Standing hills

[ragbrai40]

We've discussed cadence, now I'd like some feedback on standing hills.

Last year was my first full year w/new road bike and I felt too awkward to tackle any standing hills. So this year when doing hills, I've been standing but am finding my pedal stroke is very jerky, not a smooth motion. Am I in too high/easy of a gear?

And I also seem to get very winded, heart rate sky rockets and I end up sitting before the top of the hill. What's up with that? Obviously I'm doing something way wrong.

In spinning (I know - no comparison) when we did hills, it was hard pedaling, but I could keep my breathing and heart rate steady.

I'm going out tonight to tackle a couple of "monster" hills to celebrate my 41st bday and really would like to "own" them 1st time out!!!!!

Appreciate any comments......

[Veronica]

My heart rate also tends to skyrocket when I stand on hills, especially on the tandem, less so on my single, if I don't think about controlling my motions. I try to be in a gear that's enough to support my weigh, but where I can still keep a fairly high cadence when I stand. I typically wait until I know I can crest the hill while standing, before I stand up. Although on some long climbs - Mount Diablo for example - standing is just a nice change of pace.

Veronica

[ragbrai40]

ok - makes sense. Another question and maybe it's a personal thing, would you be more apt to stand on a shorter steeper hill vs. a longer gradual hill?

I think I was standing too soon into the hill and between nervousness of expermimenting and all other factors, I overexerted and rode the crest seated instead of standing.

What/where is Mt. Diablo?

Thanks.

[Veronica]

I tend to stand on shorter, steeper hills personally. Maybe at the end of a long one, I'll stand. Depends on how tired I am. Mt Diablo is about 3400 feet up, ten miles by road, in the SF Bay area. Here's a link to some pics.

V.

http://tandemhearts.com/Mount-Diablo/index.html

[ragbrai40]

Great pics! We're in corn country here, but it isn't flat - contrary to popular belief! We have some nice views, but nothing quite like that!

[Veronica]

BTW Happy Birthday! I hope you whip those hills into shape!

Veronica

[ragbrai40]

Thanks - the weather isn't quite cooperating, it's 50 degrees w/15 -20 mph winds......BUT I will keep my date with the hills!

[Veronica]

So dress warmly - keep your knees covered. Forget about the wind, it will make you stronger! And go ride anyway. If you're not having fun 30 minutes into it - turn around and go home.

Veronica

[ragbrai40]

I do have warm gear packed - thanks!

The ride won't be a long one, the primary purpose is a vengance ride - to conquer the hill that I couldn't get up last year on my birthday! I got up it later in the year but decided that every spring I will ride that hill for the first time of the year on my birthday to redeem myself! And I have every bit of confidence that I will OWN it today! Wind or no wind! Grrrrr!

(Can you tell I'm getting pysched!)

[Veronica]

Yippee! You go girl. I have my own ride that I do to challenge myself. It's this coming Saturday. Sometimes... I think I'm nuts. Have fun!

Veronica

[Dogmama]

Approach the hill at a fairly good pace. You don't want to be winded, but you want your momentum to help you up the hill. You don't want to be spinning, but don't be mashing either. How's that for ambiguity?

Once you start up the hill, stay seated as long as possible Get your butt back towards the rear of the saddle so you can push with your gluteal muscles. Don't forget to pull with your opposite leg. Shift before you have to stand and while you're keeping a fairly good cadence.

If you start to run out of gears stand. Again, focus on pushing with your gluteal muscles. That means you'll be bent over rather than standing straight up. You may have to shift to a harder gear once you stand. That's OK.

If you can avoid it, you never want to start a hill standing & have to sit before you crest it. When you sit, you'll need to shift to an easier gear. If you don't have an easier gear....timberrrrr!!!

Short steep hills - I mix it up. Sometimes I stand & other times I practice sitting for as long as I can.

When you're sitting, don't hunch over. You want your ribcage expanded as much as possible so that you can suck in the air you need!

And repeat after me: Hills are my friends. Hills are my friends...

[KTeach]

Great pics!

[Veronica]

Dogmama, I love you advice about a mantra. My upcoming ride is actually a series of several climbs, the first being Mount Diablo at 3800 feet, next up is a county park at about 2200, then comes a pass that actually has, "Oh my God" painted at the base. That's about as far as I got last year - 91 miles, 9,000 feet of climb in about nine hours total riding time. I was unhappy about the time. This year I'd like to get to mile 115. It'll add about 2,000 feet of climb. I'll obsess about the time later.


Veronica

[ragbrai40]

Thanks dogmama, from your description I have some work to do on my form.

[SadieKate]

then comes a pass that actually has, "Oh my God" painted at the base

Veronica, what pass?

One of the hills near Berryessa says "You're almost home! Dig deep!. I really didn't think it was that big of a hill until I remembered it is part of the Davis DC.

I kind of like collecting quotes from "the road." Makes me feel like I'm just following in my Tribe's footsteps.

Ragbrai40 - so how was the Bday ride? Where I live is pancake flat except for the invisible hills which other people call the wind. Real hill training is done by sprinting over the freeway bridges.