how do i improve my hills?

[50000tears]

15-18 mph on "not very steep hills"?
Very impressive Ed; your overall average for a ride must be 25mph or so?

Depends if he is classing any gradient above 1% as a hill I guess. If that is the case I can go over 20mph up some hills!

 

[400bhp]

Gavroche spouting bollox again - there's a suprise.

 

[nappadang]

I live in Wales and avoid them at all costs because I am rubbish. I can't do them, because I'm just not fit enough yet. Someone else will be able to help you though and will be along soon I'm sure.

Too much fried bread!

 

[400bhp]

Hill climbing - mind over matter.

That's about it.

Oh and man up.

 

[welsh dragon]

Too much fried bread!

meoooowwwwwww

 

[PK99]

I

Is it a macho thing? Why is it that everyone seems to try to go up in too high a gear, and stands up on the pedals rather than changing down a gear or two? I never, ever, stand up, and spin 50% faster than most of the people I ride with......and the only trouble I have on hills is with all the others in front of me getting in the way. I am absolutely convinced that people try to get up hills using strength, when they should actually get up using endurance. I noticed a lot more riders on last years T d F sitting and spinning, too.

A friend went on a Sky training camp with Geriant Thomas and was given very strong guidance that standing is counter productive - peak power is higher, endurance power is lower. By all means stand to punch over small rises or relieve boredom or sit bones but on a long climb sit and spin was the clear message.

 

[young Ed]

15-18 mph on "not very steep hills"?
Very impressive Ed; your overall average for a ride must be 25mph or so?

no about 15-18mph i tend to hold at but thats sitting in saddle and then i just give it my all on the climbs so yes if i were to be giving it my all and out of the saddle bum in the air a little dropped on bars sprintng the whole ride and dying the whole ride! i would be about 22 or so

Depends if he is classing any gradient above 1% as a hill I guess. If that is the case I can go over 20mph up some hills!

3-5% is a 'shallow' hill

Gavroche spouting bollox again - there's a suprise.

no

would like to be able to sprint up light hills at 20ish
Cheers ed

 

[50000tears]

Hill climbing - mind over matter.

That's about it.

Oh and man up.

I like it that so many are not willing to put themselves through what it takes to get good, because I am, and once it pays off I will be the one at the top of the hill first, both figuratively and physically!

 

[screenman]

I can go up all the hills in Boston at over 28mph.

 

[young Ed]

I can go up all the hills in Boston at over 28mph.

what cars that you got?!

they aren't very steep are they?!
Cheers Ed

 

[nickyboy]

Hill climbing - mind over matter.

That's about it.

Oh and man up.

This ^^^

Around these parts it's nothing but hills so you have no choice; either learn to deal mentally with hills or give up cycling. I'm 13.5 stone and will never be a 10 stone skinny guy but I am a mid-level climber. There are two reasons; taking the pain and suffering of getting the fitness up by riding hilly routes time after time...and....developing mental toughness to keep the watts up when it really hurts

 

[screenman]

what cars that you got?!

they aren't very steep are they?!
Cheers Ed

Well I have a couple of cars but seeing this is about cycling that is what I was talking about.

 

[young Ed]

Well I have a couple of cars but seeing this is about cycling that is what I was talking about.

let me guess the boston hills aren't very steep?
Cheers Ed

 

[uclown2002]

no about 15-18mph i tend to hold at but thats sitting in saddle and then i just give it my all on the climbs so yes if i were to be giving it my all and out of the saddle bum in the air a little dropped on bars sprintng the whole ride and dying the whole ride! i would be about 22 or so

3-5% is a 'shallow' hill

no

would like to be able to sprint up light hills at 20ish
Cheers ed

Sorry ED I seem to have you mixed up with someone else who averages 12mph for a ride. Clearly that can't be you as that person wouldn't be blasting up any sort of incline at 15-18 mph never mind real steep ones at 6-8 mph - length no problem to use your words.

 

[Cuchilo]

I never ever thought I would say it but I quite enjoy hills now . Six months ago I hated them !
Ive tried all methods in getting up them from stamping on the pedals to spinning out and for me the best way is to drop down to a nice pace and then click up a few gears . This gives me a few gears to click back down too that nice pace again when it starts getting tough . It may not be long before I move back down the gears but the option is there if I need it . When getting to the top I have found I still have enough energy to give it some and ramp back up through the gears so I am at a good speed while I recover .
I may change what I am doing with this method but its working for now and im enjoying the challenge that hills bring aswell as learning from my mistakes .
The best way to do hills though is just keep doing them .