HI all
Yesterday, I did a nice mountain climb with SIlvio at Mt Wachusett in Central Massachusetts. (42 deg, 29' 20" N, 71 53' 10" W for Google Earth Fans). The first climb is a mile long at grades from 8% to 14%. I just put it in the lowest gear (34t rear) and kept a nice steady pace. It is possible to find the pace even at that incline that does not allow exhaustion to set in... it's a slow grind but steady. This climb gets you to the main gate... the rest of the way up has grades of up to 14% also, but the road wraps around the mountain and has some flat spots. ALlows for recovery. It was a 15 mile ride to mountain before the climbing started, total trip was about 32 miles.
I did have to stop at one spot were the grade was 14%.. heart rate was red lining at around 170 and did not want to get any higher. But the amazing part was being able to start again at this grade! I had it in the lowest gear... and the rest is good aim. As soon as I started pushing with my right leg, I was able to get my left foot in the pedal and locked on the first shot.. it's just luck sometimes.
This was the longest climb yet with the Silvio and it did as good as my regular road bike. Brutal climb but doable!
Harold
Yesterday, I did a nice mountain climb with SIlvio at Mt Wachusett in Central Massachusetts. (42 deg, 29' 20" N, 71 53' 10" W for Google Earth Fans). The first climb is a mile long at grades from 8% to 14%. I just put it in the lowest gear (34t rear) and kept a nice steady pace. It is possible to find the pace even at that incline that does not allow exhaustion to set in... it's a slow grind but steady. This climb gets you to the main gate... the rest of the way up has grades of up to 14% also, but the road wraps around the mountain and has some flat spots. ALlows for recovery. It was a 15 mile ride to mountain before the climbing started, total trip was about 32 miles.
I did have to stop at one spot were the grade was 14%.. heart rate was red lining at around 170 and did not want to get any higher. But the amazing part was being able to start again at this grade! I had it in the lowest gear... and the rest is good aim. As soon as I started pushing with my right leg, I was able to get my left foot in the pedal and locked on the first shot.. it's just luck sometimes.
This was the longest climb yet with the Silvio and it did as good as my regular road bike. Brutal climb but doable!
Harold
