| grantsmith |
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| 27/06/2008 09:07 |
Birdlip Hill, Mental Block?
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Hey,
Yesterday evening I tried once again to ride a infamous hill in my area, Birdlip hill. My previous attempt was a disaster, I had only been cycling a couple of weeks and it was the first time I had ever wore cleats! You can imagine what happened! That was about a year ago now and last night on a bit of a whim I thought I would have another go. It wasn't as bad as last time but I did fail to get up it again? To be honest I think I failed before I had even got on the bike, I was quite tired from the days before session, I have hayfever at present but still thought what the hell. I got half way up, and all the memories of not being able to get my feet out of cleats came flooding back, so I thought I would just pull my foot out and then clip back in just to reassure myself. As soon as my foot came out, it hit the pavement. I walked a bit feeling very disappointed with myself, and thought I would get back on, at this point I couldn't get going again as it was too steep, in fact I nearly got hit by a car because I nearly fell into the road trying to get going, lucky for me he was a careful driver and spotted me in plenty of time.
I'm pretty determined to concur this hill as I believe it will be great training for next years Wimbleball 70.3 which apparently has a 14% hill in it. I believe Birdlip is 17%, 1:6, if I have calculated that right.
I do cycle hills very regularly and actually consider myself a pretty good hill climber, not fast, but strong and steady. I regularly climb 1,000 foot hills and in fact have done Birdlip, albeit via a not as steep route, however you do hit the same peak.
So finally on to my questions!
Is this just a mental block considering I've been up bigger, however maybe not as steep?
How would others approach training to conquering this hill?
That should do it for now! Thanks for your time if your reading this!
| bfergie |
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| 27/06/2008 09:21 |
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Re: Birdlip Hill, Mental Block?
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I think there is a mental block here but also look at your gearing at the moment, If you need a 34/26, 30/26 or even lower gearing then so be it to get you up the hill,that will boost your confidence.
Once you can manage it in your lowest gear try it in the 2nd rear sprocket then 3rd and so on which is great for improving leg strength but it takes time. First thing is to get up that hill!
| Sly |
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| 27/06/2008 10:29 |
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Re: Birdlip Hill, Mental Block?
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As mentioed there, what's your gearing? I used to have to get off on really steep hills when I had a standard double chainset with 23 at the back. I put a compact at the front and got up all but the very steepest (25% +) hills, and finally I caved in and put a 26 and 29 at the back and up I went! Don't need to get off at all now, but sometimes it feels like walking would be faster!!
Once you've done it, the mental block will be blitzed and you'll be happier and happier to attempt it again.
| grantsmith |
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| 27/06/2008 10:51 |
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Re: Birdlip Hill, Mental Block?
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This the where I show my ignorance when it comes to gears, I understand that the number refers to the amount of teeth on the ring, but I don't know what I have.
I've just looked up my bike on there websites and it says this years model has 50x39x30T, I know mine is a 8 speed, does that refer to 8 cogs at the back?
Gear choice could be an issue here, I normally just stick with whatever feels comfortable at the time...
Again an explanation of gears would be appreciated!!
| Sly |
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| 27/06/2008 11:17 |
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Re: Birdlip Hill, Mental Block?
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Yep, you have 8 sprockets. They might have a number stamped on each cog if you clean it up and look closely. This will be the no of teeth.
You have a triple at the front which should mean you have some nice hill gears, depending what your largest ring at the back is. Doesnt sound like you need to change anything necessarily, so it could just be a case of getting over the mental aspect and maybe working on those steep sections with adifferent technique - do you predominantly stand or sit or mix it up?
| grantsmith |
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| 27/06/2008 11:29 |
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Re: Birdlip Hill, Mental Block?
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I normally sit, I'm beginning to think this was just a mental glitch, a temporary panic. I really didn't feel that bad when I put my foot down, I started to doubt whether I could get my feet out of the cleats, which is stupid as I have rode for a year without any problems as far as cleats are concerned.
I maybe should have selected a lower gear earlier, and stood to give myself a break?
I might leave Birdlip for a few weeks and then go back but without the ambition of getting to the top but just to spin up as far as possible, stop turn around and go back the week after and repeat. Then eventually I should just spin over the top?
Is that a good training plan?
| ironmandave |
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| 27/06/2008 12:49 |
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Re: Birdlip Hill, Mental Block?
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Daemons haunt us all, choose and calm overcast day with a low pollen count so your hayfever is controlled. Approach the hill, get into your lowest gear and expel them.
When climbing a steep hill I tend to look 2/3 foot ahead and only at the road. I never look to the top of the hill as it never gets any closer. Get out of the saddle and turn the cranks in a controlled and calm manner. You WILL get up and once there you will be thinking – what was that all about.
| bfergie |
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| 27/06/2008 14:12 |
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Re: Birdlip Hill, Mental Block?
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If you struggle up hills when standing it is usually down to having a weak core, abdominal and side training will help that and mean you can sustain the effort longer, with a triple chainset you should manage but some bikes only fit a 12-23 8 speed cassette,you can go to 26 or 27 and that makes quite a difference!
| grantsmith |
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| 27/06/2008 14:52 |
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Re: Birdlip Hill, Mental Block?
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Can I put any cassette on? Or do I need a particular type, also I hear people talking about compact chainrings? What the difference and are they better, in the sense it would give me more range of gears? I just thinking ahead to the 70.3 next June, in the information pack they advice a compact chainring...
| Sly |
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| 27/06/2008 15:10 |
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Re: Birdlip Hill, Mental Block?
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You already have a triple, so forget compact. compact will only help if you have a double. Compact basically gives you some easier gears without having to fit a triple. Usually easiest on a compact is 34, and you already have 30 on your triple.
| bfergie |
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| 27/06/2008 15:29 |
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Re: Birdlip Hill, Mental Block?
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Agreed, simply put the smaller the number of teeth on the front cog and the larger on the back the easier to get up hills. Your triple is perfect so just look at the cassette, I have a triple on my mutent bike with a sram cassette since they had a range of ratios that suited me.
| grantsmith |
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| 27/06/2008 15:51 |
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Re: Birdlip Hill, Mental Block?
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Any recommended cassettes?
P.s. I have say the advice I've received is excellent, never used this forum before, will defiantly be recommending to friends.
Thanks again, you have defiantly restored some of my confidence.
| bfergie |
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| 27/06/2008 16:03 |
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Re: Birdlip Hill, Mental Block?
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Sram pg850 from chainreactioncycles £14.99 (12-26teeth)
or sram pg830 £13.99 (11-28teeth) although an mtb cassette it should work fine. Free delivery from here too. What type of bike is it,it may help be more accurate with suggestions
| grantsmith |
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| 27/06/2008 18:27 |
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Re: Birdlip Hill, Mental Block?
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It's a Specialized Allez Triple 2007...
| bfergie |
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| 27/06/2008 18:48 |
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Re: Birdlip Hill, Mental Block?
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Well as far as I can tell it has a 25 tooth cassette,changing to another will make only slight difference to hill climbing and should certainly be enough to get up 17% so at the moment save your cash and get to that hill again and again 'til you get up! Go for it!
| grantsmith |
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| 27/06/2008 19:12 |
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Re: Birdlip Hill, Mental Block?
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Yeah your right I've been looking around and the difference would be minimal, plus I might add I wasn't in 30/26 (i've search around and think I have SRAM PG-850, 8-speed 12-26t). YAY, I just said a gear ratio and actually understood what it meant!! It was more like 30/22, so I have a little to play with, well 30/24 & 30/26!
I also looked back over some other hilly rides, Eastnor has a 750ft climb within 2 miles, this is approximately the same as Birdlip! So I really do think this was lack of confidence now. Isn't it funny what the mind can do! The more I study all the other routes I do the more I think I should have spun up there relatively pain free.
Anyway, I have to say again this has truly been educational, hopefully my eyes won't glaze over when people speak about gears now!
Thanks again...
| thatwomanagain |
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| 27/06/2008 19:25 |
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Re: Birdlip Hill, Mental Block?
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Quote:
Agreed, simply put the smaller the number of teeth on the front cog and the larger on the back the easier to get up hills.
Bfregie, that's the first time this has ever been explained to me in a way that I can understand! I always thought the numbers were some kind of mysterious mathematical equation, not just the number of teeth on the cog. Thanks for that.
| bfergie |
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| 27/06/2008 19:35 |
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Re: Birdlip Hill, Mental Block?
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Ah the mad mathematical formula as on "this tech stuff" thread just to confuse you again and put gears back into the realms of myth only known to the few selected at birth!
| Sly |
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| 27/06/2008 20:39 |
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Re: Birdlip Hill, Mental Block?
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Quote:
It was more like 30/22, so I have a little to play with, well 30/24 & 30/26!
Get into that 26 and you'll be up there. No worries. I try to stay seated until I hit anything around 20%. At that point I need to rest the muscles and get up out the saddle for a few seconds. I'm not much good at riding standing up, but it gives the muscles a rest and you feel like you've got a new lease of life when you get back on the saddle!
My standing up technique pretty much consists of plodding from one foot to the other with the bike moving a few inches, then stopping, then moving, etc...! Or occasionally pulling up on the pedals again to rest muscles. I'm a rubbish climber, but I always look to ride hilly routes for the personal challenge. Once you conquer that hill you'll look for bigger ones, steeper ones and then you'll have to take up rock climbing!
| hubbub |
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| 28/06/2008 00:16 |
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Re: Birdlip Hill, Mental Block?
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On long drags I spin for a bit, then change up 2 cogs & stand for a while, then knock it back down for another spin. It isn't any faster but it gives the aches a chance to settle in one part of the body while another bit does the suffering!
| bfergie |
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| 28/06/2008 21:55 |
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Re: Birdlip Hill, Mental Block?
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"that's the first time this has ever been explained to me in a way that I can understand! I always thought the numbers were some kind of mysterious mathematical equation, not just the number of teeth on the cog.
Thanks for that." thank you TWA I feel like I got a compliment from forum royalty there!
