Hills

[Thorn]

All great advice. One thing I noticed more in my DH was the problem of deciding you can't do it before you start. That is, when we first started riding he would see a hill and pre-decide he'd have to walk. The hill had him beat before his front wheel even detected the incline. If you don't conquer the panic feeling you get when you see that wall...err..I mean hill in front of you, the panic will win and you'll suffer because of it. The panic zaps your energy.

So...when you see the hill, sigh deeply (really, it is good for you), gear down as low as you need to (don't be one of those people who saves a gear "just in case"--use it!), relax and just focus on spinning the cranks. If/When you get the point where you're in your lowest gear and the spin is gone, then just focus on keeping a rhythm through the grinding. Stay relaxed, breathe, and as someone said, smile--each pedal stroke is one more step to conquering that hill.

Oh, and try to keep going. When you get tired and think about walking, instead, think about relaxing. Ungrit those teeth, relax the upper body and let the legs just do the work. You might be surprised that you have more there then you think.

[XMcShiftersonX]

All great advice. One thing I noticed more in my DH was the problem of deciding you can't do it before you start. That is, when we first started riding he would see a hill and pre-decide he'd have to walk. The hill had him beat before his front wheel even detected the incline. If you don't conquer the panic feeling you get when you see that wall...err..I mean hill in front of you, the panic will win and you'll suffer because of it. The panic zaps your energy.

Very true! And the more hills I've done I've realized that hills often look scarier/harder than they actually are when you're on them.

[sundial]

5 Ways to Become a Better Climber

[hoffsquared]

It took me nine months to conquer a hill with an 100 ft elevation increase over .1 mile (17% grade - 20% at it's steepest) on my commute home. I would have to get off the bike at the steepest point. I actually thought I would never ever be able to ride up this hill.

Did it just two weeks ago several times in one week. And twice last week. Not something I can do every day and don't try every day.

I stay in the saddle as long as possible at the lowest gear and switch into lowest early. Then try to get at least 20 rotations in. If feeling good, a few more. If it even feels a bit easier on a rotation --- then success.

So keep plugging away.

[ekcjwc]

I think each of you have hit on part of my problem in climbing. Just a little more background on me. I do clip in. I exercise at least five days a week with one/two days of strength training. As part of my exercise program, I try to run at least one day a week. I think part of my problem is that I dread the hill when I see it coming. Another problem is that I try to hit the hill too hard and too fast. I should slow done and keep my heart heart down. Maybe I should learn to just slow done and push through it and REMAIN CALM!

[ny biker]

I used to hate hills. I got upset when I would see one in front of me. Then I did a metric on the eastern shore of Maryland -- pancake flat and boring as all get-out. I realized that at least the hills give you some variety.

Now I actually like them. I'm still really slow going up, but who cares.

So yeah, just smile and enjoy the downhill when it comes.

[BluOrchid2]

One of my most grueling rides last summer was a loop around a local lake - pretty much all hills, one after another. The good thing is that they were ONE AFTER ANOTHER...which meant using momentum from the previous downhill to make it about halfway up the next hill without having to exert too much power. By the time I realized what a big hill I was climbing, I was 2/3 of the way up it and just told myself to get it done.