Training for hills when you don't have them.

[Tri Girl]

We have no hills around here, but LOTS of crazy wind. Everyone says wind is good training for hills. I'm gonna call BS on that. I ride in crazy wind all the time, but when I went riding in the Rockies a couple summers ago- 1000 miles of riding in 30 mph wind did not prepare me for hills/mountains. Rubbish!!
For me, the only way to get better on hills is to train on hills. We have one significant hill about an hour drive away. Next time I attempt a hilly ride- I will drive out there and ride that thing a million times. But in all honestly- some people are just better climbers. I can descend like a rocket, but climb as nimbly as an elephant.

Until you can ride hills, what about just riding in a harder gear- simulating the toughness of a climb?

[marni]

got any high bridges or highway overpasses that you can ride over and over and over again each time in a more difficult gear while maintaining speed and or cadence?

just a thought.

marni

[ny biker]

Be careful with riding in a harder gear -- I tried it with a Carmichael Training Systems climbing video and it bothered my knees. Try harder gears gradually.

I am the kind of person who will ride up and down the same hill over and over if it's the only hill I can ride. When I'm pressed for time I will ride in a circle in my 'hood, up a hill on one street and then down on the next street over, 5 times in a row, then take a break and ride on flat roads for a few minutes, then go back and do it again 5-6 times in the opposite direction.

[luv2climb]

I ride a heavy adult trike up bridges, overpasses, and the few extremely short hills there are around here. Last winter that kept me from losing strength. I do my real climbing on longer hills once a week all year round (weather permitting).