Do I warn 'em?

[SnowHot]

There is a bike tour that goes by my office, in fact there are several, since I'm located between a rails to trails trail and an old highway, which is currently a county road. My office is at the top of a significant hill

The first of these bike tours is evidently happing as we speak.
The road I live on is quite rural, extremely hilly and gorgeous!!!! I am a lucky Diva to live where I do.

On with my story!
There has been more than one cyclist commenting to others in their group, within earshot of me.....
-Whew, hope that's the last big hill
-You won't find a hill much bigger than that
And most recently, a woman on a bike with a kid in tow attachment said
-A good climb doesn't get much better than that

I know better!
Question:
Do I just let them think its the last climb?
or
Do I tell them to kick it in the rear on this next down hill or they'll pay the price?

Truth is, the next hill isn't so bad, if you know its coming and take advantage of the speed from the approaching down hill, but most don't and then have to work for the next climb.

 

[Robyn]

Interesting question. I recently was the rider in the situation when the last aid station told me that it was mostly downhill from here but it definitely was not. I ended up in an asthma attack on the next hill. But, would I want some random person to warn me, I'm not sure. I'll be interested to see what others think.

 

[abc]

Yes and no.

Depends on the attitude of the rider, it may help or hurt. If I'm riding with someone and knows the route, I would explain to them what they'll be seeing.

But as a random person on foot, I'm not sure how much you can say.

I'm always reluctant to suggest to people to carry their momentum downhill in order to get it up the other side, for fear they go too fast...

Let them think it's the last "HARD" hill. Let them know there're more but not as bad?

I recently was the rider in the situation when the last aid station told me that it was mostly downhill from here but it definitely was not.

I've been in that situation once before. I had to say I don't appreciate that. The key was the "mostly" part. It was true. But when you're dog tired, every little hill is a MOUNTAIN!

What I usually say, is simply "if you've come this far, you can do the rest of it!"

 

[Consuela]

Hmmm... interesting question. The thing is, it's kind of hard to hear/understand what someone is saying when you are riding by on a bike and they aren't riding next to you.

This might just be me because I have bad hearing in one ear and tend to get in my own thoughts. I might see that a person is standing there enough to not bump into them, but that's about it. (Yes, even when I'm walking down the street.) If they try to engage me when I'm like this, I'll be all, "Huh? What? What's going on? Did someone say something me? Am I in danger? Are they okay? Did I know that person? Maybe I should go find out?"

One of our friends is known for saying almost every hill is the last one when we are on a long climb. Maybe he's just giving himself a pep talk, but it becomes quite frustrating when he knows the trail and I don't, because I believe him then I get around the corner and see another hill. For some reason, it totally messes with my energy and attitude. I want to just bonk him over the head. Frankly, I'd rather he just keep it zipped or just make a general complaint about the climb, but don't give me false hope!

Now that we are on to him, we mock him every time he says it. I was so frustrated with him one day, I told him that I was going to charge him $5 for every time he said that and it wasn't true. He stopped saying it after that.

 

[SnowHot]

Hmmm... interesting question. The thing is, it's kind of hard to hear/understand what someone is saying when you are riding by on a bike and they aren't riding next to you.

............charge him $5 for every time he said that and it wasn't true. He stopped saying it after that.

The riders I hear making those comments are, for the most part, stopped by the road side catching their breath and/or getting a little hydration.
Thus, I would have a good opportunity to walk up to them and actually have a conversation.

As for the $5.00, you got me thinking. I could approach them and say, "for $1.00, I'll give you the scoop on whats coming next"

 

[volklgirl]

Nah. Just let em suffer.

 

[Little Lightning]

When you say "tour" do you mean an organized ride where riders ride on a daily basis for several days, a week, etc.? With sag vehicle supporting them?

If so the riders are normally given a map with the elevation gains and losses and the distances. If they are experienced, well trained riders, the hill won't make much difference.

The tour directors usually state the physical requirements for the tour but it doesn't mean that riders listen. A certain percentage of riders have unrealistic expectations about the amount of training required to handle riding day after day.

Difficulty of hills is relative. A lot depends on where you live and train. Since I'm from southwestern Ohio I think of hills as a series of short, steep ups and downs with some flat terrain. Here in Colorado, hills are mtn passes that climb, flatten, climb flatten, etc. They go on for a few miles but eventually go down into flat terrain. The more experience and technique one has with hills the easier they are.

On a tour a couple of years ago a rider told me about a terrible hill that was coming up. He had not ridden the hill but read the topo map. I spent the last hr of the ride looking for that terrible hill. The only bad hill I remember was the downhill into town. The road was windy and steep with lots of traffic.

If the riders are seriously tired and can't handle the ride they can jump on the "sag" wagon that usually accompanies organized tours. The sag vehicle will take their bikes and transport them to the next sag stop (bathrooms and refreshments) or to their final destination.

Finally, if there are dangerous conditions with the hill, the tour organizers will mark the maps and if allowed by the DOT they mark hazards on the road.

Personally, I wouldn't tell the riders anything, I'd probably "race up the hill" to show them how easy it is.

 

[SnowHot]

This is an organized tour with a sag stop and vehicle. They do have a map with all the info needed, but I think many are not sure exactly where they are.
The age range is from early teens to Geezers. A few adults with small children in tow............you know how it goes.

I only answer questions to those who approach me. Some of these people are pretty amazing riders, while others are somewhat clueless.

Its an interesting thing to watch as it goes by my door.