BUnG it up!

In my last post I mentioned that, as a cargo cyclist hauling kids and gear around, it is impractical for me to focus on strength-to-weight ratio. I am also mostly unconcerned with equipment weight. Family biking is a totally different animal than competitive road cycling, so unless you're planning to cycle through the Grand Tetons (which I actually did with my dad in seventh grade, long before I considered myself a Cyclist), don't worry about added weight, especially if it provides durability, convenience, or reliability.

Our current bakfiets weighs about 75 pounds. Add two kids, a sturdy lock, water for everyone, and miscellaneous kid gear for another 75 pounds or more. That means I'm using my own power to propel at least 150 pounds, plus my own body weight, around town. With numbers like that, I figure it is worth adding a little weight for a lot of comfort. To highlight some of my favorite items, I have decided to start a series of posts on gear I love that would make weight-conscious cyclists' skin crawl. I'm calling it Best Unnecessary Gear: BUnG it up!

First item: I admit I took a page from the auto industry's book and outfitted my bike with not one, but two cup holders. Actually, I shouldn't take credit. Kevin (aka Daddy) purchased both cup holders for me, knowing my enthusiasm for hydration generally and decaf mochas specifically.

Any parents out there drink coffee?

The gadget on my handle bars is the PDW Bar-ista™. While it is not compatible with my Thermos® Nissan™ and a variety of children's sippy cups, it holds pretty much everything else, including standard cycling water bottles. At coffee shops, I usually order my coffee in a too-big cup so it doesn't spill on my ride. Bonus: Extra room for the whip cream I can justify by cycling around with a load of 150 pounds. The joy this item brings to my rides is well worth the extra 2.5 ounces of weight.

Even Thumper wants coffee.

How To Ride Uphill

A reader joked that hills are what keep her from cycling. Understandably, she hates having to walk her regular bike uphill, and the thought of trying to propel a load of kids up an incline can't be much more appealing. Fortunately, there are strategies even novice cyclists can use to make climbing easier and more efficient.

This article outlines some of those strategies. To summarize and clarify:

1) Get into a lower gear than you think you'll need for the climb. For me on the bakfiets, that almost always means my lowest gear. Keep your cadence (pedal speed/RPMs) up, and try to maintain speed.

2) Avoid shifting gears frequently, stay in the saddle for as long as possible, and point your toes to get the most power from your leg strength.

3) Be aware of your posture and breathing. Imagine yourself as a star cyclist on an epic climb in a big tour. You have a calm expression on your face, you are leaning into the incline with a flat back, you are pointing your toes, you are breathing deeply and staying focused. Cheeks, shoulders, and fingers should all be loose.

4) Only stand up for extra pedaling power when remaining in the saddle becomes clearly unsustainable. Standing over the pedals is a way to use a different muscle group, but it probably won't get you very far. This strategy should be saved for when your strongest and most efficient muscle group can really benefit from a short break. Shift into a higher gear when standing up. When sitting back down, immediately shift back into lower gear and focus on keeping your cadence fast.

I found a collection of articles on the topic here, so know that you aren't alone in your desire for strategies to conquer uphill climbs! Know that some authors focus on increasing strength-to-weight ratio, which is not practical for those of us hauling kids, water, snacks, diaper bags, and toys.