"Invisible" Hill technique?

My weakness: hills where it looks like there's not a hill, but you can feel it in your legs. A slight upgrade. Or long, gently rising/sloping roads. I hate them. I feel like I lose all of my power (the computer confirms...) and it totally psychs me out. I get this dull achy period-like pain in my upper thigh / hip area. My heart rate skyrockets. My DH says it is all in my head.

Give me a hill I can LOOK at. Give me a hill I can truly climb. But these gentle grades? I want to cry.

I am doing a century on Sunday that includes several of these kinds of roads.

If anyone has a tip or a trick to psych me up these gentle grades, I'd sure appreciate any advice.

Ah, the dreaded "false flat." My technique, if you can call it that, is to shift into a slightly easier gear, slow down my breathing, concentrate on a nice round pedal stroke and avoid looking to the top/end of the "hill."

Headology. It's all in the acceptance of your fate and controlling your thoughts. Find the zen of the moment.

It's so refreshing to hear you gripe!

If you want, I'll ride along side and tell you happy things to make you forget what you're doing.

Sing to her! That'll move the pain from her legs to . . . er, um, . . . :D

Two options for false flats:

1) keep your gear and slow your cadence to a comfortable pace

or

2) shift easier and spin faster


Either way....keep your effort/intensity/perceived exertion exactly the same as it was before the false flat or slightly higher...barely enough to really notice too much.

Last time I had one of these, with a headwind to match, I tried to focus on the feeling of the air rushing past me, instead of the road going ever more slowly underneath my wheels. Tried telling myself that my relative speed (to the air) was the same and to GET MOVING! It helped a little. Or you can practice riding one-legged, pulling up, without hands, anything to get your mind busy.

Take it to an easier gear and try to maintain your cadence. Just let yourself "float" up the hill.

Set your computer to only display cadence, not speed. You'll still sense that you're going more slowly than your eyes think you ought to, but it won't be so obvious so it might not psych you out as badly.

Around here, the false flats usually happen in the middle of climbs, and I actually love 'em - it's a chance to get my cadence back up and rest some before the next steep grade.

I have this problem too! There is one road on my commute to my soon-to-be-former job that I HATE for just this reason. It takes me twice as long to get up this "flat" road than it does to get up the huge hill at the end of it. The thing that works best for me is to think about anything but cycling. If I start thinking about dinner, or if I have time to take the dog to the park or how should I get my hair cut next time.... anything. The moment I look at the computer or think about how much of the road I have left... it's all over. I get tired and I slow down. I think I might just find it boring... but I do know that it is all in my head!

We have a lot of them here and I struggle on all inclines, visible or not. The guy teaching me to ride has me wear my HR monitor, shift into light gearing and spin 'em out, working on keeping my HR down - this will help on the bigger hills, too - you learn how to spend your energy, and that it's even possible to recover for a bit - while going up hill. The concept still boggles, but I've actually been doing it sometimes!

I like to pretend there's a tow rope attached to my bike pulling me along, my only duty is to keep my legs spinning and my bike moving forward.

I avoided wearing my HR monitor on road rides for a long time - now I'm learning how to use the info.

My advice is to keep your eyes on the road with your helmet visor tilted down enough that you can trick yourself into thinking you're on the flats. It really does work for me...even when I'm on a monster hill.

Use it as an opportunity to get out of your saddle and stretch out your back and legs. Shift up to a bigger gear, stand, pedal 5 strokes then coast and stretch out one leg, then 5 more and the other leg. Do that a few times, and the false flat might be over.

I usually count my pedal strokes or just say GO GO GO GO! Till I make it. Fake it till you make it I say.

Not that everyone's tips aren't wonderful, but indigoiis' post was in May with the ride the following Saturday . . .


Of course, a report from indigoiis would be nice. :)

Funny, as I didn't even look at the date of the original post. But great tips everyone. :D

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Originally Posted by suzel59

My advice is to keep your eyes on the road with your helmet visor tilted down enough that you can trick yourself into thinking you're on the flats. It really does work for me...even when I'm on a monster hill.

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I do the same thing on a big hill or I stare at the wheel in front of me. If I watch the top of the hill I get overwhelmed.

Everytime that happens, I say to myself, a brake has to be rubbing. Look, even though I know the answer and who do I think I'm foolin'. Laugh at the audacity of my thoughts and say, guess I'll just go slower till it's over.

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Originally Posted by mudmucker

Everytime that happens, I say to myself, a brake has to be rubbing.

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Now THAT would just infuriate me and have me throwing my bike to the ground in a fit of petulance before I attempted to find the "rubbing brake". :D

Ever-fresh topic, this, if you ask me!

Yes, yes, exactly! And, imagine the whirling dervish I'm in when I'm dancing wild circles and stomping incredulously around my bike because I'm seeing so much daylight between the brake and the rim.

Snort. :D

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Originally Posted by suzel59

My advice is to keep your eyes on the road with your helmet visor tilted down enough that you can trick yourself into thinking you're on the flats. It really does work for me...even when I'm on a monster hill.

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That's strange...I do the exact same thing. I keep my eyes on the road with visor down and tell myself I'm going down a hill. It tricks you in thinking your legs are tired from all that riding.

Yes, this is an oldie but a goodie.
I still struggle with this sometimes, but it has gotten a lot better.

I learned a few things in the time that I first wrote this:

1. From a mountain biking journal with a tip on "weighting" your front pedals... not exactly getting off of your seat but moving forward enough for gravity on the pedals to count. Well, during a very very hilly 75 miler this weekend (okay, we'll just say that for NE CT and NW RI it was downright mountainous) I thought of this advice and it somehow came out in my head as loading the pedals. When a hill would come, my mind would say, "load those pedals" reminding me to scootch forward, relax, and put some weight on the pedals. I think psychologically that was a huge help and it probably didn't hurt physically, either.

2. Don't be afraid to use my grannies. That's why they're there.

3. Counting, or the alpahabet: I count to a hundred, every other breath or every other pedal stroke. Or, I do the ABC's. Usually, the top is by 100 or the 2nd or third way through the ABC's. I have ploughed up many a hill signing away like a muppet. My DH recently told me that I powered up a hill going 9/10 mph - a very long "double hundred" hill. So this is a nice trick.

I did stop recently on a very steep climb, on my way home from work. I was tired. I'd had a long day. I was cranky.
I am glad that I tried this to see what happens. This is what happens: You get off your bike, try to walk, and it's harder to walk than to bike.

So, that last ride with DH on Sunday, when we came to a particularly snarky hill, I reminded myself, "you know Indi, it's harder to walk up."

The only good thing about an invisible uphill is it's usually followed by an invisible downhill, which leads me to a marvelous "wow, my legs are flying today!" sentiment. :p

If you can't find the zen of the moment, you can always resort to cursing.

Thanks for the tips, new ride, hate hills.

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Originally Posted by malkin

If you can't find the zen of the moment, you can always resort to cursing.

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That's how I do it. I may have to try the alphabet instead, though. Less likely to offend other riders.

Wow, I don't know a cuss word for every letter of the alphabet. I obviously need work on my vocabulary ;):p

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Wow, I don't know a cuss word for every letter of the alphabet. I obviously need work on my vocabulary

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Maybe we should start a new thread to see if we can come up with all of them? :p

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

Wow, I don't know a cuss word for every letter of the alphabet. I obviously need work on my vocabulary ;):p

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This is the best hill technique tip ever :D ;)

On those rare occasions when I deal with hills (mostly in the distant past ;) ) I count out the pedal strokes, *and* focus on technique andmake sure I'm "loading the pedals" and also getting a full, very circular stroke. If nothign else, it is a distraction.

I also remind myself that I just need to be "pretty good, for a prairie girl" and then let the ego drive me onward to show the non-watching world just how good I am :)

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Originally Posted by indigoiis

If anyone has a tip or a trick to psych me up these gentle grades, I'd sure appreciate any advice.

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Here is a gem for training for hills from a gem of a guy. If any of you know MikeT who posts on mtbr this is something he sent me years (probably 10) ago. I'm sure it's copy righted™ if not it should be!

You're going to love this one, I do and practice makes perfect, mind over matter and all that stuff.......happy pedaling!

And now without further adieu, Virtual Peddling™ by MikeT:

VIRTUAL PEDALING Pt 1 by Mike T. (btw there was no pt 2)

Your race is reaching the crucial stage - you're on the last lap and everyone around you is suffering. A mile-long gradual slope looms ahead and slowly you begin to feel the tug of gravity relentlessly sucking the speed out of you. It's a small ring climb and as you click down through the gears your little group, ever so slowly, starts to inch away from you. The elastic attaching you to the end of the line of riders stretches to its limit. You begin to lose your composure; your shoulders start to heave and suddenly you feel like you're pedaling in squares instead of nice, neat round circles. Ping! The elastic snaps and you're off the back and resigned to suffering alone as the line vanishes out of sight.

Sound familiar? Of course it does, as it's happened to all of us if our racing career spans more than one race. But is there anything we can do about it? Can we keep our composure under the stress of being at our aerobic limit?

To help ourselves we can learn to utilize mental games that will allow us to take charge of our power output and pedaling style, which, in turn, will significantly improve our efficiency.

At our physical limit, and at other times while saving energy by improving efficiency, we can learn the following mind-game. As I can't coach you on the road while you practice the drills, you're going to have to read and digest, then go out on the road or trail with my little voice talking to you as you go.

Are you ready? Ok, let's go! Before we set off there are a few things you should know. First of all, I want you to choose preferably, a long, straight uninterrupted road that has a very slight uphill grade. Nothing steep - just something to stop the pedals and the bike running away with you when the efficiency kicks in. A flat road will be just fine if you can't find a slight grade. Also, I'd like you to stay in the same gear for the whole exercise if possible.

This is where it starts to get a little weird and you'll begin to question my sanity but please bear with me as everything will become clear after the first mile or two on the road. The cranks that most of us use on our bikes are 170 or 175mm or approximately 7 inches long. I'm not being specific here, as the exact measurement is immaterial, so please don't call me on it. We can all relate to a measurement of
7inches but then this is where it starts to get really strange - during the ride I'm going to talk about, and have you use, "virtual" cranks of nine inches, five inches and three inches! These virtual cranks will be solely the product of your imagination but I can assure you they will feel so real that when you are "using" them you will swear someone did a switch on your bike while you were pedaling along.

Let's do a gentle warm-up out to our favorite flat road and as we reach our flat or slightly uphill stretch we'll settle into a level of effort that can be described as "comfortable". As I won't be with you to bark orders, you're going to have to provide your own little internal voice.

"Ok", says pedaling coach Mike, "Let's just pedal as we always have, without any thought to what we are doing." Your pedaling style that you've subconsciously been using without thought prior to today is somewhat efficient - and I'll prove it to you shortly but it is far from being as efficient as it could be and I'm going to prove that to you also. I'm afraid your pedaling style will never be the same again!

Pedaling a bicycle uses many sets of muscles from the buttocks all the way down to the lower leg. The more of these sets of muscles we can utilize for doing a set amount of work then the more efficient we will be, and the more power we will have for propulsion, which in bicycle racing is surely the Holy Grail.

I'm now going to prove to you how efficient your present pedaling style really is. Pedal as I asked above - as you have always done without any conscious thought. Now - wait for it….! I want you to propel yourself just by using your quadriceps (large frontal thigh muscles). "Ok, - just with the thighs!" barks Mike. Your style instantly changed from one of partial efficiency to ungainly thrusts at cranks that felt a mile long. "How was this so, Coach"? you ask as I allow you to revert back to your regular and familiar style. Well, I told you that this would be mostly in your head didn't I?

Let us carry on. "Now, let's pedal as before but this time when I give the word I want you to switch to FIVE inch cranks and propel them, not by using masses of leg muscles, but just by your FEET!"

A disclaimer here: I'm quite aware that a bike can't be propelled by the feet alone and that muscles have to drive the feet but as most of what we have done so far has been all in your head, I'd like you to go along with me on this one too!

Back to the five inch cranks and the twirling feet. Really concentrate on turning the feet only, connected to those tiny cranks. Don't even think of individual muscle groups - just concentrate on powering with the feet. Did you feel a miniature turbo-charger kick in and your pedaling stroke smooth out? Of course you did! Don't speed up with your newfound efficiency. Just hold your steady pace. Did I hear you say you didn't feel an increase in efficiency? I don't believe you and I'm now going to prove it. Keep turning those five inchers with your feet……and….wait for it…..quickly switch back to your seven inch cranks and your old pedaling style. Whoah ! That feels awful doesn't it? Go back to your new foot-driven cranks again. There - I proved to you that your pedaling style had improved, didn't I?

Back to the smoothness of your new pedaling. Twirl those feet and feel the turbine smoothness of your new efficiency. Now I'm really going to play a mind-game on you. When I give you the word I want you to switch to the thigh-propelled nine inchers! Go! "Arrrghhh " you scream, "This is awful , Coach, please let me switch back, hurrryyyy."

I leave you there in your Virtual Agony for a few seconds - suffering under the most ungainly style that you can muster. This is similar to how you feel when you start pedaling in those awful squares when you're at your upper limit in a race. Eventually I take pity on you: "Ok, you've learned your lesson - you can switch back."

"Wow, thanks, Coach" you say in relief.

Oh but we're not done yet. I've got something else in store for you that will do another mind-job on you. As we continue to pedal along I'm going to have you switch to the foot driven THREE inch cranks. Remember those that we brought along for the ride?

Pedal as before - using your seven inch cranks, shifting down to your foot propelled five inchers and when you are settled in with those babies whirling away I want you to change to the minuscule three inchers.

Go!

"Arrrghhhh !" you scream immediately, "I can't keep up with these little virtual cranks."

Being the sadistic type of pedaling coach I now shout in your ear "Nine inch cranks !! Thighs only - Go….!"

"Ohmygawd - helppppp! Coach, please stop!" you yell frantically.

"All right, good student, you have done well. You may select your favorite length of virtual crank."

In fact, because this is all a mind-game you may choose any length of crank that feels good to you at the time. "Gee, thanks", you say, "I'll take a nice set of six and a half inchers for now, if you don't mind".



In practice

With your new-found pedaling style you will never again pedal in squares. When the going gets tough - or at any time for that matter - you can smooth out your stroke by mentally shortening your cranks and twirling them efficiently by just using your feet. You and I both know it's all in your head but the fellow racers or riding partners will wonder at your smoothness and power.

As you get good at virtual pedaling you may dump the two inch crank graduations for ones that are totally variable. As the going gets tougher and tougher, just downshift through the infinitely variable cranks and spin them with your feet to the wonder of all around you. That's if there is anyone left.

Happy Pedaling

Mike T.

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OMG, I tried Mike T's "virtual pedaling" after seeing it here and it is wonderful advice! It sounds so silly, but I tried using my 3-inch cranks after reading it and it makes such a difference! Brilliant!

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Originally Posted by Nerdanel

OMG, I tried Mike T's "virtual pedaling" after seeing it here and it is wonderful advice! It sounds so silly, but I tried using my 3-inch cranks after reading it and it makes such a difference! Brilliant!

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Yay, Nerdanel! I'm glad someone tried this and got as good of results as I did with it. That Mikey he really knows his stuff and keeps it simple too.:D

LOL I just found this thread. Perfect timing because I was wondering what the heck was wrong with me. There's this place where it looks like the road's going downhill. Whenever I see it coming I'm thinking "YAY!" and I shift up to go fast - then it hits like a ton of bricks. I shift way down into my grannies and huff and puff. It's harder than the hardest hill I ride. It feels like there's an invisible force holding me back. I even brought my husband out there today to see if he could tell that it was an uphill. He swears it's a downhill. Must be one of those "invisible hills" you all are talking about. :rolleyes:

I have found since originally posting this thread that there are also something called "Dead zones" or "doldrums", just as with sailing. You might be flying along at 19-23 mph, nice and flat, when suddenly the "air goes out of the room" and maybe the pavement gets natty and the wind picks up and the sun beats down and you are going NOWHERE, no matter if it's downhill, uphill or straightaway. Although it usually happens on a straightaway. I don't know why it is. It's like the Bermuda Triangle. For me it is on our bike path in a town called West Warwick, and it is right before the turn off the path. About 2 miles of doldrums. Yuck!

(oh and as a postscript, the doldrums are completely in the head... you are still going 19-23 mph, it just doesn't "feel" like it!)

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Originally Posted by indigoiis

I have found since originally posting this thread that there are also something called "Dead zones" or "doldrums", just as with sailing. You might be flying along at 19-23 mph, nice and flat, when suddenly the "air goes out of the room" and maybe the pavement gets natty and the wind picks up and the sun beats down and you are going NOWHERE, no matter if it's downhill, uphill or straightaway. Although it usually happens on a straightaway. I don't know why it is. It's like the Bermuda Triangle. For me it is on our bike path in a town called West Warwick, and it is right before the turn off the path. About 2 miles of doldrums. Yuck!

(oh and as a postscript, the doldrums are completely in the head... you are still going 19-23 mph, it just doesn't "feel" like it!)

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I know one of those spots--right by Casey Farm on Rte 1A heading North. It kills me. It looks totally flat. The pavement, the wind (especially if it's from the north) all adds up to a "dead zone". Perfect description!

I realize this thread is old, but checked it out based upon the 5 star rating. Great reading!:cool:

I'm with the post that opts for standing. I'm not sure if it's my asthma and being somewhat compromised I would assume... but that sitting solidly in the saddle spinning the granny gear just kills me.

On my last ride, I did 8 count standing intervals. Then back to seated. Repeat. I was careful to watch my HR to not wear myself out completely before I made it to the top.

It certainly does make the hill go by faster too.:)

Thanks for reviving this post!! There are tons of false flats where I ride.. some of them hurt and some don't... I think it's the dead zone thing going on!!

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Originally Posted by Miranda

I realize this thread is old, but checked it out based upon the 5 star rating. Great reading!:cool:

I'm with the post that opts for standing. I'm not sure if it's my asthma and being somewhat compromised I would assume... but that sitting solidly in the saddle spinning the granny gear just kills me.

On my last ride, I did 8 count standing intervals. Then back to seated. Repeat. I was careful to watch my HR to not wear myself out completely before I made it to the top.

It certainly does make the hill go by faster too.:)

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This is a great idea! I'm going to have to try this on my next ride. Hills are the "bane of my existence"...I suck at them...ALL of them...big ones, little ones, invisible ones, you name it! I've never thought to do standing/seated intervals, but it makes perfect sense. Plus counting out the 8-count, will give my mind something to do...other than focusing on how long the dang hill is! Thanks for posting that tip!