Png: Fellow Depressives - Tips for when getting up big hills alone

[Fletch456]

Do you have any tips? One I thought of today is using the altimeter on my new computer and monitor my upward progress...guess doing likewise with the mileage reading.

I am going to France for a week, cycling with mates who can all climb better than I can and my heart becomes heavy and my spirits lower when it's an English hill, never mind a much bigger French one. I've not faced a French biggy yet, not to mention the average sized ones we will ride as well or cycled in their warmth.

I know that my state of mind, however temporary plays a big part in how well I cycle and struggle to overcome it. I was also, last year given the tip of counting backwards from 97 whilst on a hill - that kind of helps and ..kind of funny next one...find myself spontaneously singing in bursts sometimes - though I may be seen as a bit bonkers.

I feel like I need more tips but may be I just need to repeat these a lot more often.

 

[ColinJ]

I use the altimeter on my GPS when I am struggling on a climb. I memorise the heights of any new hills before the ride and use the GPS to count down what is left to go to the summit, 10 metres at a time. If I have 250 m altitude to gain, I'd think of that as 25 lots of 10 metres and I'd remind myself after 50 metres climbed that 20% of the climb was done, 40% after 100 metres and so on. Breaking a climb down into smaller chunks makes it seem less daunting.

You have to develop the right mindset for this though. You need to be thinking "Every time that number changes I'm getting closer to the top" not "Just look at how much more there is still to do"!

Also - big climbs with significant dips on the way up can mess with your head because you start to see the numbers going back the wrong way! I'd think of one of those as two separate shorter climbs with a nice rest in between. Whatever you do, don't get hung up on thinking about the height gain you lose before climbing again.

 

[Andy_R]

As a diagnosed "clinical depressive", I have always struggled with obstructions placed in my path. What has helped me though is to develop a "donkey" frame of mind, with the help of a VERY good cognitive therapist. Quite simply this means that I think to myself that if a mindless, stupid donkey could do this, why can't I? It's all about negative character aspects that we all have, and using them for positive reasons. Stubborness, willfulness, sheer bloody awkwardness, call it what you wish. Tell yourself what you can't do, then ask yourself how your "donkey" would overcome it.

Oh, and the endorphin rush that happens later is soooooo much better that prozac!

 

[HelenD123]

I count the pedal strokes, just counting up to 10 then starting again. Or just try to distract myself by looking around or thinking about things. Or set myself targets e.g. get to that tree or patch on the road etc then set another target when I get there. The main thing that helped me was stopping looking at my speedo. I used to think that if I got down to about 4mph it was quicker to get off and push but a friend proved otherwise. She wasn't as strong as me but just kept pedalling up the hills.

 

[Moodyman]

I don't use any technology, but for me hills are more mental than physical.

Rather than thinking that's a 1000 metre hill, I tend to break it into smaller milestones - 10-15 metre at a time. Focus on those and then the next 10-15 metres.

Don't look to the top and when there's another 300 metres to go. That's just soul destroying.

Also find distractions - look at the scenery, count pedal strokes, sing a song.

 

[Rebel Ian]

I don't use any technology, but for me hills are more mental than physical.

Rather than thinking that's a 1000 metre hill, I tend to break it into smaller milestones - 10-15 metre at a time. Focus on those and then the next 10-15 metres.

Don't look to the top and when there's another 300 metres to go. That's just soul destroying.

Also find distractions - look at the scenery, count pedal strokes, sing a song.

Yes, I pick marks in the road and aim to get to that or the next drain or the next pothole! Today I was alternating between sitting and standing so up for 20 pedal strokes, sat down for 20 pedal strokes and so on.

I also use other hills as a mental benchmark, i.e. you're not as big as such and such a hill so I'm not gonna stop.

Edited to add, this morning I was also reciting the Lance Armstrong quote in my mind......"Pain is temporary, quitting lasts forever."

 

[Fletch456]

Thanks guys - may print this and take with me then have them all at my disposal to try them all out as I ascend. I like having a choice. Thanks.

 

[Ujamaflip]

I count the pedal strokes, just counting up to 10 then starting again. Or just try to distract myself by looking around or thinking about things. Or set myself targets e.g. get to that tree or patch on the road etc then set another target when I get there.

I do the same thing sometimes, it helps a lot. I get into some kind of meditative state and slowly ascend to the summit. Occasionally however a faster cyclist comes up and quietly overtakes me, more than once this has made me jump out of my skin with shock!

 

[Red Light]

I do the same thing sometimes, it helps a lot. I get into some kind of meditative state and slowly ascend to the summit. Occasionally however a faster cyclist comes up and quietly overtakes me, more than once this has made me jump out of my skin with shock!

Forget how big the hill is, forget how far it still is to the top or how many pedal strokes it will take to get you there. Forget looking up ahead to see how much further it is to go. Do the Zen thing and live in the moment. Keep you eyes down on the road ahead and just turn each turn of the pedal as it happens, breathe each breath and you reach the top when you reach the top. Works for me

Does anyone else find hills magnetic? Given the choice of the flat, small or big hill route home I find my bike inexplicably veering towards the big hill even though I know it will be much harder.

 

[Hacienda71]

Forget how big the hill is, forget how far it still is to the top or how many pedal strokes it will take to get you there. Forget looking up ahead to see how much further it is to go. Do the Zen thing and live in the moment. Keep you eyes down on the road ahead and just turn each turn of the pedal as it happens, breathe each breath and you reach the top when you reach the top. Works for me

Does anyone else find hills magnetic? Given the choice of the flat, small or big hill route home I find my bike inexplicably veering towards the big hill even though I know it will be much harder.

Oh yes. Hill addiction is definitely something I suffer from. Living on the edge of the Peak district and Cheshire plain I have the choice of flat and fast or very hilly slow and painful. For reasons I cannot explain I more often than not find myself heading up to conquer the next huge hill. I also know I am not the only one as I run into countless other cyclists up there struggling up a monster.

 

[Herzog]

Count 1-2-3 with each alternate pedal stroke, pushing a little harder on each 1 (and easier on 2 and 3). This alternates which leg is working the hardest. Though by no means an expert, living in Switzerland has taught me a little about hill climbing.

 

[wheres_my_beard]

Get some "Fonk Family" (french hip hop) on your ipod (at low volume in one ear) and the miles & climbs will slip away as you fonk your way up the mountains.


Better still get an audio book, total distraction from the task in hand while your legs work away as you creep up the slopes.




**Disclaimer** this may be awful advice ( I live in Norfolk, which is flat-ish).

 

[C_P_]

I'm going to use the fonky family method from now on.

 

[Bornagaincyclist]

I'd defo look ahead unless you want to become part of the scenery!

I'm with Helen's technique on this one.

 

[yello]

Quite simply this means that I think to myself that if a mindless, stupid donkey could do this, why can't I? It's all about negative character aspects that we all have, and using them for positive reasons. Stubborness, willfulness, sheer bloody awkwardness, call it what you wish. Tell yourself what you can't do, then ask yourself how your "donkey" would overcome it.

I do this... without even realise that it's a technique!

I'm full of 'can't do it' thoughts and the ONLY way I get anything done is by telling myself 'other people do it, so can I' mantra-style repetition and then just bloodymindedness until it's job done.

The other thing I have to battle is what I call 'all or nothing thinking'. That is, I tell myself that I can't do one thing then I extend that to every thing and then ultimately it becomes 'can't do anything'. I give up cycling so often in my head because I think I'm too slow, or too unfit, or can't climb... whatever. Very childish really but it can debilitate me if I let it. I have to break tasks down, think only of the singe task in hand. Think only of that hill, tell myself I can climb it because other people do... etc etc etc.