Share how you came to love the hills

[2Gowans]

I prefer long & shallow downhill, but short steep uphill (so you can either sprint it or comfortably walk it if it's way too steep).

IMHO the only good thing about going uphill is that you can gauge your condition by seeing how far you get before you have to walk or use your lowest gear.

[bluebug32]

Today we hit a 20% grade and some other whoppers. It's really all about the self talk and not letting yourself give up no matter what. This can be a metaphor for so many things in life and, while it could take years to climb to greatness at work or in a relationship, you can gain instant "I kick ***" gratification on a hill. Today I dug to the bottom of my toes for inspiration. At one point, I thought I was done and another monster hump appeared. I muttered, "I just can't do this" to my boyfriend, who gave me a friendly slap and confirmed that I could and didn't give me any other choice. I raised up off the saddle, let out an angry grunt, and felt the energy surge through my body, shooting out the bottom of my feet as I left him in the dust and pedaled for the top.

[mudmucker]

I've learned to love hills because I have so many around me and if I want to leave the car in the yard for the weekend and ride from the house, which is every weekend, then I must ride over them. I've learned to accept them because I can't avoid them, and so I make them into challenges. I condition myself to these hills and work on intervals to become stronger to make them even easier to get up as the season goes on. It's sort of a matter of biking survival. And before you know it, they are easier and the hills are actually fun, even when some are still hard. Not without a little pain in the beginning of the season though. Then sometimes when I bike in other areas to the east later in the season; Shirley, Lancaster, Westford, Bolton, Concord, Littleton, Groton, or in the valley to the west; Greenfield, Deerfield, Whately - these areas seem so insanely flat by comparison that these rides don't really seem like a lot of work at all (if it's not too windy) but they are very fun.

It's hard to talk about hills, just like when people talk about avg mph. Hills are hills and it's relative to what one is used to and what they have to deal with in their backyard. What is a hill to one person may not be a hill to another person.

[redrhodie]

It's hard to talk about hills, just like when people talk about avg mph. Hills are hills and it's relative to what one is used to and what they have to deal with in their backyard. What is a hill to one person may not be a hill to another person.

You're so right. I thought I shouldn't post here because although I have learned to love the hills I regularly ride, they're nothing to write home about (to me anymore). I actually saw someone struggling up one of my regular ones today, and now I remember, not everyone finds that hill easy, and it was really scary hard for me a year ago.

Anyhow, what she said is true. They get better and easier the more you do them. A lighter bike helps, and big cogs. I also find that if I "ride like a slacker" meaning slow down my cadence, try not to let my heartrate get out of control, basically try to not break a sweat, I climb better.

[lph]

I also find that if I "ride like a slacker" meaning slow down my cadence, try not to let my heartrate get out of control, basically try to not break a sweat, I climb better.

Oh, definitely. If I know I have a long or steep hill coming up I ride as slow as I can without actually falling over. Either that, or sprint my heart out, but then I'd better have gauged the hill correctly or I DO fall over!

[frnz]

The only time I love hills is when I realize I can get up one that I couldn't before.

[BeeLady]

I have finally gotten over my mental resistance I towards hills...maybe even enjoy them some now. I rode about 30 miles of hilly terrain last weekend and really felt like I had hit a new level in my cycling.

My gear shifting has improved a good deal to where I can usually maintain the same cadence going up hills. I do use my granny gear from time to time, but often stay in my middle chainring. One surprise was I stayed back with a slower rider on a long uphill. Often I become anxious about my ability to make it to the top and ramp up my heart rate and effort more than necessary. By taking the hill at a slower rate, I was able to make it up without the hard breathing and higher heartrate. My favorite style though is still to tackle the hill and enjoy that great downhill!

Riding home from the grocery store with my Big Dummy fully loaded (bike and groceries at 85 lbs or more), there is a hill that can still get to me. I just slap it in granny gear and go -- not feeling like I have to prove I can do it anymore. That's a relief.

All that said, I still kinda believe that the best hill is one that is already behind me!