars. I reckon most people when standing only push down and hence the cadence slows a lot and they lose the effeciency of the pedalling action (push/pull). You also will generate more power and help with those steeper pinches whilst maintaining speed.
So Good is right about the training bit, find a nice long hill, get out of the saddle and go as far as possible. Keep repeating, this is a neglected part of cycling I think and one that is reasonably easy to get significant gains in. Hope this is of some help.[/quote]
Cheers.
I'll hit it in the morning and see what happens.
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Re: Gearing for climbs
Postby ireland57 » Wed Mar 20, 2013 8:44 pm
I've also been concentrating on good form on the bike. I did very few hills, efforts or long distance (over 80kms) during this time.
There is a price to pay for that but it was worth it.
Just now have I been able to focus on pulling up pedals while standing; man does that work a treat?
Instant easiness/power/increase in speed when I do it properly.
All in all it was the best thing I could've done for myself.
The changes it's made are basically: -
2 mins quicker up a 10% 4km climb;
using a compact, not the triple I had 16 mths ago;
using a 25 cassette in lieu of the 28; sitting better on the bike as well.
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Re: Gearing for climbs
Postby doggatas » Thu Mar 21, 2013 11:09 am
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Re: Gearing for climbs
Postby SquareWheels » Thu Mar 21, 2013 6:14 pm
sigh...that's me unfortunately. Hate hills/inclines but trying to get better by getting my gearing sorted at the base first. Sorta works. Still lots to learn. At least I am not actively looking for ways to avoid hills anymore so that's an improvement right?Drunkmonkey wrote:Most people dont know how to climb properly, they just do what is needed to get over the hill......or slight incline in some cases!!
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