Speed versus gradual rise?

[King]

Typical noob question I am sure.

Where I am trikking, I will encounter a couple of really, (in my opinion) gradual rises or hills. If I have sufficient speed going into that rise, should it seem like a hill where I need to use hill climbing technique or will the momentum carry me thru the 20-40 ft rise. I am talking about a 1-2.5 degree incline. Versus videos I have seen, the effort still seems like alot. Not looking for an easy out here, just feedback.

Thanks

[Ladyhawke]

Yes and yes…at least in the beginning.. and it will depend on the hill/incline…you will exert more engery in the beginning and may need to resort to hill climbing technique (muscling it up) until you build endurance or more muscle?? Once you have the endurance, you will exert less engery to go up that same hill/incline….build more muscles you will use less engery, at least that is from my personal experiences…(some ask why Trikke that hill when its faster to walk up it)…because its there and I can…but the ride back down is worth the effort… hope this helps (the more you ride the better you will feel, the better you feel the longer you will ride, the longer you ride the farther/faster you will go) this all equals endurance…and FUN!!!

Lisa

[DocWatson]

Here in New England, everything there is no flat roads. The gradual hills, once you have enough practice will be done with "normal" riding techniques. I will be riding along and think that the trikke feels sluggish. Maybe my tire pressure is low? (I don't always top off my tires before rides) Maybe I have the steering column rotated 360 degrees and have the brake cables wrapped around the column and slowing me down? (happens too often) and then I look behind myself and realize that I've been climbing a small grade for a while and didn't realize it.

- Clyde

[DocWatson]

…(some ask why Trikke that hill when its faster to walk up it)…because its there and I can…

I've had the same question. I usually answer that it's the challenge. The fact that I'm able to conquer it. The way the roads are in my neighborhood, often I'll climb a hill but I don't turn around and ride back down it. I will ride one set of roads to a destination and then another set back home.

- Clyde

[Byron]

If you have the luxury of a nice stretch of flat ground followed by a short hill of only a few degrees you should be able to be able to use your momentum to get over it as I'm sure you've seen discussed in the hill climbing videos. However; when you are first getting started, you will quickly learn to notice, respect & avoid inclines that you never even noticed before you got a Trikke. You will be shocked at how quickly even a few degrees of incline will suck the momentum out of your ride. Don't give up. Get a lesson or ride with someone else. You'll quickly learn to ride up those little inclines and move on to bigger & badder ones!
--Byron

[King]

Yes and yes…at least in the beginning.. and it will depend on the hill/incline…you will exert more engery in the beginning and may need to resort to hill climbing technique (muscling it up) until you build endurance or more muscle?? Once you have the endurance, you will exert less engery to go up that same hill/incline….build more muscles you will use less engery, at least that is from my personal experiences…(some ask why Trikke that hill when its faster to walk up it)…because its there and I can…but the ride back down is worth the effort… hope this helps (the more you ride the better you will feel, the better you feel the longer you will ride, the longer you ride the farther/faster you will go) this all equals endurance…and FUN!!!

Lisa

Thanks Lisa!

I thought I was on the right track, none the less, nice to get the affirmation from a long time Trikker

Mikke

[King]

Again, you've capsulized exactly what I was thinking earlier today. Even more encouraging to hear it from a newer rider like me.

Thanks

Mikke

[MichiganTrykker]

(some ask why Trikke that hill when its faster to walk up it)…because its there and I can…but the ride back down is worth the effort…

I've had the same question. I usually answer that it's the challenge. The fact that I'm able to conquer it. The way the roads are in my neighborhood, often I'll climb a hill but I don't turn around and ride back down it. I will ride one set of roads to a destination and then another set back home.

- Clyde

I have been asked that question too. Often I say something about it being for the same reason as there are still mountain climbers, even though taking a helicopter to the summit would be faster and easier... So yes, the challenge, plus, how would I get any better at hill climbing if I decided to walk any time my speed up hill became slower than it would be to just walk it...

Keep at the Hills Mikke.. They will get easier, as Lisa indicated.

Bruce

[Ken]

After several years of riding the ten mile-or-so distances I generally do, I have to say that I look forward to climbing hills. It's not that they are a challenge per se (although there are some that are simply insurmountable); they're just more of a challenge, workout and reward somehow -- much more interesting than cruising flat terrain or coasting downhill. I know that when I'm breathing hard I'm really meeting my aerobic goals.

[MiniMan]

It's amazing, I used to dread hills, now I hunt them down. It takes months to get good at climbing hills, but I now love them, the reward is coming back down them! Yes you could walk up them, but it's the challenge. I don't care if I'm slower than anything else, it's the pride in doing it. Over time, you get better at it. And if your crazy, you can attempt my http://trikketalk.com/canada-trikker...challenge.html Hillclimb. It's a blast for all.