Turbo.Fahel wrote:
> Thanks for everyone's positive comments.
>
> I will put them to test and give you all an update in a few months.
Which comments do you intend to put to the test? You've received a lot of conflicting advice, much
of it bad, in particular, the guy who attacks every hill as hard as ever he can and admits that he
seldom makes it to the top.
My advice would be to buy a book about or search the web for information on structured training
programs and than taylor one for climbing. Where the program prescribes intervals, insert the hill
repeats mentioned by others. Where the program prescribes long endurance rides, substitute long
hilly rides. Check the local maps. If there's a road named the Peak to Peak Highway or Skyline
Drive, go ride there. When the program prescribes active rest stay away from the hills. The biggest
mistake made by novices is lack of intensity on the hard days and too much intensity on the active
rest days. Don't fall into the rut of trying to climb hard every day. You'll end up climbing at a
pace that can be maintained every day which is to say slowly.
Find a group near your ability level to ride with. They'll keep you motivated and push you on the
hard days. If you can't get them to take the easy days seriously, ride alone on those days.
You can ignore most of what was said about the "mental aspect". As you gain experience and
fitness you will gain the confidence to use it. There are no secret "willpower" techniques to be
learned in CA.
Trimming excess weight is key as many others said.
Cheers, Bret (who's not a natural climber but I get by sometimes)
>
> --
> Regards, Turbo Fahel __o -\<, ( ) / ( )
>
>
> "Russell" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
>
news:[email protected]...
>
>>Per Elmsäter <
[email protected]> wrote in message
>>
news:[email protected]...
>>
>>>Turbo.Fahel wrote:
>>>
>>>>I am 44 yrs old and today joined a club.
>>>>
>>>>I need to improve my climbing ability as it very average as I struggle on the hills.
>>>>
>>>>What can I do to improve, riding more, gym work etc ???
>>>
>>>I was in your situation about six months ago and today the hills are
>>
> where
>
>>I
>>
>>>can relax because everybody else is slowing down more than I need to. So
>>
>>on
>>
>>>group rides my pulse usually goes down on a hill. I'm 52 and riding with recreational riders.
>>>
>>>So what did I do? I attack every hill I can find. I ride detours when commuting to work to find
>>>hills to attack. I go up as hard as I ever can
>>
>>on
>>
>>>as high a gear as possible spinning as fast as possible. I seldom make
>>
> it
>
>>>all the way to the top. If I do I haven't attacked hard enough. However
>>
> my
>
>>>cadence on hills is lower than on the flat. The people I ride with often have a higher cadence on
>>>hills than on the flat and therefore slow down
>>
> to
>
>>>much.
>>>
>>>I've been a regular at the Gym over the winter doing bicycle related exercises.Both for the legs
>>>and the upper body. For this part I have
>>
> used
>
>>>Chris Carmichaels recommendations in his book the Lance Armstrong Performance Program. I showed
>>>my Gym instructor the workouts section and
>>
>>he
>>
>>>set up my program according to this. I am not saying you have to use the Carmichael program but
>>>it is good to have a program that is bicycle
>>
>>related.
>>
>>>Many good coaches and athletes can help you with that.
>>>
>>>But mainly. I just love attacking a hill. I don't know why but it feels
>>
> so
>
>>>damn good everytime.
>>>--
>>>Perre
>>>
>>>Remove and/or replace the DOTs as needed to reply
>>>
>>>
>>
>>I completely agree with this now I'm pretty fit, but when I'd just started
>
> I
>
>>used to collapse half way up most hills through trying too hard. The key for me was NOT attacking
>>too hard at the bottom but finding a pace that I could maintain all the way up. Also... Resist the
>>temptation to drop through to the lowest gear possible. Alternate sitting & standing. Concentrate
>>on not loosing momentum when changing position. When sitting, sit well back & stretch legs out
>>fully on the downstroke. Concentrate on controlled deep breathing, right from the bottom. Try
>>using a heart rate monitor. You will find there is a point of no
>
> return,
>
>>if you stick just below this you will complete the hill. Go over it and collapse is immenent.
>>Remember if you've just joined a club, you can't expect to keep up with
>
> the
>
>>other riders who've maybe raced & trained regularly, nobody would. Just
>
> keep
>
>>riding and enjoy it! Hills show up differences in fitness far more than
>
> the
>
>>flat so its not that your not good at hills, it just shows more. Finally,
>
> I
>
>>heard somewhere it takes about 3 years of training to reach your optimum fitness, whatever your
>>age so you've a lot to look forward to!
>>
>>Russell
>>
>>
>
>
>
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