First Hill Race

[Sam Kennedy]

We are having a small club hill climb, and this will be the hill we are climbing:
www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=22624

It's not terribly steep, it averages about 7%, but its 1.1 miles long. Anyone got any advice for getting the best time I can on it?

I was thinking about sitting and spinning until I was out of breath, then putting it in a higher gear, standing and mashing, then when the lactic acid got too much, sit and spin again. My Spinning is around 80-90 rpm, any faster and I get out of breath nearly immediately, but I can keep 80-90 for ages.

Will that work or will I die? Any gear suggestions? Tactics?

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

(I noticed the font changed after I pasted the link, I like it!)

 

[accountantpete]

1. Try and have a few test goes up first.

2. If you are just pushing down on the pedals try just using one leg to power you for say 10 revolutions then switch to the other leg.You go a bit slower but I find it gives the resting leg a bit of a breather.

 

[I am Spartacus]

Make sure you are fully warmed up prior that your joints feel all nice and warm, breathing exercises.. etc.. go do 5 to 10 miles at an easy pace beforehand... think about the climb and prepare for the effort.
The hill isnt that steep and it is short so you will find other riders using brute power all the way.
Do it your own way.
I would start out in a lower gear initially and spin it as quick as you can to gain momentum and get into a rhythm.. hopefully as you get under way. and still feel strong.
Maybe then hook it into a higher gear and start to push it harder and harder.
When you are in last 1/4, pray that you have enough in reserve and give it all you got.
You will want to be all out sprinting as you cross that line... if only for the photo!!

 

[montage]

start off slower than you think....any time lost by going slower you can make up at the end by expending that final energy.

Sitting down and spinning is more energy efficiet, this is what I would try to do, perhaps standing up after each corner for a few strokes and for the final sprint.

Recce the hill....plot exactly when you will stand and when you will sit and when to begin the sprint.

Ditch as much kit as you can before the climb...obviously.

 

[SimonC]

1. Try and have a few test goes up first.

2. If you are just pushing down on the pedals try just using one leg to power you for say 10 revolutions then switch to the other leg.You go a bit slower but I find it gives the resting leg a bit of a breather.

This sounds like a variation on your 4 types of pedalling

If I was you Sam, make sure you have warmed up properly, including a few hard efforts not just riding along, + a few rides up the climb + get to the start line still warmed up and breathing hard. Then in the race proper, try to hold a bit back in the first half (not too much though), and then nail it in the second half. 7% isnt so steep, and only a mile long, so if you do go a bit too hard in the first half, you should still be able to keep something going. Once you can see the finish, then give it everything.

I wouldnt spin too fast, just a nice tempo, maybe 70 rpm, decent gear, start in big chainring so that you are just changing rear gears on the climb. Wouldnt worry about giving your legs a bit of a breather either - its a race, you need to get it all out and it will be over pretty quick, so its only gonna hurt for a bit!

 

[Sam Kennedy]

What 'zone' should I be aiming at? Highly aerobic, or anaerobic, or VO2Max?

 

[I am Spartacus]

You won't have the time to be watching 'zones'.

 

[SimonC]

What 'zone' should I be aiming at? Highly aerobic, or anaerobic, or VO2Max?

Eyeballs out. Throwing up at finish.

Either of the above.

Seriously, its a race, forget about zones Sam.

 

[aJohnson]

I like you Sam, will be doing my first hill race soon (Sunday) however it's a bit different than yours as it's short but extremely steep.

I'd say make sure you know the hill very well before racing on it, know when to get out of your seat before you start losing momentum ect...

And most of all, have fun and good luck.

 

[Garz]

The raike perchance Andy?

 

[aJohnson]

Yep, Rake on sunday, I'm the first to set off at 12:00 *joy*

 

[Garz]

Wondered why you were recently obsessed with it!

Im gonna have to give it a go now I know where it is.

 

[aJohnson]

Enjoy it, I think I'll just sleep and rest tomorrow.

 

[Garz]

They just riding the hill, or going for a club ride afterwards?

 

[aJohnson]

Well I may go for a ride afterwards, don't know if anyone else will be doing, the last racer sets of at about 1:10. Don't know how long the prize giving ect will be. The plus side of going first is I get to watch everyone else climb it after me.