Climbing - oh those hills!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

One habit I try to overcome on hill climbing is that when I don't pay attention, I begin to synch my breathing along with my pedal strokes- one whole in/out short breath per stroke. This is no good! When I catch myself doing that I stop it and start breathing more relaxed and deeply and slowly. When i do that it winds up being about 1/3 less the number of breaths, but much deeper breaths, and I feel like I'm getting more oxygen...my heart slows down and I relax more.
Pay attention to your breathing cadence and avoid having it synch to your pedaling.

[OakLeaf]

well, I'm going to have to disagree with that. Just goes to show everyone's different.

I find that I breathe much more efficiently both running and cycling when it's synced to my cadence. Chi Running definitely recommends syncing one's breath as a way of maintaining body awareness. Swimming, obviously everyone has to sync, like it or not. If you feel you're breathing too fast, try adding a pedal stroke - in one, out two; in two, out two; in two, out three; or whatever.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

well, I'm going to have to disagree with that. Just goes to show everyone's different.

I find that I breathe much more efficiently both running and cycling when it's synced to my cadence. Chi Running definitely recommends syncing one's breath as a way of maintaining body awareness. Swimming, obviously everyone has to sync, like it or not. If you feel you're breathing too fast, try adding a pedal stroke - in one, out two; in two, out two; in two, out three; or whatever.

Yes I hear you.
I guess what I mean is that when I absent mindedly synch my breaths with my pedaling, my breaths are way too quick and shallow. Then when I double the length of breaths and still synch them to the pedaling, I'm not breathing fast enough, even when breathing deeply and calmly. So for me, I have to just concentrate on my breathing as a separate rhythm and try to get the right breathing cadence that feels oxygen rich and relaxed.
We are all different, and I tend to have respiratory/lung capacity issues, so that's just my own experience.
But being aware of one's breathing vs. pedaling cadence is certainly helpful to find what's right for each person. It's something that's easily overlooked.

[GLC1968]

A very experienced (completed the Assault on Mt Mitchell 29 times!) hill climber once told me, "smile as you climb". It's really, really hard to tense your upper body when you are genuinely smiling. Unbelieveable, but it totally works!

Plus, it's fun to think how much you are likely freaking out car drivers or other cyclists who see you struggling but with a big ol' grin on your face!

[indigoiis]

Once I was going up a hill, into the wind, and I was shouting "that's right, that's all ya got? Come on, this ain't steep! Where's the wind???" when I thought I was alone. Then I got passed by some guy and he was grinning ear to ear. I am not sure if it was to breathe better or because he was laughing at me.

[jobob]

Plus, it's fun to think how much you are likely freaking out car drivers or other cyclists who see you struggling but with a big ol' grin on your face!

Sounds like the TNT Death Ride team - they've been climbing big-azz hills with annoyingly happy smiles. Gahhhh.

Dachsund is particularly good at that...

[melissam]

Sounds like the TNT Death Ride team - they've been climbing big-azz hills with annoyingly happy smiles. Gahhhh.

Dachsund is particularly good at that...

No kidding. I give you Exhibit A:



The jury will note that:
1. Dachshund (on Orange Seven) is smiling; it's not even a fake smile or grimace/smile.
2. The rider in the foreground (one of our coaches -- a very nice person and SUPERB rider) is NOT smiling
3. The riders behind Dachshund are at a considerably lower elevation
4. One of the riders in the background is walking his bike

I rest my case.

[jobob]

That is precisely the picture I was thinking of.

There are other photos (one on Sierra road comes to mind), but the point has been made.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I always smile when going up our last very steep hill towards home. There are frequent cars and I don't want them thinking "OH I bet she's sorry she's on a bike- she must be miserable!".
I know I feel like joggers are miserable when I see their grimacing faces of pain.
I don't want any one thinking I'm not thoroughly enjoying my biking!
I often catch myself smiling a big smile when I'm riding my bike.

[smilingcat]

Wow smiling. and ye gawds. Those hills are steep. 12-15% grade??

me? I have no expression on my face when I climb. Really would love to go to the death ride.

[Dogmama]

I caught myself adjusting my cadence to a tune in my head. It was a nice song & made the hill not so arduous. No, I don't remember the song, but I'm sure it wasn't "99 bottles of beer on the wall"...

[Eden]

I caught myself adjusting my cadence to a tune in my head. It was a nice song & made the hill not so arduous. No, I don't remember the song, but I'm sure it wasn't "99 bottles of beer on the wall"...

Interestingly enough disco has a great beat to climb by..... (I'd watched Mystery Men the day before a hill climb race and had the BeeGees stuck in my head ) Then again, maybe I just climbed the hill fast so I could get that song out of my head.....

[jobob]

Wow smiling. and ye gawds. Those hills are steep. 12-15% grade??

At least.
We babbled some about that particular training ride here. Dachshund and Mel did really great on it. And it was another day in the park for MP.

me? I have no expression on my face when I climb. Really would love to go to the death ride.

I hope to do it next year, c'mon & join me!

[smilingcat]

I hope to do it next year, c'mon & join me!

Would love to do the ride. I found some of my old goodies from past death ride. 1992 I think it was. It's been a month or two since I dug'em up and put it away again.

Not quite a 20 year anniverary ride for me. Wow... what happened?? I'm not sure if that was the first one or second...

[BikingNurse]

Great article! I printed it out. I will definately look at my commute hill different. No longer something I have to "defeat".