Up Hill on Tri Bike

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2007-05-13 8:08 PM

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Subject: Up Hill on Tri Bike
Ok, first off, I know I need to ride with others, but since at the time I don't, most of what I learn is through what I read and trial and error. So here is question #1. When going up hill on a slightly steep hill, is it best to stay in the aero bar position or grab the bull horns and work my way up (I do know to stay in my saddle though). When going up a hill, I lower my gears and try to stay in cadence, but I never know to stay in my aero bars or learn up a bit and grab the bull horns. I am asking this because I lost a lot of time in my first race this weekend. I was really happy on the flats, but the hills killed me.

2007-05-13 9:23 PM
in reply to: #798989

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Master
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Subject: RE: Up Hill on Tri Bike
Hard to know what you mean by "slightly steep hill".

For me, it's about whether aero is still buying me any "aero advantage". If the hill is steep enough so my speed drops to < 13 mph, then I'm definitely sitting up on the bullhorns. If my speed is still >=17 mph, then I'll almost always stay aero. In between, well, I do what strikes me at the time.

In practice, that means for a slight hill, I just drop a gear or two to maintain cadence, stay aero, and over it I go.

For real hills on training rides, where I have to go to the small chain ring and one of the lowest three gears, I'll consider standing. It's a great leg workout.
2007-05-13 10:30 PM
in reply to: #798989

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Subject: RE: Up Hill on Tri Bike
Thanks....I have been wondering the same thing myself and that answer makes sense.  I have heard different answers to that question every time I have asked it, but like this answer the best
2007-05-13 11:52 PM
in reply to: #798989

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Orange County
Subject: RE: Up Hill on Tri Bike
I thought the bullhorns provided good leverage for hill climbing?

Stand-and-mash for when the low gear is too high for seated spinning for me. Otherwise, I downshift until I can keep the magic "100 rpm" cadence going up hill. I'm more of a spinner than a masher.
2007-05-14 5:01 AM
in reply to: #798989

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Subject: RE: Up Hill on Tri Bike
And I have another question to add to this thread..

Where I live, it's pretty hilly. I can't really go out anywhere locally for a really flat ride (although there are a few flat stretches where I can work on speed over flat terrain). My road bike is a triple, and on it, I can usually spin up most hills in my neck of the woods. With the gearing on the tri bike, however, I am often not able to spin up hills, and end up having to power/"mash" my way to the top. Any advice on how to tackle hills when I don't have enough gears to truly spin my way up? Or should I find some hills that I CAN spin up (or almost spin up) and do hill repeats on those to build strength? (Most of my races, btw, are on relatively flat courses - I can move pretty fast on the flats - but those hills give me a bit of trouble.)
2007-05-14 5:28 AM
in reply to: #799190

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Subject: RE: Up Hill on Tri Bike

jsnowash - 2007-05-14 5:01 AM And I have another question to add to this thread.. Where I live, it's pretty hilly. I can't really go out anywhere locally for a really flat ride (although there are a few flat stretches where I can work on speed over flat terrain). My road bike is a triple, and on it, I can usually spin up most hills in my neck of the woods. With the gearing on the tri bike, however, I am often not able to spin up hills, and end up having to power/"mash" my way to the top. Any advice on how to tackle hills when I don't have enough gears to truly spin my way up? Or should I find some hills that I CAN spin up (or almost spin up) and do hill repeats on those to build strength? (Most of my races, btw, are on relatively flat courses - I can move pretty fast on the flats - but those hills give me a bit of trouble.)

What is the current gearing that you have on your tri bike?

If that gearing is not appropriate given your fitness level and the terrain you ride, look into changing the gearing. Could be as simple as a cassette change (going from an 11-23 to a 12-27) or a little more involved as going to a compact crank, which would approximate your triple, at least on the lower end of the gear range.

2007-05-14 6:31 AM
in reply to: #798989

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Subject: RE: Up Hill on Tri Bike
I think there's a 12-25 cassette on there now... would 12-27 make any difference? What would be involved in switching to a compact crank? I think I've about expended my budget for bike/tri gear for a while... I could probably spring for a new cassette, but not sure about a new crank...

2007-05-14 6:38 AM
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2007-05-14 7:02 AM
in reply to: #798989

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Austin Texas
Subject: RE: Up Hill on Tri Bike
thanks all, I am going to try the 12 mph rule. I've been as slow as 8 mph in my aero posture. It feels odd to say the least.
2007-05-14 9:45 AM
in reply to: #798989

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Subject: RE: Up Hill on Tri Bike
Yeah, Aero positions generally don't offer much aerodynamic benefit unless you're up at speed.
2007-05-14 9:50 AM
in reply to: #799210

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Subject: RE: Up Hill on Tri Bike

jsnowash - 2007-05-14 6:31 AM I think there's a 12-25 cassette on there now... would 12-27 make any difference? What would be involved in switching to a compact crank? I think I've about expended my budget for bike/tri gear for a while... I could probably spring for a new cassette, but not sure about a new crank...

Don't think going to a 25 is going to make that big of a difference.

I'm seeing compact cranks on performance starting at $150.

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=20106&item=50-2941&slitrk=search&slisearch=true

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=21957

10% off with coupon code in this thread:

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=75732&posts=1&start=1

2007-05-14 10:01 AM
in reply to: #799236

Lethbridge, Alberta
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Subject: RE: Up Hill on Tri Bike
anth0424 - 2007-05-14 6:02 AM

thanks all, I am going to try the 12 mph rule. I've been as slow as 8 mph in my aero posture. It feels odd to say the least.


One point to note here: Aerodynamics affect the drag you get from air speed, not ground speed. If you are going uphill at 10 mph into a 20 mph headwind, stay aero. Conversely, if you are going uphill at 15 mph with a 20 mph tailwind, feel free to sit up if you like.
2007-05-14 10:26 AM
in reply to: #798989

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Subject: RE: Up Hill on Tri Bike

Climbing up a hill gives me a chance to get out of the aero position and stretch, so if the wind is at my back, I'm more inclined to come up.  If I'm still face-into the wind, it'll depend on how I'm feeling, but I'll usually try to stay aero until I really need the extra leverage. 

This time of year, I'll come out of aero more than I will later in the season. 

2007-05-14 10:41 AM
in reply to: #798989

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Subject: RE: Up Hill on Tri Bike
An article from SlowTwitch that discusses this - good overall article and the climbing with a tri-bike portition is about 2/3's of the way through the article.

http://www.slowtwitch.com/mainheadings/coachcorn/ascending.html

Shane
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