Optimum weight for hills?

[ny biker]

No weight I have ever been has been particularly happy on hills.

What she said.

I was only a few pounds above the "optimal" weight last year and was just as slow going uphill as I was when I weighed 15 pounds more.

[tulip]

When I'm between 120 and 125 pounds, I'm a whole lot better climber than when I was 145 pounds. No question.

I can't really say that I'm a better climber because I'm lighter or because I'm riding more. For me, when I ride alot, extra weight does not stick around. I cannot do a controlled experiment that would entail alot of riding/training and being heavy; my body just doesn't function that way.

To the OP, focus on riding alot and climbing and intervals. You will become a better climber that way. Just ride.

[shootingstar]

Am trying to imagine what it be like for me to be approx. 120 lbs. if that rough ratio was properly applied to my height, 5'1".

Or even reduce it abit to 110 lbs. if I became a muscular powerhouse, since my bone structure is small, not just because I'm short.


Am having a hard time imagining the above, because I have never been up that high. Just going over 100 lbs. makes work harder to get the weight down.

But I do know someone who is 4'11" and is 106-108 lbs, cycles (commutes, long-distance bike touring), plays tennis several times per week and does some weight-training also several times per week. She looks slim.

[tulip]

I'm too lazy to figure out what my ideal weight would be using that formula given earlier, but I'm 5'6". Of course, height matters!

[OakLeaf]

When I was leg-pressing 220# and doing a whole lot of upper body work as well, I was still lighter than that ratio by a couple of pounds, and I'm definitely happier on hills now that I'm doing less strength training. It's not my optimum weight for anything, except maybe bodybuilding for appearance, which just isn't my thing.

A couple of weeks ago I posted that thing from the NYT about finding one's ideal weight, which according to the article, even today is a matter of trial and error for every athlete. Obviously different body types will be better at different sports, and even at different disciplines within a sport (compare Olympic sprinters with Olympic marathoners, or the hill climbing specialists on a cycling team with the time trialists or the sprinters).

[limewave]

I get regular testing done on my body composition. I know its not all 100% accurate, but I usually come out with 145lbs lean body weight. Does that mean if I had 0% body fat, I would weigh 145 lbs? Just wondering. That would put me 10 lbs over my 2:1 ratio.

[TryingisDying]

0% body fat would put you at 145lbs of lean solid muscle......