Climbing Club

[Trekhawk]

Im hoping some of you wonderful ladies here at TE will be able to help keep me motivated to ride hills this year. I dont particularly like hills and Im not very good at them but I do like the way I feel when I have managed to complete a hilly ride. As I was chugga lugging my way up a hill today I thought maybe we could start a climbing club here at TE.

My idea was that each month we could start a thread and state what our goals are for that month. The girls with altimeters could state an amount in feet or metres that they wish to have gained by the end of the month. The girls without altimeters could perhaps state how many times throughout the month they would like to complete a hilly route or a certain hill. This would not be a competition just a way to compete against yourself to see if you can complete your goal for the month. At the end of the month we come back and see what we managed. As we get fitter and better at those nasty old hills our goals will change that is why I thought a goal for each month would be good.

I know this would help to keep me motivated to choose those hilly routes rather than the flat ones when I ride on my own (yep Im a slacker).

What do you think?? Anyone interested??

[maillotpois]

Sure.

And you know SK will be in.

[GLC1968]

Sign me up!

Though I'm probably a 'cheater' as I have already set my first cycling goal this year to complete a mountain century in May. Riding tons of hills between now and then is a must for me anyway.

But I'd love to mooch off my fellow TE'ers for motivation!

[RoadRaven]

Oh yes... this is such I good idea Trek

I completely suck on hills in a race situation, and racing is what I train for at the moment

While I could get by and sometimes still get placed in the beginning grade in my club, now I have moved up I get dropped on every hilly course.

I have goals for times on specific local inclines I train on... and am trying to build in regular hill reps in each training week...

I'd have to post in kilometres or time spent on hills, or number of hilly courses as I dont have an altimetre (yet... *cue wistful look on face* ) but this is an absolutely cool idea

[Trekhawk]

LOL - looks like my evil plan to inflict pain is working.

RoadRaven it doesnt matter how you decide to record it as long as it makes sense to you.

Aahhh looks like I wont be avoiding those hills for much longer - Thanks girls.

[Veronica]

We need to plan a ride up Diablo for you Trekhawk. And up Tam... And up Hamilton... but that may be too far to drive.

V.

[Lenusik]

I love hills, so please keep me posted. I will have a very certain goal this year. After having a baby I need to get back in my riding shape very quickly. I love to climb but really want to climb faster. I really want to learn to descent without being afraid - that's my challenge. I would like to participate in one of our local tours in October (baby is due in March). This tour has 3-4 very nice long hills.

[Eden]

One of the goals I've set for my year is 5 min off of my time at the Mt. Baker Hillclimb. It's not until September, so it'll be a bit of a wait to see if I can make that goal, but if I remember or you remind me I'll let you know if I make it.

[Fredwina]

Or you could come down here and do Glendora Mountain Road or Onyx Summit....
I would be in.
You can use Routeslip.com or something like it to get gain figures in the US ( SK - Yes, i know apps like Routeslip overstate gain)

[five one]

I have never been very good at hill climbing. Part of it is lack of lung power. Part of it is mental - I sometimes psyche myself right out of getting to the top. Especially if it's a hill I've had trouble with in the past or if others are passing me easily. DH is training for Climb to Kaiser in July. I plan to train with him, but have no aspirations to do the ride. There are other rides I plan to do this year and two have *those* hills. Maybe this will be the year I can get up and over them without stopping or walking. That's one of my goals for this year.

[maillotpois]

fiveone - good for your DH on C2K! And if you're training with him, you'll surely get better at hills even if you don't want to do that particular ride. What rides are you looking at doing? A great one for hills is Grizzly Peak in May. Also the Mt. Hamilton Challenge is a good ride as well.

[anakiwa]

Sounds good to me, I love hills.

This year I'd like to do better at the Mt. Equinox hillclimb race.

Long-term goal- Mt. Washington (not likely to happen this year it's the same weekend as a triathlon I want to do).

[jobob]

Yes, we need to get Trekhawk down here for an assault on Diablo. evil cackle


Oh, and mark your calendars for Wednesday Feb. 21 for the Second Annual Hugga-Chugga up Sierra Road to watch the Tour of California racers whiz by at an annoyingly fast pace.

Leebob and I will be making the ascent, I think V mentioned she and Thom were going.

Lee and I will probably stop partway up again - for the good vantage point, yeah, that's it!

[jobob]

Lee and I are planning on going up Calaveras on Saturday - Rougedog's post about Calaveras inspired me, and it should be really lovely up there right now with the hills greening up after the recent rains.

Maybe I can talk Lee into talking a left at the bottom of the Wall and going up Felter and then down Sierra.

[Veronica]

What time Jo? We have so much to do with fixing the garage door and the gate that was damaged. But maybe...

V.