T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
---|
2529.1 | | MOVIES::WIDDOWSON | Rainmaker | Thu Apr 15 1993 15:19 | 39 |
2529.2 | MOUNTAINS ARE FUN... | WMOIS::GIROUARD_C | | Thu Apr 15 1993 15:55 | 4 |
| Great advice in .1 - On gearing... You'll always want a lower one no
matter what you have... The rythm is very important.
Chip
|
2529.3 | cramps, stiffness..etc - get out of the saddle | ROCK::TORCHIA | Live in the NOW! | Thu Apr 15 1993 16:19 | 12 |
| sometimes it is good to get out of the saddle for about a minute or so
just to stretch out and get rid of some of that lactic acid build-up
in the legs. On a 23km climb, I would get up a few times depending on
how I feel. If you don't want to blow up, don't try to raise the pace
when you get up and do it when the grade isn't at its steepest points.
.1 I agree, establishing a rhythm is probably the most important
thing. It shouldn't have to be an ongoing conscious effort though.
The only time I realize I have established a rhythm is when I
accidentally break out of it :^)
-steve
|
2529.4 | After this the mtn will be easy :) | SOLVIT::ALLEN_R | Meet the new boss, same as the old boss | Thu Apr 15 1993 18:46 | 5 |
| what i would do:
find a very strong wall, travel at it about 25mph, crash into wall.
do this until it doesn't hurt anymore. :)
|
2529.5 | I can't stop laughing..... | VNABRW::KAMIR | The song remains the same... | Fri Apr 16 1993 07:41 | 29 |
| Thanks for that fast response.....
re .1)
you can be sure that the story will be entered ........
re .4)
only a few questions on this advice....
1) have you tried this method by yourself?
2) how often was it possible to crash into the wall until you
looked for a new bike
3) should I wear a helmet?
4) is it more sufficient to ride out od a plane at an altitude of
10.000 ft?
...I can't stop laughing....great advice... we need more.....
...
best regard
Karl_in_the_mode_of_climbing_high
|
2529.6 | oh, yes he has.... | SOLVIT::MEREDITH | Row harder number 12! | Fri Apr 16 1993 18:20 | 7 |
| I can attest that "Rich" has tried this on himself. The flat forehead
and the slurred speech are the physical clues. A short conversation
gives other "mental" indications of the type of training philosophy that
Rich adhears to. (those Castrol R fumes did a lot of damage too)
;-)
|
2529.7 | Familiarity with your abilities and with the particular climb is the key | WRACK::ZIELONKO | | Fri Apr 16 1993 19:42 | 32 |
| hi rod, great advice.
hi karl,
it would be good for you if you took rod's advice with respect to training on
hills rather than on the flats. this familiarity will allow you to discover what
you can and can't do. trying to practice for climbing on the flats is like
practicing violin to learn to play bass fiddle.
as rod said you should bring a gear that's lower than you'd ever expect to use.
the less experienced you are with climbing or with the particular hill you're
climbing the more important having a "bail out" gear becomes.
do you have any maps like the michelin maps that have markings indicating
gradient? these might be useful because they help you know what you're up
against. i don't know i micheiln makes them for austria. does anyone at the
local bike shop know more about the climb? if they do, try to find out if the
climb is the slow-n-steady type or the flat-then-real-steep-then-flat-then-
real-steep type. i find the latter more difficult and it will require lower
gearing. the peak gradient is another good thing to try to find out.
if you know the peak and avg grade you could search out some local hill that's
not as long but steeper and practice on that one. it's good to know that, no
matter how steep the climb gets, you've done a grade that steep or steeper
before.
good luck.
ps.
you're in the flat lands of austria? isn't that like being in the mountains of
holland? ;^)
|
2529.8 | | JURA::PELAZ::MACFADYEN | It should be illegal | Mon Apr 19 1993 08:28 | 12 |
| Apart from simply having sufficient fitness to do the climb, you must
accustom yourself mentally to the effort of climbing for hours on end (your
climb sounds like a minimum two hours). Even when you're fit it's still
a big effort to keep on going up a hill, especially with questions like
"Why am I doing this?" and "Why don't I just point the bike downhill?"
floating around in your mind.
Find some smaller climbs to practise on. You'll become fit and get to know
how your body reacts. And you might have some great rides too.
Rod
|
2529.9 | | NOVA::FISHER | DEC Rdb/Dinosaur | Mon Apr 19 1993 10:09 | 7 |
| To help with the "mental toughness" angle, some time when there's
a stiff wind, ride into it for 2 or 3 hours. Before you start pick a
definite location as your turn around point and go for it.
There's nothing quite like 12 hours of headwind. :-)
ed
|
2529.10 | Austria is not Australia!!!! | ATZIS3::KAMIR | The song remains the same... | Mon Apr 19 1993 12:06 | 24 |
| re -3 or -2?
Austria is not Autralia!!!!!!!!!!!!
an you are rigth... we dont have the Dutch mountains - we have the ALPS
in Austria....and there are a lot of mountains not only in your
imagination.. they are REALITY!!!!!
...Thank you for the hint "YOU HAVE ALSO TO PREPARE YOUR MIND"
I think that the question of the type "I must be crazy doing this -
lets go downhill" would be an essential part to get rid of
greetings from Karl
PS: Last saturday I rode 5km assending with 5%, uphill was crazy but
dowhill compensated the pain......
One further question: any advice going downhill? e.g. is it better to
brake fulltime or is a hard deceleration in front of a curve better?
Is it possible to "overheat" the rims and the brake?
|
2529.11 | | NOVA::FISHER | DEC Rdb/Dinosaur | Mon Apr 19 1993 12:27 | 13 |
| Yes, it is possible to overheat the rims. I have gotten mine hot
enough to burn the flesh on my hands after descending Mt Greylock
in western Mass. That is something like a 10% grade for a couple of
miles. I wouldn't worry about a 5% grade. I knew some folk who
would dunk their rims in water troughs part way down Mt Washington.
I would brake casually but with a long preparation for curves and
possible hidden problems. In the eastern US, Mountain roads often
have ledges (bare rock) protruding through road surface. Also
a more uniform speed makes it easier for the daredevils behind you to
decide that they must pass you if they want to die. :-)
ed
|
2529.12 | | SOLVIT::ALLEN_R | Meet the new boss, same as the old boss | Mon Apr 19 1993 14:03 | 5 |
| I would use a constant brake pressure. The heat should be the same
either way and if the braking fails I'd rather be going slower than
fast into a corner. Coming down off Pack Manadnock I've had to get
off and walk the steep sections because the brakes just didn't do much
for me.
|
2529.13 | Suicidal descents | MOVIES::WIDDOWSON | Rainmaker | Mon Apr 19 1993 15:31 | 6 |
| There are certain people (who I could name but won't) who descend using
the `belly on the saddle' approach. Check your helmet and life
insurance before trying this, its reserved strictly for lunatics,
although not as daft as a british pro (I cannot remember his name) who,
during descents holds the steering by one hand on the *vertical* part
of the stem.....
|
2529.14 | Things NOT to do | MOVIES::PAXTON | Edinburgh-Leadburn '93 | Mon Apr 19 1993 15:45 | 5 |
| Rims will generally only overheat if you apply the brakes.
Be careful when overtaking cars.
Tri-Bars are particularly effective at descending speeds.
---Alan
|
2529.15 | helps a little | NOVA::FISHER | DEC Rdb/Dinosaur | Mon Apr 19 1993 17:26 | 5 |
| Right, .14 reminded me of this: How to use your brakes less and
to a small degree hold your speed down, become less aero dynamic,
sit up [relatively] straight, stick your elbows outward, etc.
ed
|
2529.16 | | PAKORA::GGOODMAN | | Mon Apr 19 1993 18:51 | 25 |
|
.13 (Rod)
That's Sean Yate's style...
It's important to realise that there is as much skill going down as
there is up. I think the best way is to brake hard for the really tough
corners and leave the brakes alone for the rest. I think most people
underestimate just how fast a bike can corner. They drive cars around
corners and can only do 35mph so they feel that the bike can only do
35mph. By leaning into the corner you can go substantially faster than
that. I've been in RRs where the bunch has passed the lead car on
descents.
By riding like this you save your brakes so that when you do need them
they aren't already a lump of molten rubber. But, it does take time to
build up the confidence to do this, so every time you descend, don't
just use it as a breather after the climb, practice your descending
style.
BTW, if you plan on riding with luggage, practice descending with
luggage. It changes the bikes handling considerably.
Graham.
|
2529.17 | Descending | JURA::PELAZ::MACFADYEN | It should be illegal | Tue Apr 20 1993 20:39 | 17 |
| .15 and .16 are good advice. I'd add that it's important to have confidence
in the bike during a descent.
I don't think constant braking is a good idea. I bet it generates more
heat than less frequent and harder braking. Sit up and let the wind catch
you if you're worried about going too fast. Use the full lane width too,
especially when positioning yourself for bends. Approaching hairpins, take
a second to look all the way round to where you're going to check the
traffic situation and road surface. Be constantly alert for grit and water
on the road; you do not want to be braking while traversing these.
Btw, hand strength is important on a long descent. The first few times I
did descents, my hands were really aching by the bottom from the effort of
using the brakes. Alpine cycling can be tough!
Rod
|
2529.18 | Cycling Weekly articles | PAKORA::GGOODMAN | | Tue Apr 20 1993 22:44 | 10 |
|
I just remembered that the UK joke, Cycling Weekly, covered both
climbing and descending with Robert Millar giving the up-advice and
Sean Yates giving the down-advice. I don't think that I've sent these
issues to Valbonne yet, so if you are interested I could be persuaded
to photocopy them and send them through internal mail to you. Let me
know before Thursday, though, as that's when the next batch is due for
despatch...
Graham.
|
2529.19 | Mail or FAX it...please | VNABRW::KAMIR | The song remains the same... | Wed Apr 21 1993 07:28 | 13 |
| Re .-1
Hi Graham,
I am very interested in these articles.....
My Location is AUI
FAXnumber is 0043/222/86630/2619
Name : Karl Kamir
regards
Karl
|
2529.20 | long,long up, but quickest down | VNABRW::PELZL | | Wed Apr 21 1993 15:23 | 27 |
| hi Karl:
Experiences from the motorbike, and also from bycicle shows that it's a
good way to DON'T brake permanently !
Only use the brakes when you need them and don't "overbrake" (brake
more then you really need)
Also use only one brake for speed control alternating from time to time
then you have the chance if you feel that the brake may fail, that you
can slow done again at least one time with the second one in addition
for a smaller (or longer ) break.
Also I don't think that you will reach that high speed. If you look at
the Pro's, they have about 100km/h with additional speeding using their
legs. Without they reach about 80 with a small seat-position, and
remember: racing-bikes !
So with a normal bike in an up seat-position I think you will not reach
more then 50-55.
And if you have a look to the critical points (curves) when climbing up
(like ski-racers in winter), you get to know where you really will need
the brakes. Also it helps overcoming the mindsetquestion "why I'm doing
this" during climbing, when you look to get to know the way well for
descending.
servus Otto
p.s.: Could it be, that the cares about the brakes only is a pretext of
NOT climbing up, because the mindset isn't implemented well till now?
|
2529.21 | | MOVIES::WIDDOWSON | Rainmaker | Wed Apr 21 1993 15:33 | 3 |
| It couldn't just be that there are people who like to ride with the
brakes dragging a bit `just to make the climb challenging' :-)
|
2529.22 | weave, weave, weave | MUMPS::JOHNSON | | Wed Apr 28 1993 14:58 | 9 |
| The only thing I would add is don't be afraid to weave
if you run out of gears. When I did Mt. Washington I
was the first one to start weaving. I felt bad about
weaving in a race, but I realized that I was keeping
up with alot of the people who were riding a straight
line. Just make sure there are no cars coming if you
have to weave up the hill.
Phil
|
2529.23 | Weitere Infos ... und Gluckwunsch! | NEWPRT::NEWELL_JO | Don't wind your toys too tight | Tue May 25 1993 23:09 | 21 |
2529.24 | Loadsa Pain | MASALA::GGOODMAN | Desperate answer, desperate times | Mon May 31 1993 15:22 | 33 |
2529.25 | "SPEED = OPIUM or any other BRAINKILLER?" | VNABRW::KAMIR | The song remains the same... | Tue Jun 01 1993 11:10 | 16 |
| ....horrible...horrible...horrible....
how it comes that the "SPEED OPIUM" switches off the "RISK PART" of
your brain ????
for myself I can be shure that either pedaling up or down - if it is
too risky for my helth - I would stop and push my bike beside me and
enjoy the wonderful sight around me......
By the way... the pain the biker has is bad but can you imagine the
psychical pain the driver of the car has?
Karl_taking_very_low_risk_for_himself_and_the_others
|