Hill training advice please?

[lejogger]

It's very subjective... depending a lot on all factors to do with age, weight, fitness, power and your bike too. On my carbon bike I have a compact 34/25 and at 32yo, 12 stone and 6ft I can't ever ever imagine needing anything lower - on that bike.

On my winter CX bike I have compact apex gearing with a lowest gear of 34/32. The bike is practically twice as heavy as the carbon, especially with a full rack bag, and when I've been touring I've needed the full range. I've even used the lowest gear on a club run this year on a particularly long and steep climb when I wasn't 100%. There's no shame in it.

Put it in terms of a golf handicap - some have a high one and some have a low one, the overall goal being that all abilities can take part.

The point is that you set your bike up in a way that you need to get yourself round the course so that you can take part and enjoy yourself. The more you ride and fitter you get the less you'll need the lower gears but that will come with time and practice. Feeling pressured to ride bikes geared too high and then finding yourself walking up the hills will only knock confidence and enthusiasm.

 

[fossyant]

Licramite being a guy who puts the fan behind him on the turbo to simulate tail wind..

I thought you were to put it in front, to simulate some cooling, otherwise I melt ?

 

[montage]

Well that is a new one on me.

What I would say is that this chap should know what he is talking about, he gives a lot of good advice. Seeing his times up a lot of the main climbs in the UK he is very quick.

I think the main thing to take from looking at his photos is that he is transparent.

 

[Rob3rt]

Have you tried putting aerobars on the bike, it pulls right over the handlebar and I find gives you a much more powerfull position.

yea, put your weight on your elbows, get your bum off your seat, gives you real power on the peddles without your body weight on your legs.

It is pointless explaining to you why the above is a load of old horse muck, but please be assured, it is!

 

[Rob3rt]

Fatty and a girl, and young

5' 9", 80kg (at best) - bit over 12 stone and 39 x 24 is my lowest Grrr, and I'm an old git - 43.

Oh and yes, I ride fairly easy gearing, (I have been told by the racing sec to "push bigger bastard gears" on a few occasions) hence I do wonder why many people need weird dinner place sized cassettes. I once mentioned getting a 27t in passing when I was riding a compact, club captain shot that one down instantly, lol - Of course he was right, I was just being a pussy.

 

[Rob3rt]

Well that is a new one on me.

What I would say is that this chap should know what he is talking about, he gives a lot of good advice. Seeing his times up a lot of the main climbs in the UK he is very quick.

Tejvan Pettinger was National Hill Climb Champ in the past I think (maybe I am wrong though, definitely finished top 5 a few times). He has some very fast times. At the Holme Moss HC last October, some of the GKV guys were saying how he rolled around the peaks smashing the KOM's one after the other on the same day including racing their HC as part of the ride.

 

[Licramite]

It is pointless explaining to you why the above is a load of old horse muck, but please be assured, it is!

have you tried it ? or are you just going on the general I know more than he does.

It can be unstable I've come a cropper a couple of times were I just could not go forward anymore - but then I would have probably fallen over anyhow.

all I can say is it works for me.

I new a guy never did a parachute roll on landing, he was to tall I think, he was all arms and legs - who was to say if he was right or wrong , all I can say is it worked for him.

 

[Licramite]

I thought you were to put it in front, to simulate some cooling, otherwise I melt ?

I know but it's the ONLY time I ever get a tailwind .

 

[Rob3rt]

have you tried it ? or are you just going on the general I know more than he does.

Only a doofus does something they know is stupid, in order to confirm what they already know to be stupid. So, no I have not tried it. In this case, I feel comfortable with assuming that I know more than you know on the subject.

 

[Licramite]

yea , I bet your an expert on loads of things , even if you have never done them.

 

[Andrew_P]

Ride the bike more and ride up hills more, and then do it some more!

Apart from that you need to have a plan in your head and don't blow it all in the first part of climb try and keep just above comfortable and have a bit of reserve, vary in and out of saddle on the hill.

Most hills seem a lot harder the first time you go up, they all have a personality and you get to know where it is going ot hurt and where there might be a bit of a breather.

 

[Rob3rt]

yea , I bet your an expert on loads of things , even if you have never done them.

I didn't claim to be an expert, but all it takes is knowing more than nothing to know more than you on this subject it seems!

Go watch a few races and count how many people ascend a steep climb on aero bars (or indeed get out of the saddle while on aero bars)!

Now back to helping the OP...... to increase your power output, it is likely a case of riding more and/or riding harder. I do not know enough about you to suggest specifics. Wouldn't hurt to get in a 2-3 hours tempo session once a week.

 

[Licramite]

Hi - if your interested in aerobars for hill climbing I would suggest you google it and you will get a more broadminded range of views than on this site. - and by people who have actually tried it. - some will say yes some say no - give em a read and see what you think.
I have them on my Mtb specifically for the hill climbs and have done 6 rides on them - not a huge test I know but it's early days. I think they have helped , but its a fine line between the top of the hill and burn out , and not just on the legs, your taking a lot on your arms , I've failed (and then fell off - stability is a problem) once because my arms gave out.
On the flat its about aeroposition , but on a hill its about best position to give the max force (i'm not a low gear and spin person).
I've tried them once going downhill offroad - too scary for me -

I admit I;m the sort that looks for a tech solution , some when they come to a river say God give me big arms and legs so I may swim across , me I say - God give me a bridge.

right thats enough about aerobars.

 

[Rob3rt]

Hi - if your interested in aerobars for hill climbing I would suggest you google it and you will get a more broadminded range of views than on this site. - and by people who have actually tried it. - some will say yes some say no - give em a read and see what you think.
I have them on my Mtb specifically for the hill climbs and have done 6 rides on them - not a huge test I know but it's early days. I think they have helped , but its a fine line between the top of the hill and burn out , and not just on the legs, your taking a lot on your arms , I've failed (and then fell off - stability is a problem) once because my arms gave out.
On the flat its about aeroposition , but on a hill its about best position to give the max force (i'm not a low gear and spin person).
I've tried them once going downhill offroad - too scary for me -

I admit I;m the sort that looks for a tech solution , some when they come to a river say God give me big arms and legs so I may swim across , me I say - God give me a bridge.

right thats enough about aerobars.

Are you actually trying to justify bullshit with bullshit?

Go and watch a few time trials, either on TV or in person, notice what the competitors do whenever they hit a steep hill or require fine control of the bike................. oh go on then........... I'll save you the bother and just tell you, they get OFF the aero bars and onto the base bars for added leverage and bike control (and to be able to access the brakes)! If you get caught going over a traffic island or junction in a CTT event on the aero bars you will likely get DQ'd and possible further ramifications regarding future competition.

 

[Ningishzidda]

Join a gym. Get on the upright bike and crank it up to max.
This way, you are only a crawl away from the changing rooms, and the gym staff can operate a defibrilator.