[1SurlyRider]

Any pointers on better climbing skills?
If I wanted to build a bike for only an up hill ride, what should be on it? any special geometry I should look for?

 

[recidivist]

Here's yer new climber's training plan:

ride more.




Alternately, you'll note that the climbing stages of le Tour featured some serious bike porn focusing on light weight over aero advantage. Light weight....

 

[LordOpie]

Any pointers on better climbing skills?

pace yourself if it's a long climb? move the saddle back some... as long as it's still comfortable.

Climbing's easy. It's wind that sux.

If I wanted to build a bike for only an up hill ride, what should be on it? any special geometry I should look for?

One might suggest a light bike with light wheels. Light to me suggests fragile. Probably not, but here's my thinking...

Are you planning on ONLY riding uphill? You'll get a lift down?

I can't think of a single climb here where the road is perfectly smooth. The climbs here reward me with 10-25 miles of fast dh twisty action... with the occassional bumps, sometimes lots of bumps. I'd guess a light set of wheels would be tore da fvck up after a few rides.

My point? While I can't tell you the right bike, I can suggest not going with too fragile if you're gonna ride down too.

 

[DBR X6 RIDER]

Buy Bicycling magazine - it seems they always have a climb harder/faster article

Lighter stuff is highly recommended. If that's beyond your budget, using a chainring setup like 36/50 and 12-25/7 cassette can offset any weight disadvantages.

p.s. - I like climbing, but only because it means I get to descend.

 

[1SurlyRider]

Thanks, I was thinking about triing for the Mt. washington race. which is great since its not only a sick gradient, but its almost always windy and cold towards the top. anyone in the area or willing to take the trip should check it out. again thanks for the advise.

 

[lanman]

I want to try that too, looks really hard. I saw it last year and the top riders were running small rings, no rear brake and the lightest parts. For the Mt. Washington race you could remove the rear brake which would save some weight, but beyond that a lower gear ratio would be the best

 

[LordOpie]

just how steep is Mt.W? This the Mt in new hamshire?

 

[DBR X6 RIDER]

just how steep is Mt.W? This the Mt in new hamshire?

From the coverage I've seen of it, it sure looks like a nut-breaker. Not to mention the climatic changes it's notorious for. I also believe there are portions of that road that still aren't paved...at least as of a year or two ago.
I could be wrong.

If you're doing that, I would DEFINITELY toss a 36t ring on the front. GOOD LUCK!!!

 

[recidivist]

If you're doing that, I would DEFINITELY toss a 36t ring on the front. GOOD LUCK!!!

Make that a 28t, I think.

Here's a little something from the web site

The Mt Washington Auto Road is 7.6 miles in length, has an average grade of 12% with extended sections of 18% and the last 50 yards is an amazing 22%!

And then there's that $300 registration and the lottery to get in...

 

[neurostar]

Sign me up! :-\

 

[splat]

They shortened the race

before it got so popular ( back in the 80's )It used to be Up and Back down!!!


also Take a look at the results for 97 & 99 as to who won it ( course records )

 

[Borregokid]

I ran a couple of hill climb races this year in Washington State. Almost all of my training was on a mountain bike, the hills available around here on a mountain bike are steeper and longer than any road bike hills. On any day I can do 4,000 feet or more of climbing in about 20-23 miles including the down hill. Paved roads usually arent as steep, plus you have to put up with cars. Besides doing a lot of hill climbing you need to get as skinny as possible and of course the lightest bike. They weighed all the riders at one race and at 183 pounds I was maybe the third biggest rider out of 120 total. I finished in the middle of the pack.