Hills. I hate them. What Would Dirt Do?

[jabberwocky]

Walter Reed is definitely easier than 41st. I’ve done it on the fixie and it wasn’t that difficult.

[consularrider]

@Subby 14371 wrote:

I scooted past the Walter Reed hill on my long run yesterday. Hoe-lee SHEET. I think I had a tiny embolism just looking up that incline.

If heading west, cheat and go up Kenmore from Shirlington Rd instead. It’s the same amount of elevation gain, just over a little more distance. Then you can fly down Walter Reed.

[chris_s]

@Subby 14371 wrote:

I scooted past the Walter Reed hill on my long run yesterday. Hoe-lee SHEET. I think I had a tiny embolism just looking up that incline.

That beast is on my daily commute home – I biked for 6 weeks before I finally made it to the top without getting off and walking. Now I don’t even drop to my smallest chainring.

[JimF22003]

@consularrider 14376 wrote:

If heading west, cheat and go up Kenmore from Shirlington Rd instead. It’s the same amount of elevation gain, just over a little more distance. Then you can fly down Walter Reed.

Good plan, but don’t fly too fast. Somebody got killed doing that not too long ago.

[consularrider]

@JimF22003 14391 wrote:

Good plan, but don’t fly too fast. Somebody got killed doing that not too long ago.

Yep, but he overshot the turn onto the slip road which has now been removed.

[DismalScientist]

@chris_s 14385 wrote:

That beast is on my daily commute home – I biked for 6 weeks before I finally made it to the top without getting off and walking. Now I don’t even drop to my smallest chainring.

Time to deflate the tires a little bit. :rolleyes:

[creadinger]

Near the end of a 60 mile fun ride yesterday I had to contend with 41st Street. The hills of northern Arlington, and Montgomery County were a good warmup (tired me the hell out), but I knew what was coming so I starting chugging away once I got the cross-walk sign. I had to switch to my easiest gear (30×28 I think) earlier than I had hoped but I made it up the kicker and then up to the top of the road ok. I took a quick breather and then decided to try the trail just to see how bad I actually was. I made it about 5 pedal revolutions up to the beginning of the railing before having to bail out or fall over. It seems I have a bit more work to do, but for a brief second or two it seemed entirely possible. I made it farther than I initially imagined so that’s good I guess.

[acc]

Congratulations, that is a sick and twisted hill.

[KLizotte]

@creadinger 15128 wrote:

I took a quick breather and then decided to try the trail just to see how bad I actually was. I made it about 5 pedal revolutions up to the beginning of the railing before having to bail out or fall over. It seems I have a bit more work to do, but for a brief second or two it seemed entirely possible. I made it farther than I initially imagined so that’s good I guess.

It does make you wonder what the planners were thinking when they built that trail. Does anyone but masochistic cyclists actually use it?

[acc]

It pains me to admit it. My God, I’m biting my tongue. I actually enjoyed my commute home today. The hills were not so bad. Perhaps I was lightheaded from skipping lunch. (Note to self: Eating packed lunch for breakfast is a bad idea.) Two residents in a neighborhood I ride through were outside as I rode past and they waved to me as if they knew me. I’ve commuted on this route for two months without seeing anyone. Clearly, they have noticed me. It warmed my ice cold heart.

On the other hand, the delivery dude who made sucking noises and said, “That’s a great a***,” I was not amused.

Thank you to Dirt for quietly encouraging me to ride to work through his daily example. Thank you to Tim Kelley for calmly shaming me into riding to work. Thank you to Liz for setting the bar very high for women who commute. Thank you to Kathy for making me feel bad about not commuting. And I blame Blacknell because I blame him for everything.

I will never sprint up a hill. And that’s ok. But I’ve proven to myself that I can improve. And my God, I had fun today. The best thing I ever did was to begin commuting in the worst weather of the season. It’s all good from here on out.

If I can do it. Anyone can.

Happy Trails,
The Rhinestone Cowgirl

[eminva]

Excellent, Ann!

Don’t look now, but the forecast calls for 55 mph wind gusts this afternoon/evening!

Liz

[consularrider]

@eminva 15168 wrote:

Excellent, Ann!

Don’t look now, but the forecast calls for 55 mph wind gusts this afternoon/evening!

Liz

I hope Ann has an east bound commute this evening. That would give her a chance to sprint up the hills with that tailwind!

For me it will be a headwind all the way home.

[acc]

*Funny* The only way I’m sprinting up a hill is to avoid a brush fire. And in this wind I would probably lose.

[Dirt]

@acc 15222 wrote:

*Funny* The only way I’m sprinting up a hill is to avoid a brush fire. And in this wind I would probably lose.

Mike whistling a happy tune might help motivate you too.

[vvill]

@KLizotte 15148 wrote:

It does make you wonder what the planners were thinking when they built that trail. Does anyone but masochistic cyclists actually use it?

Yeah it really is quite a special hill. I feel grateful for having it around.

I might be riding up it in a couple hours, as I took my hybrid today so I don’t mind C&Oing it to get to Chain Bridge. Depends on the rain though.

[Author]

Posts