How do I prepare for hills?

[AuntieK]

Gotta agree with Yellow on this one...DO NOT let hills freak you out!!

When I first started riding I was totally fine on the hills (didn't know better ). Then I started freaking whenever I saw a hill coming, and thus started hating hills.

I have recently learned that hills aren't as bad as I have built them up to be in my head. Actually, now that I know I can handle them, they're kind of fun in a challenging kind of way.

So go do the hills... you can do it!

[TexasKate]

Thanks so much for the advice and encouragement, ladies. We do have some overpasses here that I can do daily, and on weekends I can go out to where the slower, more gradual hills are. There aren't any real steep grades down here (bottom tip of Texas), but it does get VERY windy. I rested yesterday after my first 25 mile ride Saturday (I know I keep mentioning this, but I'm really quite proud of myself) and went out to ride 16 miles today, and took on the overpass that's about 8 miles into the ride. I took your advice and looked up only enough to make sure nothing was in my way, then just concentrated on getting to the top. It wasn't bad...AND the first 8 miles of the ride was into a really stiff headwind. Whew!

Thanks again!