Road Cycling

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I'd love to be able to sit and spin up 20%+ gradients... ;)

Truth is, my front wheel lifted a couple of times when climbing out the saddle. Joys of 35%+! :rolleyes: ;)
 
This one is not a super steep but does have some 20%-ish ramps randomly throughout.
Analysis of climb = https://www.strava.com/activities/400362927/analysis/4500/5034

I done majority in the saddle, the cadence dropping to below 80RPM would be me out of the saddle bearing mind this was all done in the big ring on a compact so 50/28 is the easiest gear I would have been in.

I will need to do some science on a proper steep one to see but on 20% sections I could easily spin 80+ rpm even out of the saddle in tiny gears.

Posting purely for comparison regarding conversations above. Everyone is different/climbs different.
 
My issue with sitting on the steeper gradients is that I feel like I'm going to fall backwards out of my saddle. It's a bit of a confidence thing I think. For most climbs I'm seated near 100% of the time.
 
Even pros can't really spin much on 20%. You'll see them out of the saddle mashing once it gets like that.

@janp: you're a hero of the modern age, great work!
 
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physichull said:
Don't think I'll go that far but am thinking of either heading out to Rivington, then round to Parbold, or just going south to Tarporley and back. Looks glorious weather regardless.
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Have you climbed Parbold Hill? Talking of mashing your way up silly hills... You could go over Rivington, across the moors, through Abbey Village towards Wheelton, pick up the route I took Saturday just gone and go as far as Eccleston, I think it is, then cut through the back roads to Parbold and head up there.

Although, saying that, a route I want to do would be to do Parbold Hill first, because when you get to the top of that it'll feel huge, but then you can see Rivington looming about twice as high ahead of you, so it would make for quite an epic vista :D
 
Vonhelmet said:
Have you climbed Parbold Hill? Talking of mashing your way up silly hills... You could go over Rivington, across the moors, through Abbey Village towards Wheelton, pick up the route I took Saturday just gone and go as far as Eccleston, I think it is, then cut through the back roads to Parbold and head up there.

Although, saying that, a route I want to do would be to do Parbold Hill first, because when you get to the top of that it'll feel huge, but then you can see Rivington looming about twice as high ahead of you, so it would make for quite an epic vista :D
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Orrr..you could give Physichull a lift then both cycle with us :p You can even draft the whole way.
 
Lethal` said:
How did you find the Tour of Wessex in general? I saw it advertised but wasn't so keen for another weekend away the week after Velothon. I'm definitely tempted for next year...
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yeah it was a good event, but I only made it for day 2 & 3. Not too busy on the day like some other events and the facilities where pretty decent. Just wished I'd had the legs to do the full 175km distance on day 3 as it goes right out to Exmoor. A friend of a friend was fastest on day 3 with a time of 5:36 avg 31kph.
 
I'm at my parents so I've just weighed myself as they have bathroom scales. 3 months of commuting has got me down from 74kg to... 72.5kg. Clearly I'm very good at adjusting my calorie intake!
 
Vonhelmet said:
I'm at my parents so I've just weighed myself as they have bathroom scales. 3 months of commuting has got me down from 74kg to... 72.5kg. Clearly I'm very good at adjusting my calorie intake!
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Still, it's not bad for 3 months, no doubt you would have gained muscle mass in that time.

I've gone the opposite, when I started cycling 3 years ago I was 53.97kg, now I'm 69kg (ish).

Do you have a weight goal that you're trying to hit?
 
FrenchTart said:
My issue with sitting on the steeper gradients is that I feel like I'm going to fall backwards out of my saddle. It's a bit of a confidence thing I think. For most climbs I'm seated near 100% of the time.
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I was sitting for most of hardknott - bit of a mistake as I ended up pulling a wheelie most of the time. Problem was earlier in the ride I'd had some wheel slip on another climb so I was wary of getting out of the saddle!
 
xdcx said:
This one is not a super steep but does have some 20%-ish ramps randomly throughout.
Analysis of climb = https://www.strava.com/activities/400362927/analysis/4500/5034
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I've just pretty much drawn a blank finding climbs around Inverness over 20%. I don't remember it being *that* flat when I was last there?! :p

Steepest I can find:
https://www.strava.com/segments/2064157 - Dochgarroch
https://www.strava.com/segments/1729672 - Abriachan
https://www.strava.com/segments/5632799 - Dochnaclear?
https://www.strava.com/segments/3531596 - Screwy data, but Muirfield Road (Just off Culduthel) looks steep?
PermaBanned said:
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Good (already seen) but I don't need to increase speed, just need to continue at any speed! :eek::p;)
 
Vonhelmet said:
Have you climbed Parbold Hill? Talking of mashing your way up silly hills... You could go over Rivington, across the moors, through Abbey Village towards Wheelton, pick up the route I took Saturday just gone and go as far as Eccleston, I think it is, then cut through the back roads to Parbold and head up there.

Although, saying that, a route I want to do would be to do Parbold Hill first, because when you get to the top of that it'll feel huge, but then you can see Rivington looming about twice as high ahead of you, so it would make for quite an epic vista :D
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Yeah been up Parbold a few times now.

You up for a ride tomorrow morning, along the lines of above?
 
Vonhelmet said:
No can do, I'm afraid. I'm staying overnight at my parents. I'll be up early riding around the Wirral instead!
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No worries, if you run into Chris Boardman on his CX bike, be sure to give him a nod!

Got a signed copy of his autobiography last night after seeing him and Ned Boulting at the Lowry. Was a good evening and he had some good stories and answered questions.

I got a tweet back from him earlier yesterday when asking him what his favourite gear was....

https://twitter.com/Chris_Boardman/status/738338355881086976
 
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