you know it's steep when...

[david]

your front wheel lifts off the ground.

[thinpin]

Load the front one and the back one slips!

[brians647]

Load the front one and the back one slips!

Damn. Yeah, it's a not win/tough situation. I do that a lot on steep climbs because I have to run a lot of set-back and at a certain point my weight goes behind/near the rear axle. Not fun.

I am NOT, however, comparing that to what those guys had to do!

[Erik.Lazdins]

It's good to see pros lift the front like I do on my occasional 20%-er! I am bummed that the Giro isn't getting the daily Versus coverage it got back in 2002!
These stages are terrific for the race in my opinion

:beer:

[Ti Designs]

That's the problem with light bikes...

[RocketDog]

Load the front one and the back one slips!

Which happened pretty dramatically to Ricco. I suspect this picture was taken after he had spun out. Prior to that he was climbing the steep stuff mostly out of the saddle.

[thinpin]

Knobbly rear!

[WadePatton]

no point in having the front down if steering/brakes aren't necessary. :bike: i've been floating the front a lot recently-albeit off road.

[kgreene10]

That's the problem with light bikes...

Or with light people.

[flickwet]

cheongasms? I've not seen one or felt one maybe thats what its called when you pop a wheelie on a steep climb. Ricco had quite a cheongasm on that last climb will the other riders cheongasm also? cheongasmazing! many riders experiencing cheongasms simultaneously

[paczki]

cheongasms? I've not seen one or felt one maybe thats what its called when you pop a wheelie on a steep climb. Ricco had quite a cheongasm on that last climb will the other riders cheongasm also? cheongasmazing! many riders experiencing cheongasms simultaneously

My subjective steepness test:

1. Steep -- Extreme burning in lungs and fear that I can't clip out.

2. Super steep -- + drooling and contraction of field of vision to a small point.

3. Super super steep -- + numbness on the bottom of the jaw from clenching and/or heart failure.

4. Super super super steep -- + puking.

5. Super super super super steep -- + Can't remember what happened.

[musgravecycles]

Steep...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2365/2531142431_5eaca474db.jpg?v=0

[Tobias]

One of the easiest and few things we can control is avoiding application of pedaling forces on an intermittent basis, which causes cyclical acceleration during each pedal stroke. That of course promotes wheelies and loss of traction.

This is another advantage for low gearing which makes it easier to pedal smoothly (i.e. -- closer to continuously). Tall gearing makes a rider surge more to get through the dead spots.

Is it a coincidence that the rider has the crank arms almost horizontal? :rolleyes:

[Ginger]

Is it a coincidence that the rider has the crank arms almost horizontal? :rolleyes:

Photographer has a better chance of selling the photo to the manufacturer if the logo is in plain view

but that's just my take on it.

[Tobias]

Photographer has a better chance of selling the photo to the manufacturer if the logo is in plain view

but that's just my take on it.You may be right on that Ginger, but I'd bet he wouldn't be starting a wheelie when the crank arms are vertical.

[Kevan]

your bike somersaults.

[david]

where is that? georgia?

i need to know so i never go there.

Steep...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2365/2531142431_5eaca474db.jpg?v=0

[jeffg]

where is that? georgia?

i need to know so i never go there.

Plan de Corones --

Just ski or hike, don't cycle there and you will be fine. The Dolomites are gorgeous!

[RocketDog]

Steep...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2365/2531142431_5eaca474db.jpg?v=0

Inside line on a switchback. :eek: Sella is one heck of climber.

[trophyoftexas]

....Ginger! Like Steve Martin said..."oh, it's a PROFIT game!" Sooner or later you've got to make some money to pay for all the fun you're having shooting neat stuff! Kids often ask me if I actually get PAID for taking pictures! Works work....no matter how much fun it is! Photographer has a better chance of selling the photo to the manufacturer if the logo is in plain view

but that's just my take on it.

[Ahneida Ride]

With a 22-29 .... I get get up almost anything ...

BUT with one problem ....

At 18 Degrees and over, my front wheel has a bad habit of
lifting .... Gotta to me real careful .... Honest....
I'ts spooky ....

There is a turn just like that on the Okemo mountain access road
in Okemo Vt. ;)