Ditto.

It's weird. Yesterday I ventured up a street that I hadn't ridden in 20 years. I used to live here at the top of Linden Street, just off the left side of the photo. I go by this street on almost all of these neighborhood rides I've been doing lately, but think I'd blocked the street out since I'd decided I didn't feel safe riding up it (except maybe on a mt. bike).

The street is steep (something a bit over 20 percent); it is also narrow, and the surface isn't great. It's odd that it doesn't look all that steep here; it sure does from the bottom. This is the steepest pitch, right at the end. That last time I rode up here my chain skipped on the freewheel and I did a face plant right about at this spot. It hurt.

Yesterday I was riding by on the EZ-1 just one block down the hill and realized that even if I couldn't make it up I could probably get my feet down, and even if I didn't I'd be close to the ground and would hit something a lot less vulnerable than my face. I know that seems sort of obvious, but it is a bit of a breakthrough for me, realizing that it probably won't hurt (literally) to try.

I could just get up it (and was only doing this last block). I didn't have any particular problem, but it just seems right at the limit of what I can pedal with my 23 inch low gear. The front wheel starts to get light on the EZ-1, but I'm leaning forward a bit anyway and it's not too bad.

I was very pleased to have ridden it, not so much because it was difficult (which it always is), but I guess because it was like making up with an old friend you'd fallen out with.

This is one street that I thought I'd never attempt on the Burley (or any bike with a higher BB). I did go back today to check the grade since from the top it looked like the end of the lower block is actually steeper (it isn't, but click the picture for a bigger view to see what I mean). I was able to get up that lower block just fine on the Burley since the street is wider and the surface better there. I was totally whupped after just that one block so detoured around a little, but finally felt compelled to give the top block a try. It was fine too, well I made it up anyway.

I would have sworn to you just yesterday that I could not ride that street on a higher BB bike. It is certainly less spooky to take on a street like this with the low pedals on the EZ-1, but once again, as far as difficulty goes, the cushier seat back on the Burley seemed like the biggest difference between the bikes. I've become a real fan of the Cobra style rigid seat, and will tell you some of the other things I like about it later (and a fix for one of the things I don't like).

So for now, what I said Feb 9, the bike isn't making much difference on these steep streets (other than handling); I'm still having to turn the pedals over all by myself. I expect much bigger difference when the weather breaks and I can get out for some faster, but hilly, rides. Of course I was wrong yesterday, so I'll just have to wait and give it a try. It can't hurt (much).