I must be losing my mind

I must be losing my mind. I actually liked hills today. Rode with DH. We rode 12.5 miles - which is now my longest ride. WOOOWOOOO

And we did hills. A bunch of 'em. I have no clue how big or long most hills are. I suspect these weren't huge ones but one of 'em had me walking up so they weren't tiny either. But I liked them. I really liked them. Maybe they were rolling hills? Cause what I liked about them is that we would go down one and then come to the next pretty quickly. And if I kept my speed up, it was easy to get up the next hill. And fun. Absolutely fun.

I want to say thanks to everyone on this board who posts regularly. I really have learned a ton here. When I posted last week about being discouraged with my progress, I got a bunch of helpful tips to try. And they are working.

I'm spinning alot more and working alot less. I make sure I have something in my stomach when I go on my rides. Not a ton of food but something - banana or peanut butter seem to be my favorites right now but maybe just cause I love them both. :) When I go up a hill, I don't look up. I just watch the road directly in front of me and don't worry about how far away that top looks when I start.

As I get stronger, this gets more fun. Which is what my goal is. To simply get strong enough that I enjoy riding and to be able to go far enough that I can actually get to some place different than I started out.

In the little things in life, eh? lol

Congrats on your longest ride, AND for conquering those hills!! You are doing such a great job, huh? :) Pat yourself on the back for me!
I keep telling myself hills make me stronger, and that I love hills- but truth be told- I hate hills and dread them. You must've told yourself that you love hills- and actually believed what you said! Great job!!!! :D

Wow! Congratulations! Our ride today had hills too, and lots of them! And like you, I'm not sure just what constitutes a hill in most folks mind, but any time I am going up, even just a little, my body says, whoa, hill! Our hills were on the second half of the ride, so most of 22 miles was generally uphill. Most of it was pretty minor, but it was still up, and hours later, my legs are still complaining that it was up.

BUT -- like you, I enjoyed them today! I grumbled some, but the thing is, I didn't stop to rest or walk on any of them, even the ones that I usually would have!

Must have been a good hill day!

Karen in Boise

Wow!
Congratulations! Awesome ride!
I'm going to rub my commuter screen tonight over this thread and hope your good-hill climbing vibes rub off on me!!
I did not have a good hill day today, and I could have used some of your energy. Way to go!

Good job esther! You have just the right attitude for hills: you gotta love 'em and they will start being less resistant to being loved.... ;)

Enjoy!

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Originally Posted by Kano

Wow! Congratulations! Our ride today had hills too, and lots of them! And like you, I'm not sure just what constitutes a hill in most folks mind, but any time I am going up, even just a little, my body says, whoa, hill! Karen in Boise

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I'm pretty liberal with the word hill - especially when I'm already tired. I have a phrase for those little tiny ones..."false flats"...they pretend to be flat but in reality - they're hills.

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I must be losing my mind. I actually liked hills today. Rode with DH. We rode 12.5 miles - which is now my longest ride. WOOOWOOOO

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Congratulations! The mental part is half the battle - probably more so. So sounds to me like you've got it goin' on! Doesn't it feel great to hit another milestone? Way to go!

Congrats! That's terrific! And it does sound like those would be fun hills!

Congrats on your longest rides and hills! I love hills as well. :)

Congrats on a great ride! And loving hills WOW I bow to you :D

I'm with you Kano - anything that is over 1% constitutes going up:p

I am much better on hills than I was but the minute I see one coming up my old negative thinking pops up - I can pass a few people now but I still psych myself out. I have to kick myself in the butt and say - not one thing on your body is hurting so shut up and pedal. When the hill is tough I say to myself it is only 5, 10 whatever minutes of your life it will be over soon and once again you are not in any agony just breathing a little hard with moderately burning thighs.

I am trying to love hills really I am :(

Now the wind THAT is another story - we have NOT made peace :mad: