Question: I'd love to ride my bike more often but our North Shore hills can be daunting. Do you have any advice on hills (short of moving to Richmond)? Answer: You're worried about cycling on hills? But hills are magical! Just the other day I rode down from Harry Jerome to the SeaBus with barely a pedal stroke. As I coasted down effortlessly, caressed by a gentle breeze and dazzled by the sunshine dancing on the ever-nearing ocean, I thought to myself how simple some of life's greatest pleasures are. How lucky we are to live on the North Shore where there are so many hills capable of bringing endless delight. Perhaps you're thinking nothing comes without a price. The joy of descent is brought about only by the blood, sweat and tears of an uphill climb.
Sure, if that's the price you want to pay. What if you're too lazy though? What if you just want to ride somewhere and not get too fussed? A little bit of exercise is always going to slip in whenever you get on a bike but if you do things right, you may barely notice.
Too often cyclists hurl themselves at a hill with enthusiasm and filled with bravado, but deep down they know the odds of survival are slim. Their first strong and defiant pedal strokes quickly lead to trembling legs and unpleasant panting, followed by the discovery that the air no longer seems to contain enough oxygen to sustain life. This feeling can inspire some people to train harder until they're able to put in maximum effort on seriously long ascents, but developing a deep-seated fear of hills is the far more likely response.
If you fall into the latter category, don't despair. The problem isn't that you're not trying hard enough, it's that you're trying too hard. The first rule of hills is to ride as slowly as possible without actually tipping over. If fast joggers are passing you, your speed is about right. If you're riding a three-wheeler and can't tip, the sky's the limit when it comes to slowness - three-legged blind Chihuahuas, candy wrappers carried on the breeze - let 'em by.
The key to achieving your sloth-like pace is putting your bike in the very lowest gear. Not just a low gear - the lowest. That's what it's there for. Not using it is like not having dessert, in other words, it makes no sense at all. Choosing the lowest gear allows you to follow the next rule, which is to tread lightly on the pedals and think gossamer thoughts. Try spinning those pedals a bit faster rather than pushing on them harder. Yes, that seems nice and easy, doesn't it? Wait, what's happening? Is that your heart beating faster? Why are you suddenly enveloped in a warm glow? Well, you're climbing a hill after all. Some physiological effects are to be expected. With careful technique, these don't ever need to go beyond the level at which you're pleasantly reminded that you're a living, breathing human being.
What if the hill is too long and steep, and you don't have enough gears to avoid extreme effort? All is not lost. There's still one trick up your sleeve: Get off the bike and walk the steep section. You'll get to the top just as surely as if you'd chosen to suffer.
Once you've made it, one way or another, take a moment to enjoy the view from the top. Isn't it lovely? Of course you could have pedalled faster and harder if you wanted to and really showed the threelegged chihuahua who's boss. That's for another day. Today you made it to the top cool and relaxed (mostly) and ready for the ride ahead. Released from the shackles of gravity, you can now speed away like a gazelle, leaving that hill far, far behind you.
P.S. For those days when hills seem particularly long and steep, don't forget you can put your bike on the bus at no extra charge. Or, invest in an electric-assist bike and you'll soon be seeking out hills just for the thrill of breezing up them.
The Pedal Pushers are Dan Campbell, Antje Wahl, Anita Leonhard and Heather Drugge, four North Shore residents who use their bikes for transportation. northshore. [email protected]
