new strategy & mantra for the hills

**SadieKate** · 08-01-2005, 01:08 PM

Originally Posted by newbiechick

A cyclist friend of mine also suggested sitting back when going up hill. I've tried this a couple of times--only for seconds--and both times immediately leaned forward again. It just didn't feel natural to me. Maybe I need to just submit myself to trying it all the way up a hill to see if I can get comfortable with it. When I think that it might somehow "open" my lungs, it makes more sense. It just doesn't feel right. Any thoughts, suggestions? Or do I just need to practice it?

Shelley
aka newbiechick

Did she mean "sit more upright" or push your butt back on the saddle? Pushing back on the saddle extends your legs so you use your larger leg and glute muscles to climb.

**newbiechick** · 08-01-2005, 01:25 PM

Originally Posted by SadieKate

Did she mean "sit more upright" or push your butt back on the saddle? Pushing back on the saddle extends your legs so you use your larger leg and glute muscles to climb.

Hmmmm ... maybe I misunderstood what she meant. I'll have to check with her. I'll definitely try your suggestion of pushing back on the saddle. Thanks!

Shelley

**newrider** · 08-01-2005, 05:22 PM

Unfortunately, I'm still in the "wussy lungs, wussy legs, too" category. BUT I just keep at it anyway. It's SO fun to feel myself getting stronger.

On the other "hills/affirmations" thread on TE, someone suggested to "pedal in circles". That is what I'm always thinking/chugging as I spin up, and it works for me (thanks, whoever you were

. Hills here are pretty much something I handle on the middle chain ring, considering the "top of hill exertion" a windsprint or interval, or whatever the term may be for kicking my butt for awhile, then riding within my target heart rate range for awhile again till the next hill. And the flight downhill is ALWAYS worth the effort up.

Newbiechick, you have my deepest respect and admiration as you handle southern Indiana hills on a hybrid! You are a magnificent woman!!!! You can sit farther back on the saddle AND sit more upright (you're right, for more lung capacity (upright) and for more hamstring/glut input (farther back), too). Girl, when you DO get that road bike in a year or so, you'll have wings. Keep up the great work! You're incredible!!!

**shewhobikes** · 08-01-2005, 06:09 PM

Good thread! I tackled the longest, steepest hill of my short riding career Saturday before last. It kept going and going and going. I thought we were done until we rounded a curve and

here comes another, oh, quarter of a mile straight up with the sun in your face. I had to really talk to myself so as to not get off the bike. Being mid-divorce, I am focused on being strong, so I said, "You are gutsy, you are strong, you can do it" over and over. Well, it worked, though it's not too poetic or original!

A more experienced rider also recommended to me sitting more upright and I find it really helps. She said sitting low and aerodynamic isn't going to help you climbing a hill, given that you are putting more weight on the front wheel, thereby digging into the hill. Makes sense. I shift back a little in the saddle, sit more upright and move my hands back closer to the stem. Opens my lungs up, too, and it seems to help me.

Good luck with those hills!

**SandyLS** · 08-01-2005, 06:54 PM

I find myself silently singing "Climb any Mountian" from the Sound of Music or "I Am Woman", I believe it is a Helen Reddy tune? Believe me no one wants to hear me sing out loud! I don't know if it really helps. No mountians in this part of the state, but so far I haven't had to walk up the hills this year.

**newbiechick** · 08-01-2005, 06:58 PM

Originally Posted by shewhobikes

so I said, "You are gutsy, you are strong, you can do it" over and over. Well, it worked, though it's not too poetic or original!

I think that's a FABULOUS mantra! Who needs poetry when you're workin' your butt off ... I want something succinct and full of power!

Thanks for the kudos. I know I haven't begun to tackle the toughest hills down here yet, but one of these days I will. And with all the great input I'm getting on this thread I trust that I will soon be up to the challenge.

It's funny, having never ridden anything but a hybrid, I guess I'm oblivious to my "handicap." My fiance says (in his ever-supportive, ever-modest way), your bike weighs at least 5 pounds more than mine, and you're pushing that much more up the hill!! So sweet of him.

Of course, I can easily carry an extra 5 pounds the week before my period, so I don't see how 5 pounds of weight is going to make that much difference.

I guess I'll just look forward to that day I get a road bike and find myself flying effortlessly up every hill. That's the way it will be, right? :wink:

I really do appreciate all the feedback and great advice.

Shelley

**latelatebloomer** · 08-01-2005, 07:16 PM

Don't know but maybe this will help some of my fellow really new riders with the issue of getting the lungs to open up. In spin classes, we did a good long warm up (my trainer, who just won the PA Master's Championship & is going for the Nationals in IN, is VERRRY serious about warm up, cool down, and stretching) but when I started road riding - I'm facing a hill of some sort almost right away no matter which way I turn out of the driveway. (I ride in eastern PA, any flat land was shipped to the midwest centuries ago). The suggestion was made that before I get on the bike, I go for a short brisk walk to open the lungs and warm the legs. That has really helped, especially in cooler weather.

To the good, as frustrated as I can get with my progress sometimes, today a woman my age thought I was ten years younger than she. I guess I gotta get her on a bike

**Pax** · 08-02-2005, 06:17 AM

As I said previously, we don't have any hills here but I was doing a club ride a few years ago in an area that had hills...I gutted my way up this long steep grade and chanted to myself "don't you DARE quit" all the way up. I reached the top and felt utterly spent...then a rotweiler launched himself off the top step of a nearby farmhouse and gave chase...it was amazing what reserves I had left when I felt "spent".

**AsaG** · 08-02-2005, 06:49 AM

I have to admit, I like hills, and I just love the feeling of accomplishment and the feeling of working my body when I go up a good hill. But then again I am terrified of going down hill, which is not good as it is hard to find an uphill where there isn't a downhill. For going up a tough hill the bike guru here suggested holding the top of the handlebars and then just try and be upright and concentrate on pulling up on the pedals and in that way using different muscles to help you up. I definitely find the thought of dancing on the pedals helpful when I have to stand up.
Best
Asa G.

**Honeywell23** · 08-02-2005, 07:23 AM

I just tell myself as I am pumping up the hill that if Lance can do it, I can do it.. It always works!

**Trek420** · 08-02-2005, 08:06 AM

Thanks Jobob for my new one. Strangely enough going down Mt. Diablo is not all downhill, there's this bit which I should know and expect where you go downhill, there's a flat section, turn and then WTF it's uphill again.

Shifted down, missunderestimated but dayuhm I was NOT gonna shift down again because
1) stuborn
2) determined
3) don't like to throw the chain
so I stand and right then jobob comes up behind and says those 2 little words "dig deep".

Not the fastest thing on 2 wheels but I got up and over. Thanks jobob I think I'll keep the mantra.

It replaces what I think Eddie said which goes something like "you're faster going than not going".

Later she blew past me and I say again man, that Riv's a puhrty bike.

**Grog** · 08-02-2005, 09:02 AM

Just two words on going "en danseuse" (dancing on the pedals):

1) watch out not to overdo it and end up sliding on the side if you loose proper contact with the road (road tires have a very narrow surface of contact with the pavement)

2) rocking the bike from side to side can make you spend more energy than it will give you.

so rock gently and make sure you strenghten your grip with the hand opposite to the side you're rocking to.

take care ladies!

**Melodylynn** · 08-02-2005, 09:12 AM

Well I tried the leg power and did a standing hill. Not so bad! I had to really catch my breath at the top but not like the other day. So it is working! Now we will see on Thursday....

Melody

**ACG** · 08-02-2005, 09:35 AM

What great tips on this thread! Thought about you all this a.m. as I rode up my 'weekday' hills, about 3/4 of a mile each hill, don't know the grade, but they are split by a stop sign. It seems I loose a little momentum when I have to stop, but I don't dare ride thru, too many cars and I don't want to die. As I go up the hills I find myself counting 1-2-3-4, breath. I used to be really winded when I reached the top, sometimes even dizzy. No more. The second hill also seems easier to achieve than the first. I noticed that if I concentrate on spinning more, I climb at a faster rate. I use the middle ring the whole way. Good luck to you all! (P.S. I hate going downhill too, but love the rest period)

**bikerchick68** · 08-02-2005, 10:31 AM

this is a great thread! just wanted to add my own mantra... taken from "It's Not About the Bike"... Lance said "Pain is temporary, quitting lasts forever"... that has helped me get up hills that 3 years ago I would have refused to WALK up!

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