K
Ken Papai
Guest
OK, here are some things I espouse and believe in and they are the first ten things that come
to my mind:
1. You'll never be a good climber with a triple-front chainring. Too easy to bailout and not get
stronger. Unless you're racing up the Angliru in Spain the triple is for tourists.
2. Set goals for yourself. I do that every year and throughout the year on various hills around
here. "My goal is to climb that entirely in my 53x17, rather than my current 39x18." Also, when
you set that 53x17 goal is to speedily climb up -- not be a total masher to just say you
completed the goal.
3. Have an eye for the summit! When you see the summit coming up then shift down and think like a
racer and sprint, or go hard all the way to over the top! Drop your companions and go for a
little training day gold.
4. Start easy and get into bigger gears by the top. A two-mile climb -- start in your 39x19 or 21,
then eventually be in your 39x15 at the top. THIS is a key to improvement -- using bigger gears
AS YOU GO UP (not smaller gears as you get tired). (the 39x23 is only for wussy bail-out)
5. Be mental and focused. Be strong and determined. Act like you're a winner. Don't give up. You
know the pain will disappear at the summit crest. You want to improve and better than most.
Pretend you'll be embarrassed if you fail -- think like an egoist.
6. Throw away that excess weight on your bag (too heavy or floppy saddle bags or stupid, welded
cheap wheels).
7. Think cool -- unzip your jersey and allow cool air to circulate as you warm up as you climb. Zip
up at the top for the descent. Cooler means more efficient, less labored.
8. Pick a hill and climb it 3-4 times in a row -- each time in a bigger gear! Start with spinning a
38x23 all the way to the top, and maybe on the 3rd or 4th climb do the whole thing in your 39x18
or 18. This is also like magic on improving your climbing (and WONDERS for your confidence).
Find your style (masher or spinner?) and try to stay with it.
9. Think of the hill as a malevolent friend you want to conquer. A friend will always be there and
you, no matter want, will eventually be better than
it. This is hard to define except to love hills and think positively not negatively about them.
10. Ride with someone faster on the climbs. They'll force you to improve.
Have fun and enjoy it no matter what.
-Ken
to my mind:
1. You'll never be a good climber with a triple-front chainring. Too easy to bailout and not get
stronger. Unless you're racing up the Angliru in Spain the triple is for tourists.
2. Set goals for yourself. I do that every year and throughout the year on various hills around
here. "My goal is to climb that entirely in my 53x17, rather than my current 39x18." Also, when
you set that 53x17 goal is to speedily climb up -- not be a total masher to just say you
completed the goal.
3. Have an eye for the summit! When you see the summit coming up then shift down and think like a
racer and sprint, or go hard all the way to over the top! Drop your companions and go for a
little training day gold.
4. Start easy and get into bigger gears by the top. A two-mile climb -- start in your 39x19 or 21,
then eventually be in your 39x15 at the top. THIS is a key to improvement -- using bigger gears
AS YOU GO UP (not smaller gears as you get tired). (the 39x23 is only for wussy bail-out)
5. Be mental and focused. Be strong and determined. Act like you're a winner. Don't give up. You
know the pain will disappear at the summit crest. You want to improve and better than most.
Pretend you'll be embarrassed if you fail -- think like an egoist.
6. Throw away that excess weight on your bag (too heavy or floppy saddle bags or stupid, welded
cheap wheels).
7. Think cool -- unzip your jersey and allow cool air to circulate as you warm up as you climb. Zip
up at the top for the descent. Cooler means more efficient, less labored.
8. Pick a hill and climb it 3-4 times in a row -- each time in a bigger gear! Start with spinning a
38x23 all the way to the top, and maybe on the 3rd or 4th climb do the whole thing in your 39x18
or 18. This is also like magic on improving your climbing (and WONDERS for your confidence).
Find your style (masher or spinner?) and try to stay with it.
9. Think of the hill as a malevolent friend you want to conquer. A friend will always be there and
you, no matter want, will eventually be better than
it. This is hard to define except to love hills and think positively not negatively about them.
10. Ride with someone faster on the climbs. They'll force you to improve.
Have fun and enjoy it no matter what.
-Ken