Riding rolling hills

Badger_South said:

I rode a more difficult route today than usual, lots of rolling
hills, and it was quite interesting.

I normally train on a basically flat course with some gentle hills,
but I try to ride as hard and as long as I can given my injury, age
and short time back into cycling.

Surprisingly, although there was some heavy breathing (I -think- it
was me), I coped very well, and had no burning thighs, and
systemically, I felt totally fine after reaching each crest; IOW,
breathing rapidly returned to normal.

I rode just 10 miles but I don't feel any more winded than a fast
flat ride of 15 - 20 miles.

Guess we'll see this pm when I go out again. Pretty good feeling
though, b/c at 225lbs and age 53, I've been dreading the hills, and
it wasn't that bad. Good to have a Trek under me, though. (Thx, Mike
J.)

-Badger

Wait 'till you do a group ride on the same hills and those 60-70 y/o starts
hammering away.

--
Perre

You have to be smarter than a robot to reply.

Badger_South <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

I rode a more difficult route today than usual, lots of rolling hills, and
it was quite interesting.

Hills are much better training that flats, and generally more scenic as well.
On short hills try not to shift down (too much) and keep your cadence up to
sail over the hills. If you shift down a lot, you slow down a lot and people
who put in a little extra effort will be way in front of you by the time you
get to the top.

Badger_South said:

I rode a more difficult route today than usual, lots of rolling hills, and
it was quite interesting.

Well there's the "18-wheeler option" to riding a bike
over rolling hills.

Get yourself a good heavy bike, like a touring bike with
"lots of stuff" in the panniers or bolted to the bike.
You could also go with a tandem if you've got a copilot.

Of course the mass helps you go down the hills nice and
quick and aids in maintaining your speed on the flats.
It will also keep you going up the next hill as all those
fellows on their lightweigh Al and Ti bikes start to fall
off in speed.

I experienced this during my first RAGBRAI back in '99.
I did really quite well to the point of getting pace lines
attached to me as I progressed across that very rolling,
hilly state.

Well, they stayed attached until the rolling hills countered
the laws of physics. If the hill is long, or very steep,
your momentum bleeds off, and then there's hell to pay in
maintaining speed.

There's just no getting around it. Sometimes life is cruel.

SMH

On Mon, 07 Jun 2004 16:28:09 GMT, "Per Elmsäter" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Badger_South said:

I rode a more difficult route today than usual, lots of rolling
hills, and it was quite interesting.

I normally train on a basically flat course with some gentle hills,
but I try to ride as hard and as long as I can given my injury, age
and short time back into cycling.

Surprisingly, although there was some heavy breathing (I -think- it
was me), I coped very well, and had no burning thighs, and
systemically, I felt totally fine after reaching each crest; IOW,
breathing rapidly returned to normal.

I rode just 10 miles but I don't feel any more winded than a fast
flat ride of 15 - 20 miles.

Guess we'll see this pm when I go out again. Pretty good feeling
though, b/c at 225lbs and age 53, I've been dreading the hills, and
it wasn't that bad. Good to have a Trek under me, though. (Thx, Mike
J.)

-Badger

Wait 'till you do a group ride on the same hills and those 60-70 y/o starts
hammering away.

Yeah, you mean the ones rehabbing from their THRs? I'm cringing thinking
about it, but I know they're out there, heh.

-Badger

On Mon, 07 Jun 2004 13:35:56 -0400, Stephen Harding <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Badger_South said:

I rode a more difficult route today than usual, lots of rolling hills, and
it was quite interesting.

Well there's the "18-wheeler option" to riding a bike
over rolling hills.

Get yourself a good heavy bike, like a touring bike with
"lots of stuff" in the panniers or bolted to the bike.
You could also go with a tandem if you've got a copilot.

Of course the mass helps you go down the hills nice and
quick and aids in maintaining your speed on the flats.
It will also keep you going up the next hill as all those
fellows on their lightweigh Al and Ti bikes start to fall
off in speed.

Yeah, yeah. I'll get my cousin at PERN to make me some super-heavy isotopes
for them panniers...

-Badger

Badger_South said:

Per Elmsäter said:

Badger_South said:

I rode a more difficult route today than usual, lots of rolling
hills, and it was quite interesting.

I normally train on a basically flat course with some gentle hills,
but I try to ride as hard and as long as I can given my injury, age
and short time back into cycling.

Surprisingly, although there was some heavy breathing (I -think- it
was me), I coped very well, and had no burning thighs, and
systemically, I felt totally fine after reaching each crest; IOW,
breathing rapidly returned to normal.

I rode just 10 miles but I don't feel any more winded than a fast
flat ride of 15 - 20 miles.

Guess we'll see this pm when I go out again. Pretty good feeling
though, b/c at 225lbs and age 53, I've been dreading the hills, and
it wasn't that bad. Good to have a Trek under me, though. (Thx, Mike
J.)

-Badger

Wait 'till you do a group ride on the same hills and those 60-70 y/o
starts hammering away.

Yeah, you mean the ones rehabbing from their THRs? I'm cringing
thinking about it, but I know they're out there, heh.

-Badger

I don't know what THR is but I wasn't really joking. I constantly get
dropped by people 5 -15 years older than me on our clubrides and I'm not a
slow rider. I can get them on the final sprint if I'm still in the pack.
We have this one dude that'll turn 69 this year. He does a 30 km TT in 47
minutes.

It is actually one of the things that make me happy. Thinking that maybe,
maybe I'll be that healthy when I turn 70.

--
Perre
"Me , yep I'm 53 like you"

Badger_South said:

Per Elmsäter said:

Badger_South said:

I rode a more difficult route today than usual, lots of rolling
hills, and it was quite interesting.

I normally train on a basically flat course with some gentle hills,
but I try to ride as hard and as long as I can given my injury, age
and short time back into cycling.

Surprisingly, although there was some heavy breathing (I -think- it
was me), I coped very well, and had no burning thighs, and
systemically, I felt totally fine after reaching each crest; IOW,
breathing rapidly returned to normal.

I rode just 10 miles but I don't feel any more winded than a fast
flat ride of 15 - 20 miles.

Guess we'll see this pm when I go out again. Pretty good feeling
though, b/c at 225lbs and age 53, I've been dreading the hills, and
it wasn't that bad. Good to have a Trek under me, though. (Thx, Mike
J.)

-Badger

Wait 'till you do a group ride on the same hills and those 60-70 y/o
starts hammering away.

Yeah, you mean the ones rehabbing from their THRs? I'm cringing
thinking about it, but I know they're out there, heh.

-Badger

I don't know what THR is but I wasn't really joking. I constantly get
dropped by people 5 -15 years older than me on our clubrides and I'm not a
slow rider. I can get them on the final sprint if I'm still in the pack.
We have this one dude that'll turn 69 this year. He does a 30 km TT in 47
minutes.

It is actually one of the things that make me happy. Thinking that maybe,
maybe I'll be that healthy when I turn 70.

--
Perre
"Me , yep I'm 53 like you"

On Mon, 07 Jun 2004 19:01:19 GMT, "Per Elmsäter" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Yeah, you mean the ones rehabbing from their THRs? I'm cringing
thinking about it, but I know they're out there, heh.

-Badger

I don't know what THR is but I wasn't really joking. I constantly get
dropped by people 5 -15 years older than me on our clubrides and I'm not a
slow rider. I can get them on the final sprint if I'm still in the pack.
We have this one dude that'll turn 69 this year. He does a 30 km TT in 47
minutes.

(sound of jaw dropping) *kerplop* Whoa. Didja check him for hollow bones,
or a hidden jet pack? ;-p

Quoted message said:

It is actually one of the things that make me happy. Thinking that maybe,
maybe I'll be that healthy when I turn 70.

Hell, I'd settle for that kind of ability at 60. Settle. Sheyeah. As if.

Quoted message said:

--
Perre
"Me , yep I'm 53 like you"

Oh, THR = Total Hip Replacement. (TKR=Total Knee)

-B

On Mon, 07 Jun 2004 19:01:19 GMT, "Per Elmsäter" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Yeah, you mean the ones rehabbing from their THRs? I'm cringing
thinking about it, but I know they're out there, heh.

-Badger

I don't know what THR is but I wasn't really joking. I constantly get
dropped by people 5 -15 years older than me on our clubrides and I'm not a
slow rider. I can get them on the final sprint if I'm still in the pack.
We have this one dude that'll turn 69 this year. He does a 30 km TT in 47
minutes.

(sound of jaw dropping) *kerplop* Whoa. Didja check him for hollow bones,
or a hidden jet pack? ;-p

Quoted message said:

It is actually one of the things that make me happy. Thinking that maybe,
maybe I'll be that healthy when I turn 70.

Hell, I'd settle for that kind of ability at 60. Settle. Sheyeah. As if.

Quoted message said:

--
Perre
"Me , yep I'm 53 like you"

Oh, THR = Total Hip Replacement. (TKR=Total Knee)

-B

Stephen Harding wrote:
:: Badger_South wrote:
::
::: I rode a more difficult route today than usual, lots of rolling
::: hills, and it was quite interesting.
::
:: Well there's the "18-wheeler option" to riding a bike
:: over rolling hills.
::
:: Get yourself a good heavy bike, like a touring bike with
:: "lots of stuff" in the panniers or bolted to the bike.
:: You could also go with a tandem if you've got a copilot.

Or you can just weigh in at 240 lbs! Same difference 🙂

::
:: Of course the mass helps you go down the hills nice and
:: quick and aids in maintaining your speed on the flats.
:: It will also keep you going up the next hill as all those
:: fellows on their lightweigh Al and Ti bikes start to fall
:: off in speed.

Yeah!

::
:: I experienced this during my first RAGBRAI back in '99.
:: I did really quite well to the point of getting pace lines
:: attached to me as I progressed across that very rolling,
:: hilly state.
::
:: Well, they stayed attached until the rolling hills countered
:: the laws of physics. If the hill is long, or very steep,
:: your momentum bleeds off, and then there's hell to pay in
:: maintaining speed.

Yep...and you get dropped by someone who weighs 60 lbs less.

::
:: There's just no getting around it. Sometimes life is cruel.

Yep...I leave my ego at home on the couch.

Back in '92 I was driving from Calgary to Vancouver and before a certain
Roger's Pass there is a long long mountain climb. Half way up this long hill
I passed a cyclist obviously geared for cross-country who seemed to be about
75 years old. He was casually but steadfastly climbing that hill without any
outwards signs of trouble.

John Allen said:

Back in '92 I was driving from Calgary to Vancouver and before a certain
Roger's Pass there is a long long mountain climb. Half way up this long hill
I passed a cyclist obviously geared for cross-country who seemed to be about
75 years old. He was casually but steadfastly climbing that hill without any
outwards signs of trouble.

back in summer '02 as i was cycling down the oregon coast and up a rather
nice extended climb a gentlemen in his mid-70s on a fixed gear bike and a
carradice bag rather merrily passed me, said good afternoon and with a big
grin offered me his wheel. i took it and accompanied him to the top.

i hope to return the favour to some poor thirtysomething when i'm in my 70s.
--
david reuteler
[email hidden]

John Allen said:

Back in '92 I was driving from Calgary to Vancouver and before a certain
Roger's Pass there is a long long mountain climb. Half way up this long hill
I passed a cyclist obviously geared for cross-country who seemed to be about
75 years old. He was casually but steadfastly climbing that hill without any
outwards signs of trouble.

We have a 70-year-old in our club who rides a tourer with toe clips,
fenders, large Carradice bag. He wears sneakers. He can climb Old La
Honda (3.3 miles, 7.5%) in 22 minutes. Sometimes, he clamps onto my
wheel on a climb and won't let go. Boy, that's embarassing.
--
terry morse Palo Alto, CA http://bike.terrymorse.com/

Terry Morse said:

Sometimes, he clamps onto my
wheel on a climb and won't let go. Boy, that's embarassing.

ahem. yea..
--
david reuteler
[email hidden]

Badger_South said:

I rode a more difficult route today than usual, lots of rolling hills, and
it was quite interesting.

<snip>

Quoted message said:

I rode just 10 miles but I don't feel any more winded than a fast flat ride
of 15 - 20 miles.

Good going, Badger. Rollers are great training, you can think of
them as forced intervals. Go hard on the climb, recover on the
backside. The nice thing about intervals is you can get in more
training without getting wiped out, so you can recover more quickly.
--
terry morse Palo Alto, CA http://bike.terrymorse.com/

"Per Elmsäter" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Badger_South said:

Per Elmsäter said:

Badger_South wrote:
> I rode a more difficult route today than usual, lots of rolling
> hills, and it was quite interesting.
>
> I normally train on a basically flat course with some gentle hills,
> but I try to ride as hard and as long as I can given my injury, age
> and short time back into cycling.
>
> Surprisingly, although there was some heavy breathing (I -think- it
> was me), I coped very well, and had no burning thighs, and
> systemically, I felt totally fine after reaching each crest; IOW,
> breathing rapidly returned to normal.
>
> I rode just 10 miles but I don't feel any more winded than a fast
> flat ride of 15 - 20 miles.
>
> Guess we'll see this pm when I go out again. Pretty good feeling
> though, b/c at 225lbs and age 53, I've been dreading the hills, and
> it wasn't that bad. Good to have a Trek under me, though. (Thx, Mike
> J.)
>
> -Badger

Wait 'till you do a group ride on the same hills and those 60-70 y/o
starts hammering away.

Yeah, you mean the ones rehabbing from their THRs? I'm cringing
thinking about it, but I know they're out there, heh.

-Badger

I don't know what THR is but I wasn't really joking. I constantly get
dropped by people 5 -15 years older than me on our clubrides and I'm not a
slow rider. I can get them on the final sprint if I'm still in the pack.
We have this one dude that'll turn 69 this year. He does a 30 km TT in 47
minutes.

It is actually one of the things that make me happy. Thinking that maybe,
maybe I'll be that healthy when I turn 70.

--
Perre
"Me , yep I'm 53 like you"

Thanks for making me (age 48) feel young again! That's really cool!

Bob C.

Ageism on bike rides rock. I am only 33 but I love seeing it. The best was
a multi-group MTB rides a few back when I early 50's guy that always drops
me showed up on his old bike, a early 90's Trek 830 with a rear rack. He
crushed everybody in the B group and caught the guys in the A group. The
guys and girls my age were doing everything to keep up with him if they
could.

Ageism when mixed with sexism is even better. Another friend of mine,
Margot is 62 i think. She is not fast, but is very well paced and steady.
At the end of awful five hour rides, she has embarrassed many 20-30 year old
guys as she leads hangs on their wheels for the final climbs. .