http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: But.....we have hills! en Fri, 19 Jun 2026 11:40:11 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9016#post-92843 Thu, 29 Nov 2012 18:56:17 +0000 crowriver 92843@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hilly Sunday afternoons can be quite pleasant I find. You can see where you're going without needing lights for a start...</p> <p>Frost/ice likely to be an issue on Arthur's Seat in the dark just now? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9016#post-92818 Thu, 29 Nov 2012 15:59:25 +0000 PS 92818@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>That would be most kind, steveo. An hour or so a night on low resistance may well be the best way to start my recovery. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9016#post-92802 Thu, 29 Nov 2012 14:37:29 +0000 steveo 92802@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>You can borrow mine, its been down with my mate all year and I've not missed the spiteful thing one bit. I really need to sell it but I never get round to it. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9016#post-92789 Thu, 29 Nov 2012 13:50:06 +0000 PS 92789@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yeah, come and point and laugh. ;o) If my legs don't give out on that first lap, then my lungs will.</p> <p>I suspect I'll be doing a bit of indoors exercise bike (or turbo trainer) "action" before I'm let loose on the mean streets, but I'm well aware that the indoors stuff is nothing like the real thing.</p> <p>On which subject, anyone got a turbo trainer gathering dust that they don't need for the next few months? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9016#post-92777 Thu, 29 Nov 2012 13:23:40 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 92777@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Can I come along the very first time you go up? I'm sure on one leg you'll still be faster, but I might stand a chance.... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9016#post-92767 Thu, 29 Nov 2012 12:59:46 +0000 PS 92767@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'm going to be spending A LOT of time on Arthur's Seat once I get the all clear to hit the hills again, initially as the most convenient leg-strengthener, then as a gauge for how I'm progressing...</p> <p>So it's likely to be Hilly Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays... for me in 2013. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9016#post-92698 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 23:24:27 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 92698@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Has to be done. I've got to make it along to more than one this time! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9016#post-92690 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 22:00:09 +0000 Uberuce 92690@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hilly Tuesday reboot, anyone? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9016#post-92689 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 21:54:06 +0000 recombodna 92689@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@SRD These crazy dutch football mums get everywhere eh. Lolzz </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9016#post-92681 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 20:52:45 +0000 gembo 92681@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There is. Jersey in Wilmington cow's range that will suit everyone onnthis string. I am changing my order</p> <p>KOM Gembo </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9016#post-92679 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 20:38:12 +0000 SRD 92679@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Actually Mrs Recombodna is not one of the Dutch football moms I was describing. there are at least 2 others. I can't imagine that Mrs Recombodna lets the hills (or anything else) inconvenience her much. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9016#post-92662 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 18:07:15 +0000 crowriver 92662@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@twinspark, yes that's it. If you know the hills in question, maybe you've climbed them once or twice, then you know what to expect and can get to the top without too many problems. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9016#post-92657 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 17:52:43 +0000 twinspark 92657@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It's fear of the unknown isn't it? There's a hill its steep, it must be hard work. Possiby it is so you stop, maybe several times.</p> <p>Do it the next day, I still had to stop but further up, fewer times.</p> <p>After a few times I didn't stop.</p> <p>I remember the first day I managed to cycle up the first bit of Braid Hills Road from Comiston Road without getting off and pushing! - Huge personal victory. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9016#post-92646 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 17:21:22 +0000 Smudge 92646@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I must be the exception that proves somethinorother... I don't enjoy climbing hills (except possibly on a nice light roadbike on a sunny empty road, the rest is jst work), whooshing down the other side at 40+mph however is excellent and justifies the work put in climbing B-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9016#post-92643 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 17:08:51 +0000 Arellcat 92643@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Now I'm thinking that might make a good winter "training" route for my aim to better with hills next year.</em></p> <p>Maybe that's why I don't worry about hills much. I have to ride up Comiston Road/Pentland Terrace every day! It's also easier than it used to be, now that we have a few months of glass smooth tarmac to replace the endless series of bus wheel sized indentations. Now if they'd only do the bit from Morningside clock to Greenbank. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9016#post-92642 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 17:06:44 +0000 chdot 92642@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"There's a reason why Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op started out selling mountain bikes."</p> <p>Not in 1977... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9016#post-92641 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 17:03:57 +0000 recombodna 92641@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>My wife is one of those dutch mums and she is very adept at riding bikes with gears ( she has lived here for 20 years) and has great calf muscles as SRD will no doubt testify..... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9016#post-92639 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:57:58 +0000 crowriver 92639@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Those Dutch mums maybe just aren't used to bikes with gears!</em></p> <p>Exactly. Or maybe just 3 speed hub gears, like in ye olden days of yore.</p> <p>There's a reason why Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op started out selling mountain bikes. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9016#post-92637 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:45:03 +0000 cc 92637@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Those Dutch mums maybe just aren't used to bikes with gears! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9016#post-92623 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:46:07 +0000 PS 92623@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I think I enjoy the climbing more than the descending, TBH (same applies in fell walking, too). Which is not to say that a long, ideally not too steep descent isn't great fun too. Achievement, endorphins and the view are the main rewards.</p> <p>The only thing I don't like in climbing is that point on a particularly steep hill where you start to doubt you're going to make it to the top. Well, that and that point on the steepest bit of the climb when you hear the tell-tale sounds of a internal combustion engine in second gear behind you... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9016#post-92622 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:43:19 +0000 recombodna 92622@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The thing about cycling in holland is, OK you don't have any uphills but you then don't have any downhills and you have a lot of headwind. I must say that cycling around Amsterdam IS a total doddle though. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9016#post-92619 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:39:50 +0000 steveo 92619@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yesterday I had to run a message up to Fairmilehead and i'd brought the single speed, after half an hour of worrying I'd not make it looking at maps for "easier" ways I decided I'd just hit Commiston road and go for it. Made it. Knew I'd had a work out but wasn't as sore as I expected.</p> <p>Now I'm thinking that might make a good winter "training" route for my aim to better with hills next year. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9016#post-92618 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:37:16 +0000 steveo 92618@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Had a similar experience of the Pennines, lots of pain going up then an effective 3 hour freewheel down to Newcastle. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9016#post-92605 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:22:55 +0000 kaputnik 92605@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Bhachgen exactly my experience of Pennines - hated the process of going up, loved the feeling of getting up there, the view, the achievement, freewheeling and (most importantly) getting up faster than my mate (who was much fitter than I, but being a marathon runner wasn't programmed for cycling!) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9016#post-92604 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:21:08 +0000 ARobComp 92604@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>You're absolutely right. </p> <p>CX racing is a clear example for me. It is horrid, beastly and tough, but damn if it's not great fun!</p> <p>My sister says things like "you're mental" but I just enjoy being on my bike! </p> <p>I've done similar 100mile routes in the pennines. If someone suggesting riding 100miles on the flat I'd be worried it'd be pretty boring frankly! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9016#post-92603 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:18:07 +0000 Bhachgen 92603@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Did an overnight trip with some guys from my cycling club a couple of weeks ago, across the Pennines from Chorley to Bingley. Overnight in a Premier Inn (they don't quibble about bikes in rooms), and back by a different route the next day.</p> <p>Lots of climbing. Loved it. Suggestion is that we go somewhere flat next time as "some folk get put off by a hilly route". Have to confess to feeling disappointed at the idea. Despite the fact that I thought I was about to be sick on one of the climbs on the Sunday morning, and only didn't stop and walk for a bit because I'd just overtaken a couple of mountain bikers! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9016#post-92602 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:16:22 +0000 SRD 92602@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Oddly, I was having a discussion at school football practice and somehow cycling came up. there was a chorus from the other Mums that edinburgh's too hilly for cycling. then turned out that 2/3 of them were Ducth! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9016#post-92597 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:11:47 +0000 cc 92597@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hills <em>are</em> fun to go up. (And I'm a pootley commuter.)</p> <p>People who don't cycle don't always get this. I often hear the opinion that Dutch and Danish people cycle purely because it's flat there, and that Scotland is simply too hilly to permit mass cycling. Load of crap of course: gears were invented quite some time ago now and they make hills dead easy. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9016#post-92593 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 14:46:38 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 92593@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>My father-in-law lives at the top of Willowbrae Avenue, and whenever I pop by on bike I've just got to attack Lilyhill.</p> <p>I think the 'fun' theory is pretty much bang on. Okay, so the hill is damned hard on the way up, but there's an alive feeling at the top, even just a sense of accomplishment. Probably the same thing that leads to most Strava segments being uphill, and me wanting to ride the Pyrenees next year.</p> <p>I do find, these days, if I see a particular big or steep or windy hill my immediate thoughts turn to what it's like to ride. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9016#post-92572 Wed, 28 Nov 2012 13:56:32 +0000 crowriver 92572@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yesterday evening, I had to deliver something to a fellow cyclist in Edinburgh. I rang to arrange a time, and mentioned I'd hop on the bike soon.<br /> "Oh, we're at the top of a big hill, could be a problem if you're coming by bike."<br /> "Oh that's okay, I'm not afraid of hills." I replied.<br /> Indeed I did actually enjoy climbing what was a pretty steep incline on the eastern approaches to Arthur's Seat.</p> <p>It strikes me that I would not have thought this way a couple of years ago. I would have probably dreaded a steep hill climb on a utility journey in fact. Now I actually <em>enjoy</em> it. </p> <p>What's going on here? Cycling appears to have changed my outlook, but which bit of cycling? The pootley commuting part? No, probably not. The schlepping kids around the place bit? Maybe, a little (good resistance training). The cycle touring part? Possibly. The audax bit? Aha. Could be...</p> <p>There's an accumulation here, a snowballing of just more and more cycling, which reaches a certain stage and.....you're hooked on just the act of cycling itself. Is that a bit strange? Perhaps. It's also <strong>fun</strong>. </p>