notguiltyyourhonour
Reged: 27/04/2008
Posts: 297
Loc: Bristol
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On a ride on sunday it was very wet and me, my bike and the roads were soaked. This made riding up hills really difficult because my wheels kept slipping especially whenever i put any power down and riding out of the saddle became just a waste of time. It was a really demoralising feeling to be sliding around up hills that are hard enough at the best of times. Does anyone know what i can do to help this problem? My bike is pretty light and i also think it may have something to do with my tyres - they're fairly worn down schwable ultremos and i'm not sure whether they have much grip.
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bigoldsideofham
Reged: 23/12/2007
Posts: 2288
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Tyres are a good start plus try and ride with a smooth rythm and stay seated planting your weight over the rear tyre.
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wuverley
Reged: 16/05/2008
Posts: 4043
Loc: Man of Kent
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Riding out of the saddle in slippery conditions will not help, sit down and just take it steadier. I'm not sure the tread on tyres makes much difference on the road. The only alternative is to use busier roads that tend to be "cleaner", but there's not much fun in that.
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Invicta
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bfergie
Reged: 19/04/2008
Posts: 3653
Loc: Sticks ,Scotlandshire
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Take 5-10lbs out the tyre pressure!
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I now accept PAYPAL!!!!
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DougMorley
Reged: 15/12/2006
Posts: 324
Loc: BC Canada
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One aspect of climbing on wet roads at this time of year that might play a bigger role is leaves that add to the problem.
I'd have thought that even worn tyres on wet roads going up even honking you would still grip pretty good, but ride over wet leaves and your back wheel will start slipping right away.
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Sly
Reged: 07/02/2008
Posts: 732
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It's just a pitfall of this time of year. Damp roads, leaves, etc... Some small lanes dont see much daylight and remain slippery all day long. You just have to sit as upright as the hill lets you, keeping that weight towards the back, and maybe zig zag a bit more than usual. You will probably still reach a point at which you simply cannot move without the tyres spinning. That's the time to admit defeat to mother nature.
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hubbub
Reged: 22/10/2007
Posts: 813
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I'm with the Ferg. Slightly wider tyres at a lower pressure from now until the end of the salting season next spring.
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Smokin_Joe
Reged: 09/06/2006
Posts: 2143
Loc: Fishguard
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Lower gears.
Pro teams often take triple chainsets to the Giro in case the roads are wet on the 25% gradients they have to climb on some mountain stages.
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Nobody ever got laid because they rode Shimano.
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tvrbird
Reged: 21/06/2008
Posts: 1135
Loc: slumped over the keyboard
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Yup, I'd agree, lower gears. During the icy bit last winter I had a very interesting conversation with a guy in my club about it: how in cars on slippery surfaces it's best to use a higher gear, issues of torque, power transfer, traction etc, but how on a bike it's best to use a low gear, to put as little power through the back wheel as possible. He's now an engineer with Koenigsegg http://www.koenigsegg.com/cars_1_2.html
so probably knew what he was talking about...
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What doesn't kill us makes us stronger - Friedrich Nietzsche (German Hill Climb Champion and sub-19 man)
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MagnersCattlegridCon
Reged: 25/04/2008
Posts: 648
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Quote:
He's now an engineer with Koenigsegg http://www.koenigsegg.com/cars_1_2.html
so probably knew what he was talking about...
you'd have been better off asking The Stig then 
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Only a true cyclist knows the taste of tarmac.
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andrewj100
Reged: 08/08/2007
Posts: 526
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tvrbird -yep, the reason for a high gear in a car is it smooths the power delivery, a large change in throttle position produces less of a difference in power and also less engine breaking off throttle compared to reving the nuts of an engine. You learn this very quickly if you ride a motorbike in the rain.
A high cadence low power pedal motion also gives a nice smooth power delivery to the rear wheel which aids traction where as pushing a big gear leave you with a big lump of torque breaking traction while the pedals are horizontal and nothing when they are vertical.
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bfergie
Reged: 19/04/2008
Posts: 3653
Loc: Sticks ,Scotlandshire
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Quote:
Quote:
He's now an engineer with Koenigsegg http://www.koenigsegg.com/cars_1_2.html
so probably knew what he was talking about...
you'd have been better off asking The Stig then
She did!!!! 
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I now accept PAYPAL!!!!
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wuverley
Reged: 16/05/2008
Posts: 4043
Loc: Man of Kent
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You use a high gear on a car in the snow to allow wheelspin, not to stop it, when grip returns the wheels slowly become effective, allowing more control. Turning into a skid is the same principle, this works on tractors also.
Wheelspin on a bike is not what you want, the principle is different. But use lower gears nonetheless, take it more steadily.
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Invicta
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wuverley
Reged: 16/05/2008
Posts: 4043
Loc: Man of Kent
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I realise now, that's what tvrbird said.
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Invicta
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tvrbird
Reged: 21/06/2008
Posts: 1135
Loc: slumped over the keyboard
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As my name would indicate, I have some experience in this field....
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What doesn't kill us makes us stronger - Friedrich Nietzsche (German Hill Climb Champion and sub-19 man)
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bfergie
Reged: 19/04/2008
Posts: 3653
Loc: Sticks ,Scotlandshire
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Quote:
As my name would indicate, I have some experience in this field....
My mistake...she IS the Stig!!!
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I now accept PAYPAL!!!!
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MagnersCattlegridCon
Reged: 25/04/2008
Posts: 648
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Quote:
Quote:
As my name would indicate, I have some experience in this field....
My mistake...she IS the Stig!!!
she must be a good swimmer too!! to escape from a jaguar in the middle of the ocean! 
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Only a true cyclist knows the taste of tarmac.
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tonybv9
Reged: 08/10/2007
Posts: 751
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If your bak wheel is slipping when out of the saddle, you can try shifting your weight back a little bit. Works for me, on and off road.
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Walk a mile in my shoes...and you will wear the bloody cleats out.
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bfergie
Reged: 19/04/2008
Posts: 3653
Loc: Sticks ,Scotlandshire
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Ah good point tonybv9, go off roading, steep hills take a bit of skill to get up when there is no grip and if you put too much weight over the saddle the front wheel lifts...tricky!!!
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I now accept PAYPAL!!!!
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wuverley
Reged: 16/05/2008
Posts: 4043
Loc: Man of Kent
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What is "off roading"? 
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Invicta
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