Would a Different Bike Help on Hills?

lupiter on 09/03/2017 - 13:25

I currently walk to work, 1.7km which takes 15-20 min. I've tried cycling in the past, with a borrowed bike (mountain bike of some kind). It's fun going home downhill, but going uphill to work is about the same speed as walking. Google maps tells me the problem is a rise of 35m over 800m. Going around the hill doesn't save me any time either.

Also at work to keep a bike safe I have to lift it up a flight of stairs into our office building, which was hard with my borrowed bike as it was quite heavy.

Would a different bike help? Something lighter? Or is it just that I'm unfit and it should be an easy ride? I've watched others cycle up the hill, and (except for the pros) it doesn't look easy for them.

Sports & Outdoors

Comments

  • Nugs on 09/03/2017 - 13:33
    +2

    roller blades

    • lupiter on 10/03/2017 - 08:58

      I know this was probably meant as a joke, but that's not a bad idea… anyone know if it's okay to buy off gumtree?

      • Euphemistic on 10/03/2017 - 10:51
        +2

        I reckon roller blades would suck going up hill, same with scooters

      • DisneyPrincess on 15/03/2017 - 00:24

        Rollerblading uphill is far worse than bike riding up a hill!! On a bike you can at least stop/get off and walk. On rollerblades, you'll actually start rolling backwards if you don't keep pushing through. Also remember there's no brakes on rollerblades…it's terrifying going downhill with no brakes, and it's likely you'll stack it if you go over a stick/rock on rollerblades.

        Reference: I have many, many scars from rollerblading (both physical and emotional) :P

  • Fergy1987 on 09/03/2017 - 13:35

    Road bike or Commuter will definitely be easier to go up hills on because of tyres and different gearing. Those knobbly tyres of a mountain bike would do you no favours

    But I think also a lot of it comes from leg strength - do it a few times and it gets easier each time.

    • airzone on 09/03/2017 - 13:57

      +1 for commuter bike. I ride up a hill like that near home, and it's fine… Although when I'm towing a few kids in a trailer, that's a different story lol

  • Zaenille on 09/03/2017 - 13:37
    +10

    Just ride. You'll get fitter in time.

    Going for a lighter bike would help, but for a 1.7KM ride, I wouldn't bother.

    For reference, I just started biking to work 3 months ago. 8.5KM ride with a 139m rise according to Strava. You'll start slow, you might have to stop and walk for a rest if the hill is too tough. But after a few runs at it, give it a couple of weeks and it will noticably be easier.

    Just ride.

    • RockyRaccoon on 09/03/2017 - 16:32
      +1

      Totally agree. Hills that were dreaded by me originally are now so much easier. My riding buddies also now laugh that we thought these were difficult.

      Stolen from another site

      0%: A flat road
      1-3%: Slightly uphill but not particularly challenging. A bit like riding into the wind.
      4-6%: A manageable gradient that can cause fatigue over long periods.
      7-9%: Starting to become uncomfortable for seasoned riders, and very challenging for new climbers.
      10%-15%: A painful gradient, especially if maintained for any length of time

      Your hill gradient is 4.3%

  • [Deactivated] on 09/03/2017 - 13:46
    +1

    Small micro-scooter sounds ideal.

  • blitz on 09/03/2017 - 14:18

    Well, it's a combination of your overall health, your ability to breathe, and the quality of the bike.

    As others have said, the more you climb the hill, the better your health and breathing will get. But personally I think life is too short to ride a bike you don't enjoy.

  • supnigs super skids on 09/03/2017 - 14:20

    You need to be in gear uphills and no problems. Try those folding bikes theres dome that ate almost camera tripod like

  • Dean29 on 09/03/2017 - 15:03

    Get an electric razor scooter

  • Cheap Charlie on 09/03/2017 - 16:27

    I note from your profile, you are based in Canberra.
    Canberra must be close to the cycling capital of Australia?
    Some very good advice above, I would suggest calling into a few local bike shops and see what they recommend.
    Some shops may even let you borrow a bike which will give you the opportunity to complete the same trip with the variable being a different bike.
    As mentioned your fitness will increase.
    Mountain bikes with nobly tyres are inherently inefficient for riding on the road, thus why the lycra brigade do not get around on them

    • lupiter on 10/03/2017 - 08:56

      Yep Canberra is full of bicycles, I feel left out :D.

  • Euphemistic on 09/03/2017 - 16:48
    +1

    For 1.7km pretty much anything will do. My cycle commute is around 6km. It is fairly flat, but to compare it takes around 2min longer on MTB with knobblies that a road bike with skinny tyres with about the same effort. As your commute is less than 1/3 of that the difference could be 40seconds with a 'faster bike', hardly worth spending money on. You might lose another 10-20seconds if you are riding an old beater, my MTB is decent quality and well tuned (mostly)

    Dragging a heavy bike up stairs isn't much fun, but unless you pay a lot more you aren't likely to shave more than a kg or so. Looking out for a second hand 'bike shop brand' bike is a cheaper way of getting started with cycling than buying a 'kmart brand' bike.

    You might need to improve your cycling fitness a bit though. You probably aren't used to the cycling muscle groups, despite being able to walk the same distance. I dropped a couple of minutes in the first few weeks of commuting after not riding much before hand.

  • aussieprepper on 09/03/2017 - 17:10
    +1

    You can also get slicks for your mountain bike and a new gear set to make it like a road bike. I have a racing bike but i am not a fan of riding it every where. So i put slicks on my mountain bike and pumped the tires to 100PSI i also have cleats on the bike it helps heaps. You need lock out shocks also. The weight different is massive but shouldn't really matter to much you can get super light weight mountain bikes now. The seating position is very different with the two bikes the racing bike will have you leaning over a lot more so they can be uncomfortable. It does create less drag when leaning over.

    Basically a good set up mountain bike should be able to keep up with a racing bike fitness depending.

    You will also run into the issue that slicks on a mountain are fatter then a racing so you will still have more drag and the gearing is a lot different so top speed will be less on a mountain bike unless you get custom gears.

    You are more likely to get a flat tire on a racing bike.

    The distance you are going none of this should really matter but may want to consider this while choosing a bike.

    • Euphemistic on 09/03/2017 - 19:13

      Putting road type gearing on a mountain bike will make it harder to go up hills not easier. I do agree that a mountain bike can be set up for road riding, but unless I had all the parts in my parts bin it would be better to buy a purpose built rig instead, one without shocks for a start.

      As far as keeping up with a roadie, the MTB rider would need to be fitter/stronger rider than the roadie, equal fitness and the MTB won't keep up. Its just not designed for speed like a roadie, the aero position is where the speed is at.

      • blawler05 on 10/03/2017 - 08:10

        I agree with this. On my MTB I have maxed out the speed at 45kmh. My roadie I have ripped out at 65. Same spot. But my mountain bike goes up hills like nothing else.

    • lupiter on 10/03/2017 - 08:49

      Like I said, it's a borrowed bike, so I'm not going to be modifying it. I might buy my own bike, but jees they're a lot more expensive than walking shoes :D

    • 2ndeffort on 17/03/2017 - 15:52

      I used to ride an old MTB with slick tyres and it was better than the offroad tyres. I am now a full patched member of the Lycra MAMIL community riding an insanely expensive carbon fibre road bike. I'm pretty sure there is no MTB, slick tyres or not that i could ride at the same speed as my road bike. Downhills i can clock over 85 km/hr on the roadie, a friend can break the ton (100 km/hr).

      I agree with the others, keep riding and as your legs get stronger you wont even notice that hill. There are hills I now dont notice that I used to struggle getting up.

  • try2bhelpful on 09/03/2017 - 17:50
    +1

    Also, it might be worth tracking down the building manager and seeing if there is somewhere safe you can store your bike so you don't need to carry it upstairs.

    • lupiter on 10/03/2017 - 08:47

      I have, and "there is a bike shed provided" but… I wouldn't trust it with anything nicer than a kmart bike, and certainly not a bike that isn't even mine!

  • [Deactivated] on 09/03/2017 - 19:03

    As above…..put slick road tyres on your MTB,you will need new tubes also as they are alot slimmer. Made a huge difference, go ask at your local bike shop they should have some in stock. If you know what you want, order online (my road tubes are 26 x 1.25)

  • onetwothreefour on 10/03/2017 - 06:27
    -1

    Bikies

    • [Deactivated] on 10/03/2017 - 18:10

      BMX bandits.

  • Seraphin7 on 10/03/2017 - 09:23
    +2

    The bike's not the problem. Need to improve the engine.

  • mingofmongo on 10/03/2017 - 09:40

    Add one of these on to your bike:
    https://www.ebikery.com.au/collections/electric-bike-kits/pr…

    It'll help you get up the hill at greater speed, and over time you can dial back the assistance as your legs get better at dealing with the hill!

    • Euphemistic on 12/03/2017 - 20:18

      For such a short ride it wouldn't be worth the investment, fitness will improve quickly enough to not need it after a while. Adding extra weight to a big that needs to be dragged up stairs isn't ideal either. On the other hand, if it starts saving petrol dollars elsewhere….

  • WT on 10/03/2017 - 13:36

    what is the tyre pressures? Low pressures are harder to pedal

    I would say youre not fit. 1.7klm is nothing

    quickest way to get bike fit, find a hill, at least 100m long. Ride up the hill 8-10 times, resting only on the way back down. As you get fitter you can find longer/steeper hills and vary the reps. shouldnt take you more than 10 mins total for the first few weeks. Do it every day and you will notice it takes longer for your legs to burn. Cant find a hard enough hill close by? Let down your tyres, add a few water bottles to a back pack, do squats before hand

  • wopshop on 10/03/2017 - 16:28

    Keep at it :) Your 35m over 800m is very doable. You'll get used to it.

    No bike cage or underground parking at your office building? I would get annoyed carrying a heavy bike up stairs. If changing to a lighter one is an option, that would help.

  • shaybisc on 10/03/2017 - 19:19

    Obviously the lighter the bike the easier it is pedalling uphill and carrying up stairs but tires and tire pressure make a big difference. I hope you haven't got knobbly, wide MTB tires on- That would be hard work.

    • Euphemistic on 12/03/2017 - 20:26

      MTB are designed to be ridden up pretty steep hills, the gearing sees to that. sure it might be a bit slower, but not at all difficult. Would an extra minute in a 5min ride break the bank?

      Knobbly tyres won't make that much difference for such a short ride. If you are thinking of cycling for recreation as well, you'd be better to get a bike to suit that and riding it to work, downhill MTB included - although you'd need to ensure good security for a good bike.

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