HILLS. How can i improve?

[MattHB]

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.

Get a decent preventer. I have the same issue as you. Then I went to an asthma nurse (I've always ignored them!) and got a weird purple preventer. Not used a reliever since them.

 

[Banjo]

One thing I dont think has been mentioned (sorry if I missed it) is does your bike fit you and is it set up right?

A bike with the seat too low will cause real burn in your thighs when climbing seated.Fore and aft position of seat is also important.

http://bikedynamics.co.uk/?gclid=CPHp9Z7k7a8CFRQrfAodFBgVLA Some good stuff on this site.

 

[gavroche]

I don't think there is a "right method" to prepare for hills. The truth is that some people are good at it and others just struggle all the way up. ( me for intance). If there was a miracle way, all riders would be good after training for hills. I think it is all down to your morthology and the way your muscles react under strain.
We are humans and we all have different strong points and weaknesses and that is all there is to it.
If we were all the same, every rider would win the king of the mountain jersey!
I tried going fast at the beginning and then down the gears as I go up; I also tried slow at the bottom and speed up after or every other combinations, the result is still the same....struggle, strggle, struggle. So I am now resigned that hills are hard and there is no easy way.

 

[black'n'yellow]

I said this before on a different thread. Riding uphill is simply about sustaining a given effort for a given amount of time - much the same as riding hard on the flat. The more you train your body to adapt to riding at higher efforts for certain periods, the easier it will become. Obviously, weight is more of an issue uphill than it is on the flat, so if you are lighter, you will go faster for a given power output.

So, developing your aerobic system will make you a better climber (and a faster rider all round). If you are over weight, then losing weight will also make you a better rider - and will certaily help you go up hills better. Issues like natural selection play only a small part in hill climbing ability and other issues like gear selection and riding position are incidental, but not critical. If you want to go better uphill, whether you are asthmatic or not, then you have to train your body to a higher level than it is currently at.

 

[Ethan]

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.

I might be climbing to fast too soon, but I think its more to do with the medication.
I had it very bad as a child, but I moved from Manchester to North Wales. My asthma started to be of no issue at all! So much so that the docotors were keen to take me off the medication to see how I fared - I fared well, not needing any medication at all, or even my ventolin inhaler for a good 8 or 9 years! But things seem to have taken a turn for the worse since I moved back to Manchester. I'll get to the doctors as soon as I go back home to Wales over summer

Get a decent preventer. I have the same issue as you. Then I went to an asthma nurse (I've always ignored them!) and got a weird purple preventer. Not used a reliever since them.

Ill get on it!I I used to have on of them purple ones, along with a cream and brown one. Never took them properly as a kid mind you! I think the time for them has come again. That's alright though, I remember the brown one tasting pretty good

 

[Slimie]

This is all really interesting!

I've recently returned to cycling after an, ahem, 30 year hiatus and am really struggling up hills. I just can't seem to get enough oxygen into my lungs which leads to burning legs and an overwhelming need to stop and rest, panting and red faced, no one's called for an ambulance yet, but it could happen! I've not managed many miles so far and realise that things will/should improve as my fitness increases but wonder if

I could do with losing a stone or two and am hoping that the cycling will help but in the mean time I am starting to get slightly phobic about hills. Which is a problem here as we are surrounded by them.

Any advice welcome, apologies for the hijack.

Thanks
-Simon

 

[DCLane]

I could do with losing a stone or two and am hoping that the cycling will help but in the mean time I am starting to get slightly phobic about hills. Which is a problem here as we are surrounded by them.

Given that I live on top of a steep hill, with hills all around me - I sympathise.

Yesterday I did a 20-mile route I really struggled on last year. Instead of being worried I wondered why there wasn't any issue on the steep hills I kept doing. The simple answer is that my body's adjusted after a year of hill-climbing.

Keep trying. It'll get easier. Honest.

 

[Garz]

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.

Sounds good! A CC hill climb, Colin doesn't have to organise something however he may be the man to pick the location.

 

[Garz]

I have asthma but it's pretty mild and only visit the Dr's annually to get a checkup and the normal restock for emergencies. Since cycling I have had less issues than I used to, predominantly I would only experience a slight wheeze at night time in the summer. This is triggered from hay-fever I believe, I guess you could check out if your cycling around any pollen rife areas?

 

[black'n'yellow]

I've recently returned to cycling after an, ahem, 30 year hiatus and am really struggling up hills.

There's really no mystery here - and anyway, you've answered your own question really. You're not struggling with hills per se - you are simply struggling with your current level of fitness, as you are asking your body to perform at a level which is probably significantly higher (for the amount of time that the road goes 'up') than it is currently capable of delivering.

As your CV and aerobic fitness improves, then so will your climbing.

 

[Slimie]

Thanks all for the reassurance, I think that's what I was really looking for even if I didn't realise!

Onward and upward

-Simon

 

[Lard Armstrong]

I have chronic Asthma, and a rubbish peak flow, so riding hills is a real challenge. Here's what worked for me.

1. First of all, most importantly, start off by slowing right down. Forget your speed, gearing and all that.ignore what everyone else does, this is about you.
2. Concentrate on measured, steady and deeper breathing than you would normally. Practise this, most people without Asthma never consider this. Shallow breathing for Asthma sufferers here is your enemy.
3. Keep focusing on the above, and in addition now select your gearing to ensure you don't blow. I only ever use the bottom 3 gears climbing.
4. Stay seated, unless you absolutely have to get out the saddle. For asthmatics, this can cause you go blow up more easily.
5. Practise on long steady climbs where possible to begin with, to build expertise n capability.
6. Increase and build on this.

Good luck!

 

[DCLane]

I absolutely agree with Lard Armstrong here - with a peak flow of 550 (not sure what others have) I basically do all of the above.

 

[Lard Armstrong]

My peak flow is 350 :-(

 

[DCLane]

My peak flow is 350 :-(

Eeeshhh!

If you can do hills with that, all I can say is