[Closed] Do you enjoy the ascent?

Not really, I have been known to enjoy a good climb, bit of tech, just the right side of challenging....

Fire road climbs can **** off.

Alpine road climbs - yes

Switchbacky singletrack climbs - yes

Fireroads - no

Not sure I prefer them to descents though.

I don't mind climbing at all. But don't prefer them. I'll see you at the top though, I'm not the quickest!

At the minute absolutely no, as I'm as unfit as I have been in the last 8 years. I can't say I have ever 'enjoyed' the climbs, but do get a sense of satisfaction if I make it in a one-er!

prefer the climbs to the descents

I don't enjoy the climbing in itself, but I've never liked doing shuttle runs. I enjoy doing a complete lap of a trail with a climb and a descent. Doing half a lap just isn't satisfying.

I'm slow, I bitch and moan and curse on the way up but yea I enjoy climbing. One reason I have zero interest in a e-bike because I like putting the work in myself on the climb.

Enjoy, yes. Prefer, no chance.

Adrenaline over endorphins

Wouldn't say I prefer them, but I do love them! I see them as very much 50% of cycling, especially a techy off road climb, and where the fitness shows (or not!), but all climbs are good for the soul and body!

no

A needed evil to get the descents

but all climbs are good for the soul and body!

and for the views

Sometimes I prefer climbing to descending, other times it's a 50/50 call....

I'm shite pointing downhill usually though!

All depends how fit you feel.

I like climbing, descending and going flat. I don't hate any climb, particularly.

Yes

Yeah, love climbing - particularly techy stuff, but big alpine passes, short hard road climbs, whatever - love flat twisty stuff, love descending too. I live and ride lots in the Peak, and given that most stuff is either up or down, you're always going to spend more time climbing than descending on any sort of circular route, so you may as well love the ups.

I think it's one of those things that it's hard to enjoy if you're not fit though.

Currently mostly riding an e-bike as I recover from long covid and it's just not same, but still great being out. Oh, and managed 1200m of backroad and bridleway ascent in two days last week on the very definitely leg-powered cross bike. That made me very happy 🙂

I don't mind climbs on the gravel bike but don't really like them on the MTB.

for me its part of the ride so yes I enjoy them, I like the exertion the time to enjoy the scenery the satisfaction of being at the top, even a cheeky race with someone quick. I enjoy a climb more than a crazy steep or rocky descent

I enjoy the climbs just as much as the descents.
We're not exactly blessed with the best trails where I live so if I didn't enjoy the climbs I'd be screwed!

I think it’s one of those things that it’s hard to enjoy if you’re not fit though.

Yep. A thumping hangover is pretty much like being massively out of shape. Climbing sucks when your legs feel like jelly and you're on the verge of puking your breakfast.

I do. I feel odd-one-out because all mates mostly hate it.

Prefer road/fire-road climbs tho.

Source: A lifetime of living in the West of England and riding from the door + suspected masochism combined with mild hillbagging fetish.

Favourite climbing kit:

- 531 touring bike, triple, rando/drop-bar, on the hoods or shoulder.

- 29er, double, flat-bar on Ergon GP3 bar-end grips

Favourite masochism combo:

- Singlespeed 26er
- Risers, no bar-ends
- Fat, unfit, athletic pubalgia

Too heavy* to enjoy climbing

The only mtb climb I've "enjoyed" was at Glycorrwyg - White's maybe ?

*It's all relative - I'm only 80ish kilos but the lads I ride with have either more power or less weight, often both
Off to the lakes for a few days soon and have rented ebikes for wife & daughter. I've a feeling I won't like those climbs either 😅

Alpine road climbs – yes

Switchbacky singletrack climbs – yes

Fireroads – no

+1. Fireroad climbs are effectively a rough road, climbed on a heavy bike. Purgatory.

Absolutely. This morning I've been out on my "new" Gen 1 Flaremax. Really buzzing about the climb I cleaned for the first time ever. Any idiot can roll down a hill... 😜

Yep, enjoy the climbs. Road or fire road are all good with me. Steep descents are worst for me as I run a low geared fixed gear (good for climbing!) but hard work to spin at 200rpm for too long going downhill.

Right now, no. I'm a fat unfit mess so anything approaching even slightly uphill can eff right off.

Previously though yes I'd quite enjoy clearing a techy climb without a dab or having to stop. As with most people though fire roads can GTFO.

I live and ride lots in the Peak, and given that most stuff is either up or down, you’re always going to spend more time climbing than descending on any sort of circular route, so you may as well love the ups.

Aye, on my first couple of road rides after moving here I decided I only needed two gears - big/little and little/big...

Love the climbs, I'll even cherry pick times to go out and make some of squamish's best descending trails into my new fave climb. Getting harder now to not be a trail conflict though with how much more trail traffic there is.

Prefer? Some days I'll go over the top having completely wrecked myself on the up to merely hang on for dear life to survive the descent.

The whole ride is the ride, and the whole ride is to be enjoyed.
It's not a series of descents linked by necessary evils.

Get to admire more of the surroundings on the way up than down too.

no

A needed evil to get the descents

Same, I could climb faster than I generally do, but then I'd get all sweaty and tired doing something I don't enjoy.

The only concession I'll make is until someone builds a chairlift that gains 500-1000m locally to me, most of the places I ride would get very boring, very quickly without the climbs.

Enjoy, yes. More than the descent, not a chance!

you’re always going to spend more time climbing than descending on any sort of circular route, so you may as well love the ups.

This is my perspective.
I spend longer climbing than descending so if I didn't enjoy the climb why would I ride?

As a card carrying RUCKUS member I'll take a techy climb over a techy descent any day.

It’s not a series of descents linked by necessary evils.

That's exactly what it is.

I'm pretty fit so climbing doesn't bother me, but give me a choice & I wouldn't bother with it at all.

I don't mind a good climb. I'm shit at riding bikes up hill, but they can still be great. Especially if theres a good view!

Since I'm shit at descending (even roads) I'd say most definitely!

Riding a bike up hill is pretty much my happy place. Even on a never ending fire road, just getting into the rhythm and emptying the mind is just perfection for me.

god no.

Yes! Road cross or MTB love it.

I sort of do.

I definately didn't used to enjoy winching my way up a climb, part of that was lack of fitness thing, part poor technique and gear choices, not that I'm an Adonis with flawless technique now, but I'm capable enough that I'm not intimidated by long, hard climbs, and I do feel a bit of a sense of achievement when I get up something tougher...
I do choose routes now and then that I know will test my fitness with some extra climbing.

Plus descents are sort of a reward for dragging your arse up a hill, assuming you can keep some energy for the way down. This is part of why I feel like E-bikes would ruin a ride for me in some ways, the knowledge that I didn't "earn my turns"... I still prefer coming down the other side, and I oddly sort of exempt up-lift days from that sort of stoical philosophy, paying to be driven/carried up a hill for a day is somehow OK in my head.

The thing I did slowly learn that also helps me is that I just can't go racing other people up climbs, you have to do it at a speed/tempo/gearing that suits you personally, try to keep up with someone who's going faster than you are comfortable with that day and you'll be bolloxed much sooner than you want. Find your natural climbing rhythm/comfort zone and go from there.

As often as not, someone who is actively trying to tear your legs off on climbs will eventually blow, that may be before the end of a ride, the limiting factor is recovery and that differs for everyone on a daily basis.

I suppose it's a bit like TTers in some ways, As an aspect of any flavour of cycling pedalling up or along in an efficient manner can be a satisfying experience, tweaking your technique learning to move as fast as possible and conserve energy, but it's not all that "social" and not everyone's button is flicked by precisely the same things of course...

As long as it involves me throwing stupid shapes on a bike it doesn't seem to bother me if I'm heading up or down.

Interminable plain tracks with nothing going on are purgatory, but sometimes necessary to save energy for the interesting bits.

I'm crap at descending and prefer climbing (though I only prefer it when I've got to the top).

I like both but they’re very different - descents appeal to the part of me that likes to drive cars fast whilst climbs appeal to the part of me that used to enjoy cross country running. There’s also that physical aspect in short climbs or descents with pedally moments where you sprint as hard as you can, like pushing yourself in the gym.

I’ve just started using an app that lets me see my power output when pedalling my Levo and that’s a new challenge for the commute, to see what peak and average wattage figures I can achieve (yes, despite there being a motor adding further power).

I wish we had more technical climbs around here, one of my favourite things on away trips is getting over more difficult uphill bits (I think I’m too conditioned to hardtails on them because I always stand up to let the bike move instead of trusting the rear suspension to do magical things!)

At ~10Kg heavier than I was this time four years ago and not as fit I was before Covid in early 2020, I'm not going to challenge my better times, but I love beasting myself up inclines. Downhill I'm very cautious, but then I've already attempted to turn my upper jaw into a jigsaw ~7.5 years ago.

I ride with a younger rider than me, he tends to ride his 100mm XC flying machine pretty much everywhere we ride. I don’t enjoy long climbs when trying to keep up with him.
Solo or social rides I really enjoy. The first climb in Llandegla for example, nice and easy and we get to have a chat on the ride up.

You know, I think I might. Definitely better at climbing.

Yes I do as I can’t daydream on the descents

I like the challenge, preferably if there's some tech to take your mind off the gradient too. Nice sense of achievement if you clean a big 'un without dabs or stopping/pushing.. Road climbs bore me to tears though TBH

Yes, I enjoy a nice tame descent too but mostly it’s the climbs that I ride for. I guess I’m just an off road roadie really. A climb is a test of fitness, commitment and if it’s techy of skill too. Most descents are just a test of nerve and if you aren’t careful can soon become a dick measuring contest. Getting to the top of a climb gives me a sense of achievement (and a good view). Getting to the bottom of a descent usually just gives me a sense of relief.

Yes as none of them are long ascents on my local rides!

Prefer climbing.
It's like a game that you have to figure out.
And when you finally clear a tough climb it feels ace.
I've never had much of a buzz from going fast.

I like almost all descents, except fire road/tarmac ones which are the devils work. But there's not many ascents I like.

But when you find on, ah, they can be fantastic.

Depends on what bike I'm on.
Prefer the climbs on my rigid bike.
Like both climbs and decents on the full sus. Hate the climbs on my HT with flat pedals.

Certainly do, find it easier to keep up or overtake on climbs than on descents.

like a climb, love a descent, have to go up to come down.

I would take a good climb over a descent. I kind of lost my downhill mojo yrs ago and actually don’t enjoy them much now. As overweight and slow as I am I enjoy the feeling of suffering up a climb and satisfaction of clearing it.

I'm much better at climbing than descending and as I enjoy it most when I'm good at something then yes, I do prefer the climbs to descents at the moment.

In normal times I'm happy with it all, depending upon what bike I'm riding, but after doing the same loops for months on end where the climbs were a test and the descents easy (and slow due to crowds...) I'm happy clearing techy climbs. Does help that my fitness and power took a big leap thanks the Zwift and the STW Races, despite me piling on the pounds. I may be a little slower uphill right now but I have much better stamina on long efforts and all day. Conversely lack of uplift days, gym sessions and work mean my upper body strength is non-existent and I tire on descents quickly!

Only since getting an ebike. Now every part of the ride time is fun rather than a small percentage of it, which is the whole reason i mountain bike, for enjoyment.

As a Catholic atheist it's hardwired in me to enjoy a bit of suffering.

Plus, I live in Burnley. There's a rumour that a small piece of flat trail exists around here, but no one has ever found it yet.

Like HobNob said, it’s all about the descents.

The only time I enjoy the climbs even a little bit is when I’m on my ebike riding right behind analogue riders before elbowing them out of the way when I pass. Llandegla is great for that.

The only time I enjoy the climbs even a little bit is when I’m on my ebike riding right behind analogue riders before elbowing them out of the way when I pass. Llandegla is great for that.

Pah. Was it you that sped past me the other day at deggers? I'd managed to clean the whole of the 3 mile climb up until that top berm and then some blighter came past and put me orf.

But surussly, yes I get much more satisfaction and enjoyment from a good climb than a descent. Although that's changing a bit now that I've actually bought a bike that is pretty capable on the descents.

So let's be having some of the best climbs then:

Slabs from Hollins Cross to Mam Tor.... Don't think it's possible anymore, but I did once do it in two sections.

Bottom of taboggan run up to Hollins Cross..... They've done some work on it recently and it is once again cleanable.

Pindale natch... Though very much conditions dependent.

The slabs from Derwent Res up towards Derwent edge..... Defo. Absolutely brilliant. That last 3 m to get your tyre hitting the gate before your arse hits the deck. Sublime.

Cut Gate north side..... Never quite cleaned it, but done it in three overlapping sections.

West side of Garburn..... Lovely. Not quite managed the steepest bit yet.

The bridleway East out of Grizedale visitors centre up to the top of the Fox. awesome.

Pisstaking aside, the £3 hill at Llandegla is getting better and better as it gets eroded ( the steepish switchback just after the little cave seat at the end)

Cairngorm.., stupidly pushed a section at the very bottom before I realised it was all rideable. Would never be able to do it in a oner though.

The amazing singletrack from the north up towards the Achnashellach descent in Torridon

Etc

Any idiot can roll down a hill… 😜

Reckon I might be the exception to that rule...

I mean, I like a downhill, particularly a smooth, flowing bit of singletrack,

God no, the jankier the better, what's the point otherwise?

I'm same as others different parts of the ride appeal to the different parts of me, My speed loving head loves the descents, the masochistic runner in me "enjoys" the climbing. Pleasure and pain.

...let me think - going up Helvellyn versus going down?

I think I'll take down, thanks.

Based on this thread trail centres should start doing downlift days. Better word needed.

Oh hell no! In fact, I'm not even that keen on the flat bits.

Nope, climbs are shit and only there to get you to a down.
Though as above, that was until I got an e-bike, now any off-road climg is great, the more technic and challenging the better (fire roads are still dull as ditch water, just easier).

I definitely get a kick out of real techy climbs. If someone tells me a climb is 'unridable' then I'm immediately interested. More boring climbs are still alright, but usually type-II fun for me. I definitely prefer descents though, no question.

I reckon if you're as fast / faster than your slowest riding buddy then climbs feel much easier since you're never pushing your limits (unless you want to, and then it's your choice). I've definitely been the slowest person on a ride before and it's a horrible feeling to be slow, and holding people up, while suffering internally! I bet the people who enjoy climbs are faster than (the average of) their riding buddies.

climbs are shit and only there to get you to a down.
Though as above, that was until I got an e-bike, now any off-road climg is great, the more technic and challenging the better

^^ This is a really interesting statement.

Nope. Especially with my current fitness state.

The slabs from Derwent Res up towards Derwent edge..… Defo. Absolutely brilliant. That last 3 m to get your tyre hitting the gate before your arse hits the deck. Sublime.

Pain. Pure ******* pain. I can make it 3/4 of the way up (to where it straightens out and turns from damn steep to "please make it stop" steep.

Depends, a techy scramble yup, gentle road or even fire road climb with sweeping views, yup.

Draggy middle steep climbs that go on for ever, no.

That said there's always a special feeling when you get to the top of something decent and it's more than just looking forward to bombing down again. But have never got to the top of a climb giggling like a lunatic, like at the bottom of a great downhill

…let me think – going up Helvellyn versus going down?

I think I’ll take down, thanks.

The thing is, you don't get that choice. So you might as well enjoy the up as well as the down.

I love a good climb. Luckily there's plenty around here.

Climbing becomes much more pleasant by having the attitude that when you're down to walking speed, then walk, it's faster in the end.

I'd sooner have a steep climb and gentle descent than the other way round.

I’d sooner have a steep climb and gentle descent than the other way round.

Christ, no way would I ever feel like that, a nice rolling ascent to a killer fast descent every time for me

Don't mind climbs. Two of my mates are really fit (I was before I broke my spine) so it's hard chasing them up hills. I was a roadie, so it's built in to kill yourself on hills. Been MTB'ing for last 5 years (since spinal fracture) so changed climbing technique - spin more. That's not translated well when getting back on the road bikes recently as I don't like to grind up hills - found I've run out of gears.

Doesn't help that both road bikes are vintage and I can only squeeze on a 39 x 26 bottom gear. It's also hilly where I live so climbing has to be done.

I actually don't mind fire roads, it's 'lock and load' and plug away.

all you lot that prefer the ascent to the descent are closet roadies!

mental - all of you.

When out on 'club runs' it was always 'wait at the top' - but we'd try and kill each other on the ascent. Sort of get's 'programmed in' to your mentality.

25 years ago - no hill too tough.
Today. Hmmm...Ebike

😆

Short and sharp that I can get a run into (singlespeed) are fun but I'm happier getting off and pushing up longer stuff, like the climb back up to the car park at Choppers or up to the start of the fun stuff at Hamsters, no ta, I'll just walk up and I'll see you up there.

Sometimes pondered as I churn away on a long ascent the irony of looking for classic ascents (not so closet roadie)and then wishing it all over with...road / mtb / gravel the descent is just the way home...the ascent is the challenge for me then again if starts looking like DH territory my inner mouse shouts "eak not a man" no hard core fun for me...reminds me a bit think Alex Lowe said it in context of hard rock climbing along the lines of "got to enjoy doing it...not enjoy being able to say done it"

I'm 5'10, just tip the scales at 9.5 stone and ride singlespeed. Throw in my chicken factor and the climbs are where it is at for me.
Downhill is just getting my breath back