What qualifies as a hill for hill repeats?

[Geonz]

We havea loooong gradual hill. I got purty good at hills by following Ed's "accelerate the whole way" rule (it's about three miles)... you don't accelerate a lot, but you *never* slow down. You are toast at the top.
Short 9%ers would also be good... we sure ain't got those around here. We have the wind, though, and it works. I've gone back east to the hills and conquered them.

[Kano]

If I move into the small ring, it's a HILL. If I move to the big one on the back end, (what the heck do we call those?) it's a MOUNTAIN. Never mind if it's really a mountain or not, it's a MOUNTAIN.

Some days, magic happens and what was a HILL last time I rode it is suddenly a MOUNTAIN. Sometimes other magic happens and the HILLs become hills.

If I'm climbing a MOUNTAIN and have to keep telling myself "I think I can I think I can," then there's a BIG party at the top, even if it's just going on inside my head!

Some of the hills I ride are invisible. My legs feel them, but my eyes can't see them. Those aren't for repeats, but anything else qualifies -- if I'm in the mood to punish myself! (though the last time I did that, it was a biggun that I'd never gotten all the way to the top of before, and I did it!)

Karen in Boise

[Kano]

Oops, I forgot: if ANY hill has lotsa traffic, I definitely don't repeat it. I get up it as quickly as I possibly can -- not very! -- and get the heck away from it before any of the cars get me!

Karen in Boise

[rachelroo]

Hi, I'm originally from Minneapolis... Theres lots of hills in stillwater, and it's a beautiful city.

[madscot13]

Bike on over to SP and ride up and down the Grand hill! (That is if you don't pass out on the upwards part or die because your brakes weren't crisp enough for the stoplight at the bottom).

My goal is to be able to go up the hill with poise by the end of the summer.

[BadgerGirl]

Thank you for this post...I was just wondering about hill repeats. I live near Boulder, CO and there are lots of mountains. I want to ride up Flagstaff Rd and Lookout Mtn road this year. I know I can do it, but the whole double chainring gets me! Thanks for all the advice!

[pyxichick]

Northstar,

For something quick and close by, I like the hill on West River Road just under the Franklin Av. Bridge. It's a decent enough grade and takes me over 2 min. to go up.

Further away, there's the Smith Av. (High Bridge) hill in St. Paul that is a good challenge, esp. if you take the road all the way up to the crest of the hill. This one is super fun to ride down!

And if you're in that area, there's the Ohio st. hill, which is shorter and steep.

Another close one is the one that goes down to the Ford dam on West River Road. This one is great to just go up and down, since there's rarely any traffic. I've seen people doing walking repeats there, too.

If you want a long hill, try Upper Afton Road in St. Paul (Woodbury?) which I just did today and boy do my legs know it!

Have fun! And if you don't already have a riding group, think about going on one of the group rides out of NOW Bikes on Snelling in St. Paul, Tuesdays at 6 pm and Saturdays at 8 am. They're very welcoming and it's a good way to learn new routes.

Kate