Training on hills...

Really makes you feel invinceable on the flat. I say this every time I come back to my parent's place (Chicagoland). We are in Northern IN and it's flat as a dang pancake over here. And COOL and not humid. It's beautiful. I had an ear and sinus infection on Thursday/Friday and rode for the first time Sunday and was already setting a PR on an old interval route I have (about 17 miles) today. Geebus! It was amazing. I was going 30 mph on a downhill and peddling up the next big "hill" going about 22 mph. It was glorious. I am going to attempt a slower 41 miles tomorrow up to Michigan and back. Gonna visit the lake, have some lunch, and ride back. I've done it before and it's somewhat "hilly" but mostly rolling. Only one real climb on the whole ride. So, I anticipate a really good ride that's not too much for me to handle at this point. I am trying to get more mileage in when I can. I think today proved I was well enough to do more tomorrow and that my lungs were clear.

I just worry my abilities to climb hills will somehow wear off by the time I get back to the land of hills. Are there things I can do to keep this up while in the land of flat? This is the first year I have ever been really serious about training on hills, buckling down, and climbing. It's made a huge difference in my confidence, I think. I just don't want to lose it! I don't know if that makes sense at all haha. But can you lose the ability to climb as well? Drop muscle tone or something?

Work on your power, you can use a harder gear than you would normally and try to maintain your usual high ride speed or if it's windy where you are use a harder gear and ride into it. Wind can help with the mental part of climbing too.

If you have a power meter Carmichael has a lactate threshold training routine for a climbing workout on the flats. You should find it on the net searching for Carmichael climbing workout on flats or such. There may be info on doing it without a power meter too.

Thanks! Yeah, I was fighting with the wind some yesterday which I figured helped keep me on my toes. I am definitely powering around in much higher gears than I normally would. I don't have a power meter but I will do some looking to see what I find today. The goal today isn't speed but stamina. I will think about doing another set of intervals tomorrow if the weather ever lets me and if my allergist appointment goes okay and I don't end up having to play around with breathing in various things and doing PFT's.