HILLS. How can i improve?

[Nearly there]

Just choosing the right gear at the right time can help too

 

[Nihal]

use the center part foot to push with more power and bend your body a bit.helped me but i find fixed gears a bit more comfy on hills

 

[polkadotcycling]

As well as all the great advice above, hill climbing is a strength exercise and when you compare the power output from riding on the flat to riding up hill, you are usually putting out 3-4 times more power, which is significant. To gain power on your bike, doing something like seated accelerations can really help. To begin with, do these on the flat. Change onto a big gear (15-14 sprocket) on the big ring and let your speed drop to almost zero, then accelerate away staying in your saddle for about 10-15 seconds. Have a recover of at least a minute and repeat. To begin with this you might find this quite hard, but after a few sessins you shoudl be able to manage at least 10. When you've mastered those you could then move to doing this on a longish climb, but not too steep.

Clipless pedals will defintely help with these.

 

[Sittingduck]

Most important is practice. When riding relax your upper body, concentrate on putting the power down. Mix up seated riding and standing on the pedals, it let's you use different muscle groups. I change into a harder gear before standing on the pedals to maintain momentum. If you are carrying a few extra pounds try to lose them....

I think this is spot on. I would say that increasing power/weight ratio is probably more important than practicing but of course that's not so easy to achieve.

 

[Sittingduck]

also build up as much speed as you can before going up the hill, for the momentum to carry you up.

It depends on the hill, doesn't it? No sense in attacking something long.

 

[jjc89]

It depends on the hill, doesn't it? No sense in attacking something long.

Yeah I guess. It's dead hilly where I live so most of them are really steep, must just be an automatic reaction for me when people talk about hills haha

 

[Ethan]

Bit of a threadjack, but Im looking for hill climbing advice too!

Im asthmatic, although its mild it seems to be getting progressively worse since I moved to Manchester for Uni.7
When hill climbing, I find my chest gets very tight very quickly which obviously makes me struggle. My legs are more than willing to carry on though, which is highly frustrating!
I carry a blue inhaler on the bike, and take it when things get tough, but really I'd like to be able to control this without having to take the pump. (Not to mention its not really possible to take it while riding. I get very dizzy and my eyes black out for a second or two!)

Anyone have similar problems or advice?

cheers!

 

[stephen.rooke]

Bit of a threadjack, but Im looking for hill climbing advice too!

Im asthmatic, although its mild it seems to be getting progressively worse since I moved to Manchester for Uni.7
When hill climbing, I find my chest gets very tight very quickly which obviously makes me struggle. My legs are more than willing to carry on though, which is highly frustrating!
I carry a blue inhaler on the bike, and take it when things get tough, but really I'd like to be able to control this without having to take the pump. (Not to mention its not really possible to take it while riding. I get very dizzy and my eyes black out for a second or two!)

Anyone have similar problems or advice?

cheers!

from the livestrong site

Prevention

Although there's no way you can avoid getting exercise-induced asthma if you are susceptible, there are things you can do to minimize the effects. You could avoid exercising if you have a cold or respiratory infection, or during periods of high pollen counts if you also suffer from allergies. Warm up at least 15 minutes before attempting a strenuous bike ride and try to schedule your rides at times and places where it's more humid, such as a lake-side trail. Learning to breathe through your nose to warm the air before it enters your lungs cans also be helpful.

Solution

You may to take a few puffs from an asthma inhaler immediately prior to exercising that can help control symptoms for a few hours. If that isn't enough, you may require long-term inhaled corticosteroids, leukotriene modifiers like Singulair, a daily dose of the bronchodiator pill theophylline, long-acting beta agonists or combination inhalers.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/227594-asthma-cycling/#ixzz1twEDFBkB​

 

[lukesdad]

I sometimes do this, though I sing to myself a song with a beat/rhythm to maintain cadence.

I use " simply the best " works for me.

 

[Thomk]

Bear in mind that 11 months is not very long.

 

[lukesdad]

As a few have said the barrier when it comes to hills is mental. Doesn t matter who you are or how good you are.

 

[Ethan]

from the livestrong site

Prevention

Although there's no way you can avoid getting exercise-induced asthma if you are susceptible, there are things you can do to minimize the effects. You could avoid exercising if you have a cold or respiratory infection, or during periods of high pollen counts if you also suffer from allergies. Warm up at least 15 minutes before attempting a strenuous bike ride and try to schedule your rides at times and places where it's more humid, such as a lake-side trail. Learning to breathe through your nose to warm the air before it enters your lungs cans also be helpful.

Solution

You may to take a few puffs from an asthma inhaler immediately prior to exercising that can help control symptoms for a few hours. If that isn't enough, you may require long-term inhaled corticosteroids, leukotriene modifiers like Singulair, a daily dose of the bronchodiator pill theophylline, long-acting beta agonists or combination inhalers.

​

​

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/227594-asthma-cycling/#ixzz1twEDFBkB​

Thanks a lot, I'll give it a go Got to admit I never warm up properly, always get carried away with the fun of being on the bike before the legs are ready - Never mind the lungs.

 

[totallyfixed]

Bit of a threadjack, but Im looking for hill climbing advice too!

Im asthmatic, although its mild it seems to be getting progressively worse since I moved to Manchester for Uni.7
When hill climbing, I find my chest gets very tight very quickly which obviously makes me struggle. My legs are more than willing to carry on though, which is highly frustrating!
I carry a blue inhaler on the bike, and take it when things get tough, but really I'd like to be able to control this without having to take the pump. (Not to mention its not really possible to take it while riding. I get very dizzy and my eyes black out for a second or two!)

Anyone have similar problems or advice?

cheers!

My better half who I coach [dr_pink on here] has asthma and competed in the National Hill Climb Championship last year, this Monday she will be racing the Shap Hill Climb, 9.2 miles and looking like a headwind. I'm telling you this to illustrate what can be achieved with the right training, technique and attitude.
I am seriously thinking of running a hill climbing day for those who would like some help it's a subject that comes up time and time again. I've written extensively on it in the past and am now thinking practical might be the way to go.

 

[DCLane]

Im asthmatic, although its mild it seems to be getting progressively worse since I moved to Manchester for Uni.7
When hill climbing, I find my chest gets very tight very quickly which obviously makes me struggle. My legs are more than willing to carry on though, which is highly frustrating!
I carry a blue inhaler on the bike, and take it when things get tough, but really I'd like to be able to control this without having to take the pump. (Not to mention its not really possible to take it while riding. I get very dizzy and my eyes black out for a second or two!)

Anyone have similar problems or advice?

cheers!

Ethan, as someone else who needs an inhaler you shouldn't need to use it whilst riding. For example, I did the Cheshire Cat and the Brian Robinson sportives (both over 60 miles) without using mine except before the start as a precaution. They've got some big hills as well!

Are you trying to climb too fast too soon? Alternatively, your asthma medication should be sufficient. Mine's been adjusted enough times to know that I'm OK now.

 

[lulubel]

Ethan, as someone else who needs an inhaler you shouldn't need to use it whilst riding

I agree with this. I don't even take my inhaler with me on rides. If you're really having problems with your asthma (as opposed to just getting out of breath when you're climbing - and it can be quite hard to tell the difference) it suggests your asthma isn't properly controlled.