[Closed] Guardian article on MTFU

I'd get off an walk if I can't do it, don't GAF about anyone else it has nothing to do with MTFU

Walking is less efficient, therefore getting off and walking represents a victory for pain and doubt over the rational parts of your brain.

In a race I would do what's fastest. Other
than that I would rather stall and fall over sideways than stop voluntarily.

Don't know about road... Offroad, it's just something that sometimes happens, not even worthy of mention imo.

is this another rule obsessed bike snob?

If it's too steep and it beats me then I'll get off, alternative is falling off really

In a race I would do what's fastest. Other
than that I would rather stall and fall over sideways than stop voluntarily.

This.

Most of my route planning involves stringing together as many climbs as possible where this is a real possibility - on or off-road.

I mainly ride alone 🙂

Odd as I usually like to pedal uphill off road more than on road...

Nothing wrong with walking up the hills. Even though it's not really my problem.

But give me 20% gradient downhill singletrack and you'll see me walking for sure! 😳

On road (on a normal ride, average rider) then No it's not really acceptable unless conditions are horrific.

I was amazed by how many people were walking on the Loch Ness Sportive, sure it's a steep hill, but come on, you'd had over 6 months to train for it.

He's got a point with triple's and dinner plates on the back though. Anyone can winch themselves up a road climb with those and so might as well be walking - its no better or worse.

I was thinking about this earlier as I was pulling my two stout sons (3 and 5) in the trailer..
I had to get off and push up a short incline that I usually ride up, out of courtesy today as the playground at school was unusually busy..
It's usually an easy bit to pedal, but pushing was embarrassingly hard work..
That was a great example to me of how pedalling is many times more efficient

I'll walk when the gears run out or the friction between back wheel and ground gives up (usually both).
I am not a fan of planned 'hike-a-bike' rides. If cycling is the new golf then lugging a big FS bike up a mountain is definitely the best way to spoil a good walk* - other than hitting a ball with a stick into a hole...

*Others opinions may vary...

I only go up hills so I can ride down them. If there was an escalator then I'd be on it. I couldn't give a toss how I get to the top to start the good bit.

**** the joyless, masochistic roadies! 😀

Sometimes after a long day I just feel I need to get off and walk a bit to change positions, unwind the muscles and give my back a rest. I have done that on Ventoux.

road cycling’s recent and rapid transition from an egalitarian, inclusive sport to “the new golf”, where phoney etiquette and cosmetic detail is everything.

Is this true?

Was it once an egalitarian, inclusive sport? 🙂

I have no shame in pushing, its what I do best.

If I'm in a race then I'll do what's most efficient or has the least energy cost. Other than that IDGAF

I had to walk on Hardknott a couple of years ago, and in my mind I haven't really done it.

For me the challenge of riding (for example) Ventoux would be to, well, ride it. Same as the challenge in running a marathon is to run 26 miles, not run some of it and walk the rest- I could go and do that tomorrow.*
I appreciate that YMMV though.

*Maybe!

EDIT I'm only talking about road here.

In the example described in the article, I don't think there's any shame in it, but he can't claim to have cycled to the top of Mont Ventoux.

He can claim he got to the top under his own steam, which is fair enough if that's the challenge he was going for, but not that he 'conquered' it on a bike.

Walk if you want, who cares if you are just out riding your bike, but where I take issue is the last line of the article:
[i]As for my own experience on the slopes of Ventoux, I eventually made it to the top under my own steam. Whether I walked any of it or not, should that really matter?[/i]
If it 'matters' that you got up the hill under your own steam, then it 'matters' if you rode it or not. Doing one of those things is harder than the other. If you [i]really[/i] want to brag about going up Ventoux, or even just gain some personal satisfaction from having done so, then there is a difference between walking it and riding it.

My view is that [b][u]I[/b][/u] haven't beaten "it" until I've ridden "it". I couldn't give 2 shits if someone else gets off to walk though, none of my business.

Better to try, and fail, than to never try. There's always a next time! 🙂

What Chris Boardman said.

I'm pleased when I see someone pushing. Makes me feel better when I inevitably fail at the same point.

In a race I would do what's fastest. Other
than that I would rather stall and fall over sideways than stop voluntarily.

+1, and desperately try and avoid it! I walked two climbs last year I think, one I've only ever seen one rider clean, the other I cleaned in summer, did it twice in one ride over Christmas and just couldn't do it - will blame slippery roots.

It is ok if you need to. Personally I've never needed to walk up anything on the road and I can't why I would as grip is always there.

Off road, yes, all the time. I prefer to ride things and will push myself to but some places just require hike a bike.

In a race, I'll do what ever is faster or easier. In cross I see people struggle up muddy banks. I'll run if it saves my strength over the hour and is a little faster. Same in XC, sometimes it just isn't worth riding.

I'm pleased when I see someone pushing. Makes me feel better when I inevitably fail at the same point.

There's that awkward thought that goes through your head: "they've got off there it's going to be hard ..." so you get off, doh!

I walked two climbs last year I think, one I've only ever seen one rider clean

Let me know where it is - always up for a challenge!

#69 - Any walking conducted while wearing cycling shoes must be strictly limited....

I'll only walk once traction has been lost at the rear....all the time the bike is moving forward i'll manage to dig deep enough, i'd rather give myself a coronary than get off and walk.

I go out for a ride, not to take my bike for a walk.

[quote=offthebrakes ]
Let me know where it is - always up for a challenge!

Have an attempt at [url= http://www.mtbtrails.info/Trail_Venue.aspx?VenueNumber=96 ]Kerloch Hill [/url] mind and video it so we can see how great you are.

Not very great - but as I ride alone, no-one ever finds out 😉

Let me know where it is - always up for a challenge!

Up from Secret Santa on Winterfold - turn almost 180 degrees right at the bottom, it's in a gully and there's an awkward steppy bit I've never cleared. Used to be easier, but it's got washed out in recent years. It's doable, I just always screw it up!

Gee of this parish remains the only rider I've seen get up it cleanly!

Let me know where it is - always up for a challenge!

No-one's really bothered apart from the rider. The personal challenge of not letting the hill beat you is the main motivation for me.

I rode and walked up Sutton Bank nr Thirsk a few years ago and have a slight urge to revisit and ride it all. But no one else could care less.

The issue for me is wearing cleats my out. Pack cleat covers and you're asking for trouble though.

I enjoy the challenge of clearing seemingly impossible (for me) climbs, but I'm not at all bothered about walking road or off road.