14% at 1.1 is still a brutal climb. I break out into a sweat just thinking about running it, never mind biking!
I am about your same weight (230), and hills are a bear. What seems to have made a difference for me over the last year, has been:
The nice part of this is it is good general fitness, and doesn't take a long time. No, it isn't bike-specific and I'd stress my experience is anecdotal. I live in SW Connecticut and we have some decent rolling hills, but nothing like what you are talking about.
A couple of posters have also mentioned rollers, and those are awesome. Make the room for them, as they will force you to have a smooth, even, consistent cadence. Plus you ride whenever you want, regardless of weather conditions.
There's also a very cool site by a guy who likes to climb Mt. Washinton (New Hampshire) - http://www.northeastcycling.com/hillclimb_handbook.htm
It has a lot of very good information, plus some good laughs.
I am about your same weight (230), and hills are a bear. What seems to have made a difference for me over the last year, has been:
- Hard intervals either running or on an elliptical (<2 minutes and you should not be able to talk) to get my heart rate up - this seems to have kept me from blowing up.
- Lots of stretching and core exercises like planks, squats, deadlifts to strengthen the back and hips - let's you stand up a little better
- Explosive power from box jumps and plyometrics
- If you have access to a gym with a real Stairmaster (looks like an escalator) crank the speed up, take two steps at a time and hang on to the bars - it gives you a little simulation of being on the bars
The nice part of this is it is good general fitness, and doesn't take a long time. No, it isn't bike-specific and I'd stress my experience is anecdotal. I live in SW Connecticut and we have some decent rolling hills, but nothing like what you are talking about.
A couple of posters have also mentioned rollers, and those are awesome. Make the room for them, as they will force you to have a smooth, even, consistent cadence. Plus you ride whenever you want, regardless of weather conditions.
There's also a very cool site by a guy who likes to climb Mt. Washinton (New Hampshire) - http://www.northeastcycling.com/hillclimb_handbook.htm
It has a lot of very good information, plus some good laughs.