Saw this bad boy today

[fishinwrench]

If you're bike is set up good for you your butt shouldn't start hurting.  

The biggest help for me on hills is to get setup before the real pumping starts.  Take as many deeeep breaths as you can and load your blood up with oxygen, select your gear so you aren't shifting in the middle of it.   Set a reasonable pace, relax, and keep your eyes on the crest.  Do all of that before you ever begin the climb.

All bikes are different (so they say) but 2/2 or 2/3 is my gear for long basturd hills on every mountain bike I have ever spent any time on.  Around here the steeper the hill....the shorter it is. So in 2/2 it averages out pretty good for me.  If I start gassing out I'll stand on the pedals and that takes the load off my legs for a bit.  

[Terrierman]

1 hour ago, BilletHead said:

                    Ok,

   What does it mean if you ride three miles and it feels like your calves, knees and thighs are ready to explode?  Round trip to the blacktop on the dirt road is three miles. Starting at my driveway is a steep hill going down then a longish grade up. That's a half mile. Then other mile is down a bit and levels out then back home in reverse. I was feeling it at the middle and looked at the road back and said to myself. What were you thinking? I did make it back but will be paying the price in the morning. Noting like doing anything slow for me . Up the steep hill I had it in the lowest of the low and was creeping but kept it upright and moving without feet touching the ground. My rear hurts too! I was surprised my heart rate did not get outragious either but when dismounting the bike my legs felt like jelly. I was a bit redfaced,

It means don't give up and just keep riding.  Not to be a discouraging person, but it will take you a few months to get bike fit and then it will be a lot more fun.  At that point you will want it to get easier,, which it never does, you are just able to ride further and maybe a little bit faster.

Edit:  The saddles on both of your bikes look horrid to these eyes.  You want something that the "sit bones" on your hips are supporting your weight.  Padding does not help, fit does.  As does time on the bike, even with a proper set up.  If you want to be a bike rider, you might want to take what you have to a real bike shop and get their advice.

[Terrierman]

32 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

If you're bike is set up good for you your butt shouldn't start hurting.  

The biggest help for me on hills is to get setup before the real pumping starts.  Take as many deeeep breaths as you can and load your blood up with oxygen, select your gear so you aren't shifting in the middle of it.   Set a reasonable pace, relax, and keep your eyes on the crest.  Do all of that before you ever begin the climb.

All bikes are different (so they say) but 2/2 or 2/3 is my gear for long basturd hills on every mountain bike I have ever spent any time on.  Around here the steeper the hill....the shorter it is. So in 2/2 it averages out pretty good for me.  If I start gassing out I'll stand on the pedals and that takes the load off my legs for a bit.  

You're younger and tougher than me.  On hills around here, I'll get in the little ring in front and the lowest one on the back and do my best to keep pedal RPM better than 60.  I never look at the top of a real hill, just about 3 feet in front of the bike.  I seldom stand to pedal - not never but seldom.  Butt pain is often just being not used to the bike - or a poor saddle.  Those big fat cushy looking ones are the worst if you ask me.  I ride strictly Selle Anatomica.  Expensive but worth it.  Easy on the old prostate for an old man.

 

[fishinwrench]

22 minutes ago, Terrierman said:

You're younger and tougher than me.  On hills around here, I'll get in the little ring in front and the lowest one on the back and do my best to keep pedal RPM better than 60.  I never look at the top of a real hill, just about 3 feet in front of the bike.  I seldom stand to pedal - not never but seldom.

Don't know about that, but I have to be putting enough pressure on the pedals to keep my weight lifted forward on my arms instead of back on my butt.  Granny gear just makes me wanna sit down.

I don't understand how guys use clip-in pedals. Seems those up Stokes would force your butt down.   I just use the seat to stabilize myself, I'm not sitting on it.   All of my weight is on my feet and arms.

[Terrierman]

4 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

Don't know about that, but I have to be putting enough pressure on the pedals to keep my weight lifted forward on my arms instead of back on my butt.  Granny gear just makes me wanna sit down.

You're definitely tougher than me.  I am afraid to go over the bars.

[fishinwrench]

1 minute ago, Terrierman said:

I am afraid to go over the bars.

I was too until it happened a few times.  It wasn't nearly as bad as I expected.    Odds are, when it happens, the worst spot is behind you so there's nothing too deadly to land on. 😅

[luckycraft]

I went over the bars on time.    Was in grad school and trailing my buddy real close.  Thought it would be funny to buzz his back tire w my front.    He assumed he had a flat and stopped abruptly.  I ended up endo!    Lesson learned

[Terrierman]

Been there.  No more.  Last thing I need is a broken collarbone or another shoulder rebuild.

[Mitch f]

Guys that choose to ride on the 2 lane winding road by my house in their little tights hold up traffic soooooo bad...and they don’t care! It’s all about their performance goal that day. Everyone else suffers

[Terrierman]

3 minutes ago, Mitch f said:

Guys that choose to ride on the 2 lane winding road by my house in their little tights hold up traffic soooooo bad...and they don’t care! It’s all about their performance goal that day. Everyone else suffers.

I wear those little tights too.   Your suffering is not a big deal.  Bikes have the same right to the road as you.