Re: Everesting
Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2014 10:09 pm
I read this yesterday and thought I'd try a sample on one of my local rides...
East side of Winter Hill, it's about a mile up and a bit under 600 ft ascent
it is a bit technical now with ruts to negotiate, loose pebbles in some sections which are difficult to avoid...
I got to the start just before 12pm, and the first ascent was (as usual) hard, including 4 dabs (it used to be dab free but rain and weather make it nearly impossible now), granny ring all the way and lowest gear considering I was going to repeat it a few times...turned round at the top (after about 20 mins,) and down for another go..
Note - no intention of doing an 'Everest' - just to see how a few reps would feel.
2nd ascent seemed easier, only 2 dabs (and one of those could have been avoided), got to the top, and was very hungry so ate what bit of flapjack I had in the bag, and down again...
After 5 ascents I needed food so didn't go down, I went home instead...(then it started pouring down)..
Right ! I can ride all day and not feel my leg muscles... but today I definitely could feel my legs, and I'm tired... total ascent was 2900 feet
So Everesting should be taken with a pinch of salt ! When you can coast uphill without any technical stuff, maybe on smooth gravel or road, even in middle ring, it doesn't compare with eyeballs out stuff, where you go into debt, have to fight your way up, meticulously use any easier ground to get a recovery..
Perhaps we need another category !
To do an Everest on this would need about 48 ascents !
East side of Winter Hill, it's about a mile up and a bit under 600 ft ascent
it is a bit technical now with ruts to negotiate, loose pebbles in some sections which are difficult to avoid...
I got to the start just before 12pm, and the first ascent was (as usual) hard, including 4 dabs (it used to be dab free but rain and weather make it nearly impossible now), granny ring all the way and lowest gear considering I was going to repeat it a few times...turned round at the top (after about 20 mins,) and down for another go..
Note - no intention of doing an 'Everest' - just to see how a few reps would feel.
2nd ascent seemed easier, only 2 dabs (and one of those could have been avoided), got to the top, and was very hungry so ate what bit of flapjack I had in the bag, and down again...
After 5 ascents I needed food so didn't go down, I went home instead...(then it started pouring down)..
Right ! I can ride all day and not feel my leg muscles... but today I definitely could feel my legs, and I'm tired... total ascent was 2900 feet
So Everesting should be taken with a pinch of salt ! When you can coast uphill without any technical stuff, maybe on smooth gravel or road, even in middle ring, it doesn't compare with eyeballs out stuff, where you go into debt, have to fight your way up, meticulously use any easier ground to get a recovery..
Perhaps we need another category !
To do an Everest on this would need about 48 ascents !