Hills, Love them or hate them???

[psmiffy]

I love cycling in the high mountains -but I only do hills if they are in the way - The thing that always amuses me in the alps is the sight of cyclists who have swept past me on the way up being picked up in the car at the top by their other halfs

 

[al78]

Hills usually make a ride more interesting, as do bends, so my mini-tour of the Netherlands next month will be a test!!

I enjoy hills, not so keen on bends, mainly because it seems that the probability of something coming round the other way is inversely proportional to the width of the road.

 

[Kirstie]

As they say - everything in moderation...!
I love the hills in Northumbria, the Central Highlands and Mull especially - climbing at a steady gradient to be rewarded by a long sweeping descent with good visibility.
Devon/Cornwall and other west country hills are evil and best avoided.

 

[palinurus]

Love some hills, hate others.

 

[XmisterIS]

I love cycling in the high mountains -but I only do hills if they are in the way - The thing that always amuses me in the alps is the sight of cyclists who have swept past me on the way up being picked up in the car at the top by their other halfs

WTF?? Surely you mean the other way around? Why on earth would anyone go through the pain of slogging up a hill - and not want to enjoy the exhilaration of screaming down the other side at an insane speed, thinking, "If something goes pop right now, I'm screwed!". Personally, I love that feeling!

 

[Hover Fly]

It's ego/bragging points.
Personally I think hills just get in the way, the point of cycling is to get somewhere worth going, the cycle and ride are just a means to an end.

 

[Chrisc]

Perversely look forward to them now. Good job really as there's no other options up here in the Pennines!

 

[GrasB]

I like hills, good long climbs are good for rhythm building in a zen like manner. Short sharp shocks are great for all out attacks.

I love the mini ones you get in london. Can get up some of them at 25mph and it sorts the mens from the boys.

I love those rolling pimples charge down them then do everything you can to hold on to that speed for the short incline & repeat.... over & over again.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

I'm very much a grimpeur and I love hills. There aren't any round here. Mind you, everything else is great...

 

[Chrisc]

I like hills, good long climbs are good for rhythm building in a zen like manner. Short sharp shocks are great for all out attacks.

I love those rolling pimples charge down them then do everything you can to hold on to that speed for the short incline & repeat.... over & over again.

Just been out in the howling wind which was in my face on every climb...how!?! Lots of fun on the short sharp ones out of the saddle pretending to be Contador (how sad!) then tried a new one to me which is 4 miles of continuous up at 7% with short bits of 10% thrown in to spice it up a bit. Needed the zen mode to get up it with that killer headwind, especially when I went for my bail out gear only to realise I was already using it... bugger.. Had to resort to deep breathing techniques to alleviate panic!

 

[looe]

Devon/Cornwall and other west country hills are evil and best avoided.

Oiiii. I did hate hills but got used to them as I live in Cornwall and have no choice. Fun downhill as well

 

[darkstar]

I enjoy the feeling of dominating a hill, when it's added to headwind though.... good training though I supose.

 

[numbnuts]

I hate them as I get so out of breath and I refuse to get off and push, the day I have to do is the day my bikes go on e-bay

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

As some have already said Hills are part of cycling. Avoiding them means you'll miss out some of the most scenic parts of the countryside. I can't climb for toffee (spare tyre problem ) but I'd feel I was missing out if I didn't keep doing the hills. Needed my granny gear today as it happens (22x19).

 

[mossy]

Love them being born up north.They don't like me as I cannot go up them like I did so long ago.
Its great once you are at the top though!!