first hill ride

[alpinerabbit]

any advice on those stubborn hills?

Don't look up. Never. Only see the 2-3 meters of road in front of your wheel. It's less intimidating and suddenly you see the end coming.
This is the only quote from Lance I care for.

You don't stand on a sustained climb because it wears you out too quickly, as you'll tend to be 1-2 gears higher up and your HR goes up thru the roof.
But you can power up a little roller without losing momentum. Or power up over the crown of a hill if you know you'll get some rest right after.
But it helps now and then to give your back, and your leg muscles some relief (different usage) on a sustained climb.

You'll do 20 miles of gigantic mtns soon. then 40 - 60 - no one's gonna stop you

another lesson: don't cross-chain. i.e. don't use your leftmost ring in front with your rightmost sprocket in back. Pretty easy once you learn to look down. Reason: it's easier on the equipment. (On a double crankset I don't *really* care)

[SouthernBelle]

Don't look up. Never. Only see the 2-3 meters of road in front of your wheel. It's less intimidating and suddenly you see the end coming.
This is the only quote from Lance I care for.

I pick some spot just a way ahead, fence, mailbox, greasy spot... and ride for that. Then I pick another. Finally, I'm close enough that I can pick the top of the hill.

[SlowButSteady]

I'm a big, chunky gal and I love to ride hills (up at least, the downs are a bit scarey). I'm in the Upstate of SC, so we're pretty doggone hilly but not mountainous.

It's my 4th year cycling, and I'm just now learning how to stand up while pedaling!! (I'm so uncoordinated I can FALL off a bike trainer in my living room).

I like it, but I also like grinding away slowly while seated.

When a hill nearly kicks my butt, I concentrate on pulling up with my pedal more than pushing down. It's also good not to look and see how far it is to the top, as has been suggested.

And it's a psych thing, but I imagine that I'm pedaling downhill. There are angles in space from which--if you could observe yourself--you'd be going downhill.

When I ride at the beach, which is very flat, I always remind myself how lucky I am to live in a hilly area because at home I can coast nearly 50% of the time. When I'm at the beach, it's pedaling almost constantly--no rest & windy.

Enjoy yourself--learn to embrace hills

[breezy]

I always remind myself how lucky I am to live in a hilly area because at home I can coast nearly 50% of the time. When I'm at the beach, it's pedaling almost constantly--no rest & windy.

Huh.
I never thought of it that way.
This should be in some cycling bible somewhere.

[Zen]

I pick some spot just a way ahead, fence, mailbox, greasy spot... and ride for that. Then I pick another. Finally, I'm close enough that I can pick the top of the hill.

That's exactly what I do, too.
greasy spot
road kill?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

That's exactly what I do, too.
greasy spot
road kill?

Ah yes, the always inspiring "if I can just make it to that next bloated racoon" mantra!

The more hills you do, the smaller they get.
(Had to chuckle at the Oklahoma part though.)

Tip- If you're a beginner, you might not want to be changing big gears (left hand shifter) right in the middle of your hardest climb. Get into your chosen big ring at the bottom, and then play with your rear gears during the climb.