Quote Originally Posted by indysteel View Post
You will develop a better feel for it with practice. While I know there are some elevation changes in the area where you ride, it's still relatively flat. Once you start doing some rides south of Indy, you'll get a lot more practice with it. ......... I actually tend to rely less on momentum with some of these steeper hills and more on choosing a gear at the outset that will allow me to set a sustainable pace up the hill. I do not keep the same cadence on those hills that I use on the flats. I would blow up if I tried to do that. Rather, I get in a relatively easy gear, take a deep breath and then just pace myself up, sustaining a good balance between aerobic and power outputs.
Indy - Thanks for this, it helps. I just got in from a light 20 mile ride - and tried to pay closer attention to my shifting on the steep hills along the way. It is kind of interesting how they come, perfectly flat ground then there is this short hill that is so steep that I wonder if I will make it to the top - and thankfully I always do. It doesn't seem to make all that much of a difference how fast I am going when I hit it...so it is good to hear that this sounds normal. I think it was easier today as I tried to shift more frequently instead of trying to power my way through it.

I am hoping the weather will permit me to head out Thursday after work and do some hill repeats on 875 and 200s in Boone County - if you are familiar with that area. After this next Saturday I want to start heading south every other Saturday, if possible, and play in the hills. I just wanted to get up to being able to tolerate longer rides first...