Climbing Speed
#26
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This sort of show a little naïvety on your part about pro cycling and races. They don't try to just get up the hill as fast as they can. They try to get up the hill as fast as they can while considering all the hills yet to come and the distance yet to be traveled and whether they have the energy to sprint at the finish line if that will be required.
Which in fact is much like I do too. And I definitely am not a pro cyclist.
Of course it shouldn't really matter whether a cyclist riding for just recreation rides that way or not. They should ride how they like to ride. But they also shouldn't make disparaging remarks about those of us that do like to push on our rides to see what we are able to do.
Which in fact is much like I do too. And I definitely am not a pro cyclist.
Of course it shouldn't really matter whether a cyclist riding for just recreation rides that way or not. They should ride how they like to ride. But they also shouldn't make disparaging remarks about those of us that do like to push on our rides to see what we are able to do.
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His question piqued my interest, so I looked at some of my climbs on Strava - which lists VAM. So, I answered the OP's question.
Why it matters in this case? The man asked a question for all/any of us to answer.
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I would think climbing “rate” is pretty constant on long climbs outside of the extremes. Too steep or too flat might influence the rate.
Since distance is not a part of the equation, neither is speed (mph/mph), only elevation gain over time. Effort on more grade at lower speeds vs less grade at higher speeds is probably pretty close.
I’d guess a bigger difference is strong days vs weak days.
John
Since distance is not a part of the equation, neither is speed (mph/mph), only elevation gain over time. Effort on more grade at lower speeds vs less grade at higher speeds is probably pretty close.
I’d guess a bigger difference is strong days vs weak days.
John
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Please knock it off.
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Why does someone need to be a pro to want to climb faster? For me, the challenge of climbing at my limits is part of the game of cycling. Improvements in my climbing speed/efficiency are meaningful to me. If you don't care about your climbing speed, that's fine. Do it how you want, but don't tell me how I need to feel about riding the way I want to ride.
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If I had to carry an extra 50 pounds up a hill, I'm sure I wouldn't last long.
Last edited by terrymorse; 04-30-24 at 11:35 AM.
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#35
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Sorry. But on the plus side, you "average size" big dogs have big engines. And you're in good company, with the likes of "Big Mig" Indurain, and "Big Jens" Voigt.
You can destroy little climbers like me on a flat course.
You can destroy little climbers like me on a flat course.
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Unfortunately, even at my best and lightest, my engine wasn't good enough to haul my ass uphill with you little mountain goats. These days, stupid me is now doing gravel racing, which is never flat (in our part of the world).
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Never paid attention during road rides, but when touring with a full load, my climbing rate is definitely within a narrow range unless the grade is supper steep or super easy.
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I'd think Logan Pass in Glacier NP would be even better as an illustration; gotta get up and down before the "no bikes" rule kicks in.
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#41
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OP here. I don't race. I don't even train per se. I just ride a lot of hilly terrain and look at what my bike computer spits out after a ride. After the last couple of long-ish climbs (for me anyway) - a 2000 ft in 10 miles during a 30 mile ride and a 3000 ft climb in 15 during a 50 - I noticed that what I now realize is my VAM was pretty constant despite the fact that the grade varied between 2 and 15% in both climbs. I'm not at all strategic about my energy use. I'm not thinking about my next climb, but only about maintaining a level of effort that can sustain indefinitely (or at least for multiple hours). For me that means a heart rate in zone 3 or 4 and I guess I just unconsciously calibrate my effort to that level regardless of how steep the climb. From the discussion of VAM in this thread and its use as a proxy for power I guess that just means I.m operating at a consistent HRM and power output regardless of terrain. None of this analysis is necessary, but it gives me some insight into my style of riding (and exercise in general). Thanks.
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As George Carlin said, "Anybody who takes cycling less seriously than I do is an idiot, and anybody who takes cycling more seriously than I do is a maniac."
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#44
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For what they're worth, here are some data points from today's ride, on a few short hills (0.2-0.5 miles):
- Grade : VAM : Power
- 4.1% : 3276 ft/hr : 4.5 W/kg
- 6.9% : 3923 ft/hr : 4.4 W/kg
- 5.8% : 2873 ft/hr : 3.4 W/kg
- 4.4% : 2838 ft/hr : 3.4 W/kg
- 4.7% : 4027 ft/hr : 5.8 W/kg
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#45
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For what they're worth, here are some data points from today's ride, on a few short hills (0.2-0.5 miles):
- Grade : VAM : Power
- 4.1% : 3276 ft/hr : 4.5 W/kg
- 6.9% : 3923 ft/hr : 4.4 W/kg
- 5.8% : 2873 ft/hr : 3.4 W/kg
- 4.4% : 2838 ft/hr : 3.4 W/kg
- 4.7% : 4027 ft/hr : 5.8 W/kg
#46
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Heart rate was steady on the lower power segments, as those were steady state efforts. Heart rate increased on the higher power segments, topping out around 160 at the end.
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OP here. I don't race. I don't even train per se. I just ride a lot of hilly terrain and look at what my bike computer spits out after a ride. After the last couple of long-ish climbs (for me anyway) - a 2000 ft in 10 miles during a 30 mile ride and a 3000 ft climb in 15 during a 50 - I noticed that what I now realize is my VAM was pretty constant despite the fact that the grade varied between 2 and 15% in both climbs. I'm not at all strategic about my energy use. I'm not thinking about my next climb, but only about maintaining a level of effort that can sustain indefinitely (or at least for multiple hours). For me that means a heart rate in zone 3 or 4 and I guess I just unconsciously calibrate my effort to that level regardless of how steep the climb. From the discussion of VAM in this thread and its use as a proxy for power I guess that just means I.m operating at a consistent HRM and power output regardless of terrain. None of this analysis is necessary, but it gives me some insight into my style of riding (and exercise in general). Thanks.
Unfortunately the trend on these forums is yokels who insist on offering there judgmental opinions rather than answering the question proposed. I ride to run errands, commute, bike tour, socialize and at times challenge myself and I approach each with different parameters.
#48
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I don't use bike computers, but I try and keep a certain cadence and power level on hills. However this is not always possible on vintage, or single speed bikes. In which case I put out more power to keep my cadence, or if a cramp is coming on I just go until I really have to walk. With wide enough gearing I keep the cadence up and power manageable so I can ride further.
I do my best on shorter climbs to build momentum or stand up them if it's viable.
I do my best on shorter climbs to build momentum or stand up them if it's viable.
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