Rollers and momentum

[Catrin]

I've read the other threads on hill climbing, but I just can't seem to beat this problem that I have. We don't have long hills around here, but we do have short and quite steep ones. I have this problem with loosing my momentum rather early and then wind up spinning/grinding up the hill at 6mph - though perhaps that isn't so bad.

Next weekend I am going on a ride in the southern part of the state - THAT ride has a hill with a 1.5 mile climb. I know that hills are at least as much mental as they are physical.

Any tips on how I can maintain my momentum longer? I suspect that I am gearing down too soon - just trying to work this out in my head.

[lph]

I think the key is trying to keep roughly the same cadence, which is hardest when the terrain changes from flat-out can't-pedal downhill to abrupt steep uphill. I would try to maximize my speed downhill, pedalling if possible (with resistance, spinning without resistance just makes me unsteady), and as soon as my speed drops a little try to downshift and find the right gearing for that speed, the next moment downshift a bit more to that right gearing, etc until you're either at the top of the hill or on your lowest gear.

I'm trying to imagine it and I think that coming fast into a steep hill I maybe downshift in 3 or 4 separate "sessions", several gears at a time, if that makes sense, before ending up on my smallest grinder gears. It comes with practice, judging at which speed you can use which gear, or rather - how much slowing down needs to generate how much downshifting.

I would think it helps to practice on the same hill or the same route, and try out several strategies. Downshifting too much is rarely a problem, you can just shift up a bit, but downshifting too little will have you struggling to shift again under pressure.

Oh, and long hills really are all about just grinding along, all momentum lost... Sing to yourself, stand a little, sit a little, practice reaching for your water bottle, don't worry about speed :-)

[Grog]

I have this problem with loosing my momentum rather early and then wind up spinning/grinding up the hill at 6mph - though perhaps that isn't so bad.

Indeed it doesn't seem bad to me.

Any tips on how I can maintain my momentum longer? I suspect that I am gearing down too soon - just trying to work this out in my head.

For what it's worth, I tend to pedal harder on the downhills if I see an uphill ahead. Once I'm on the uphill, I try to ease the pedaling and change gear just a second before I need to do it. Two seconds if I need to switch to another chainring. Practice allows me to do this pretty seamlessly now so to avoid losing momentum. On a 2-km hill however momentum becomes pretty irrelevant: it will help you for the first 300 meters and then you're on your own. A mantra will be more useful than momentum at that stage.

[Becky]

For what it's worth, I tend to pedal harder on the downhills if I see an uphill ahead. Once I'm on the uphill, I try to ease the pedaling and change gear just a second before I need to do it. Two seconds if I need to switch to another chainring. Practice allows me to do this pretty seamlessly now so to avoid losing momentum. On a 2-km hill however momentum becomes pretty irrelevant: it will help you for the first 300 meters and then you're on your own. A mantra will be more useful than momentum at that stage.

This is pretty much what I do. It's taken me a long time to get comfortable with it. Keep practicing, and the technique will come. For short rolly hills, you may be able to gain enough momentum on the downhill to power up the other side without downshifting or by downshifting just a cog or two.

I spent a winter using the "Hillacious" Spinervals video (the one with the Great Harvest Bread Co. team), and the techniques that I learned from it have really had a positive impact on my climbing ability. If you're a trainer user, this might be an option....

[malkin]

There's a stop sign at the bottom of the beginning of the big hill on my commute.

I've got a granny gear, and I know how to use it.

[tulip]

Like Grog and Becky said: don't coast down the hill--there's always an up on the other side of the down. Pedal (in harder gears) down and shift as you need to going up the other side. It will take practice.

[Catrin]

Thanks for all of the advice, and I will try to remember this during this week when I head back out on the bike. I WOULD like to practice what hills I can before next Saturday.

I have tried to pedal downhill, but found that it was just free-wheeling and just odd - however I didn't try to shift into a harder front gear.

So what I am hearing is that I need to practice more, of course, and resist the temptation to coast downhill. I LIKE coasting downhill - it is fun However I need a different approach because this isn't helping me much in getting up the next hill. I do NOT want to wind up walking that 1.5 mile hill next Sat Not that there is anything wrong with walking up a hill, just saying...

[indysteel]

You will develop a better feel for it with practice. While I know there are some elevation changes in the area where you ride, it's still relatively flat. Once you start doing some rides south of Indy, you'll get a lot more practice with it.

I'd also say that momentum only gets you so far in Indiana, as I wouldn't describe the terrain as rolling. Do the second day of the Horsey Hundred in Kentucky, and you'll understand the difference. Here, the hills aren't as constant and they can be abrupt and steep, so while you may have a bit of momentum going into the hill, it is unlikely to be enough to get to the top. In fact, it may barely get you up halfway. I actually tend to rely less on momentum with some of these steeper hills and more on choosing a gear at the outset that will allow me to set a sustainable pace up the hill. I do not keep the same cadence on those hills that I use on the flats. I would blow up if I tried to do that. Rather, I get in a relatively easy gear, take a deep breath and then just pace myself up, susatining a good balance between aerobic and power outputs.