Hi. I'm a Minnesota flatlander and have decided that I need to get stronger by working on some hills. Trouble is...there aren't really many around here, aside from some of the hilly streets in our neighborhood. I did find a two-block stretch that has about a 9% grade and about killed myself on it yesterday. But geez...two blocks? And so many of you ladies are out climbing mountains?
Why do I care at this point? My brother in law has asked me to do the bike leg of a co-ed duathlon with him the end of this summer...and I want to do well, and I feel like I need to do this so that I can be stronger all-around.We rode over the weekend, and I was able to keep pace with him, but know if we would have hit a hill, I would have been left in the dust!
What makes a hill a hill?
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05-29-2007, 05:21 AM #1
Shine on...
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What qualifies as a hill for hill repeats?
2007 Trek 5000
2009 Jamis Coda
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"I rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a bike. It gives her a feeling of self-reliance and independence the moment she takes her seat; and away she goes, the picture of untrammelled womanhood."
Susan B. Anthony, 1896
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05-29-2007, 05:24 AM #2
Don't whine
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Anything you have to work to climb sounds like a hill to me!
and your 9% grade for two blocks that you say nearly killed you sounds pretty perfect!"If Americans want to live the American Dream, they should go to Denmark." - Richard Wilkinson
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05-29-2007, 05:54 AM #3
"Ride lots!"
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That sounds like a good hill to do repeats on.
You might try doing different things each time you climb it - staying in the saddle, getting out of the saddle, maintaining a certain cadence, staying in a certain gear, keeping a particular HR.
Those are my tricks for keeping hill repeats from getting boring.
V.
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05-29-2007, 06:14 AM #4
What's next? A half iron?
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I do hill repeats on anything from 3-12% - depends on what I'm trying to work on. I have a few 3% grades that I try to go up as fast as I can and keep my speed up pretty high. Then I have a hill that is so steep that I can only do it once and my gola is just to get up it without stopping. The main one I do is just around the corner from home. It's about .5km long and about 6-9%. I time myself and do it about 6 times.
It is never too late to be what you might have been. ~ George Elliot
My podcast about being a rookie triathlete:Kelownagurl Tris Podcast
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05-29-2007, 06:44 AM #5
Shine on...
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All good and helpful suggestions...thanks!
2007 Trek 5000
2009 Jamis Coda
1972 Schwinn Suburban
"I rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a bike. It gives her a feeling of self-reliance and independence the moment she takes her seat; and away she goes, the picture of untrammelled womanhood."
Susan B. Anthony, 1896
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05-29-2007, 07:09 AM #6
Inner Geekette
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Sheesh, I've been known to do repeats on freeway overpasses when I'm desperate. Use what ya got.
Frends know gud humors when dey is hear it. ~ Da Crockydiles of ZZE.
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