Fit for the hills?

[liberty]

Gals, I need some input. There is a club ride coming up this weekend that I was hoping to ride in. 40 miles of rolling hills, with 2 climbs. I have been able to do about 70-80 miles of plain riding the past few weeks, but I am lacking in the hills training. Only have done maybe 40 miles of hills over the winter, and 30 miles of that was from last week. Do you think I can go ahead and do the club ride, or will it overstress my knees? The knees tend to let me know when I've overworked them. I absolutely love the club and can't wait to ride with them again. But I do want to be wise and not push myself too far. What do you guys think? I have been doing mainly flat rides, and many of them have been under very windy conditions.

[li10up]

GO FOR IT! The body is an amazing thing and the mind even more amazing. As long as you don't have any real physical issues that need to be addressed first I think you can do it. I didn't do any "real" training before I rode in my first metric century and my body rose to the occasion. You can always walk sections if you think they will hurt your knees. You won't know until you try!

[indysteel]

I'm a scaredy cat when it comes to climbing so I understand your dilemma. However, it's my lungs and not my knees that give out on me. That said, I you gotta start somewhere with this year's training. Despite my own doubts, I was planning to do a hilly 60-mile ride in Southern Indiana this coming weekend until the weather turned to-you-know-what.

Are your knees currently bothering you from riding in the flats? If so, I'd say you might want take it easy for a bit longer before taking on any big climbs. If your knees are doing okay, I'd encourage you to do the ride but go easy. Don't try to power up the hills. Assuming you stayed in decent shape over the winter, you'll do just fine. I find that when my knees start feeling a little tender, a few IT band stretches on a daily basis, ice and Motrin usually do the trick. So you might want to follow that regimen before and after the ride.

Good luck!

[SnappyPix]

I'd say go for it! If your riding buddies are worth their salt, they'll be happy to ride easy while you tackle the hills - and you may surprise yourself and do better than you think.
The best advice is to pace yourself and to use your gears - don't mash up the hills, spin in a nice easy gear that will give you enough resistance to climb steadily. Hills are definitely as much of a psychological battle as a physical one. Don't focus on getting to the top, just keep turning those pedals and focus on your form and your gears.
Good look in advance!

[aicabsolut]

The only way you'll get fit for hills is by riding more hills. Go for it. Join the pace group that you feel comfortable with and shift down if your knees start to get angry.

[Grog]

Spin those legs and go for it!

Spinning an easy gear will save your knees.

[Celeste]

Hills are definitely as much of a psychological battle as a physical one. Don't focus on getting to the top, just keep turning those pedals and focus on your form and your gears.

Thank you ladies! I too am having some hill anxiety. And reading these replies has helped.

I am training with TNT for a century ride and recently upgraded to the Lake Tahoe, "Americas Most Beautiful Bike Ride". The other century ride I had signed up for was very flat...Not the Tahoe ride!

We have begun hill training but am very anxious about it. Tomorrow will be our first "big hill" training and I am so nervous! The weather is supposed to be bad as well so that will make the training even more challenging.

Any other hill climbing advice you have would be helpful.

[liberty]

Ladies, you had me so encouraged to go on this ride. You are a great support system! Well... Today I received notice that the ride is canceled due to the forecast. Bummer. It has been rescheduled for the near future. I was thinking of going for a hill ride today, but it is 32* with 27 mph wind gusts. Hot chocolate and a good book sound more appealing...