Tip for Hills

[VeganBikeChick]

As a newbie, hills are my worst enemy...right now A friend told me a tip I thought I'd pass on...

She said when you're climbing a hill, look down at the ground, not at the hill, and it will seem much more doable. I tried it today on my commute in, and it worked . Instead of walking my bike up the 3 blocks I normally can't ride up, I only had to walk it up 2. Major accomplishment!

[jlnc]

Someone told me the same tip a few weeks ago and it does help! I also have to keep reminding myself to relax (drop) my shoulders and not to get so anxious about trying to get up the hill fast. Just relax!

[Velocivixen]

Excellent for you! Now that you mentioned it, I've noticed the same thing.

Keep up the good work.

[azfiddle]

And smile when you ride up a hill. It helps you relax ...

[grey]

I do the "look at the ground" thing on really long climbs - and focus on breathing rather than the hill itself (I count seconds for lengths of breath). I will try to smile. :-)

[Grog]

And smile when you ride up a hill. It helps you relax ...

Agreed, except I'd add: when you see a hill (before you start climbing it), smile. Even if you don't feel like it. It will become a habit and make you embrace them rather than resist them.

[szsz]

And smile when you ride up a hill. It helps you relax ...

Also, sing Climb Every Mountain !! (When I have enough breath to do so.)

[westtexas]

I look at the ground and talk to myself - "you can do it! almost there!" - it really helps. As soon as you feel the ground level out again it's awesome!

[marni]

it also helps to sit up straight and breath deeply while looking at the ground and pushing down and back on your shoulders and smiling- it realeases tension, prevents the death grip crouch of desperation, and assures adequate air to keep the legs moving. REmember the top of thehill will still be there whenever you get there so unless you are in a race, there is absolutely no reason to speed, focus more on endurance and and enjoyment and less on suffering and dreading.

[crazycanuck]

Another thought-don't hold onto the bars for dear life & relax your shoulders/keep them away from your ears. Remember to breathe & tell your legs to keep quiet.

The hill will end!

[new2ride]

Great advice . . . I've had to conquer hills and I'm finally able to do so. I have a ride coming up at the end of this month and there is one hill in this ride that is really going to be a challenge. Last year I had to walk my bike up this hill and this year, I am determined to ride the mother of all hills. I've been riding every night, taking different trails to include hills. I've also been advised that when riding up a hill to kind of zig zag from one side to the other. It helps with the climb. I've also been told to try and stand and peddle, but that's not working for me. It feels too awkward.

I keep telling myself hills are my friend (don't know if I'm convinced yet)

[Tri Girl]

never thought about that- great tip!! A couple years ago, someone told me to pull up on the pedals on the upstroke when going uphill- that's helped me a lot, too.

After 6 years of riding, I still suck at hills. I can descend like a mad-woman (FAST) and I'm pretty decent on flats, but throw in a hill and I immediately fall to the back of whatever pack I'm in (even if we are equal cyclists on all other counts). It's so frustrating to me. I hit a hill and I go backwards.
I've tried everything, gearing down, gearing up, spinning, mashing, etc. Nothing works for me. I wish I could figure it out.

[wackyjacky1]

Someone on this board once posted "boobs to the tube" with regard to hill climbing (meaning lean forward). When I do that, and keep an easy, loose grip on the bars, that really helps. (In fact, I find myself saying it over and over in my head as I climb: boobs to da tube, boobs to da tube! ) Don't remember who said it, but it stuck with me, and it does work.

That, along with not looking up at the hill you're climbing (just look far enough ahead to keep from crashing into something) are the things that help me get up those #@% hills.

[Tri Girl]

"boobs to the tube"

Well, thanks to age and gravity- I don't have far to lean.
Good tip as well!

[colorisnt]

I hate hills, too, ever since moving to a hilly place.

If it is a small "hump" (a lot of them in my hometown are short climbs), I have found that getting out of the saddle is appropriate. If they are legit hills, I do the following:
get UPRIGHT like people are saying. Hands close to my center of gravity. Sit up and look at the crest of the hill or just where you are going.

Breathe!

Just focus on how fast I am spinning because that is the thing that will get me up the hill.

I feel that riding with more experienced road riders helps because I can hear when the shift and better know what to do. That has been helping A LOT.