Training for Hills in the Flatlands

[nickyboy]

To get significantly better at climbing hills you don't need to practice on hills. Of course it's easier to simulate climbing a hill by climbing a hill but you can simulate it on the flat. It just takes some willpower

I do agree that climbing a steep hill for the first time is a bit of a nightmare. It is so difficult to measure your effort. Experience means I inevitably take it too easy to make sure I get up it.

 

[srw]

I feel for you, and I know how you feel living on the Cambs/Beds border, I'm no climber either. But a 17mph average over 20 miles isn't exactly quick. Ride more.

A 17mph average over 20 miles isn't exactly slow either....

 

[mjr]

A large cycling cape, a head wind, a 26 rear wheel and a 29 front and there you go..

You are Granville AICM5P!

I do agree that climbing a steep hill for the first time is a bit of a nightmare. It is so difficult to measure your effort. Experience means I inevitably take it too easy to make sure I get up it.

That's a useful skill that I did pick up in my first stay in the flat lands: you get used to cycling at a power output that you feel you can sustain for some time if needed. I was glad of that when I thought I'd reached the top of a climb after 4km and the road went round a blind bend... and up again

The bit flatlanders can't prepare for so easily is descending and especially how not to cook the brakes.

A 17mph average over 20 miles isn't exactly slow either....

(looks at his 14mph-average good days and his 6.8mph today....) No, it sure isn't

 

[outlash]

A 17mph average over 20 miles isn't exactly slow either....

Given the context of the OP, I think it is.

 

[nickyboy]

Given the context of the OP, I think it is.

I'd suggest that the OPs performance on an hour+ effort isn't terribly relevant to his ability to do steep 5 minute climbs

 

[grellboy]

A 17mph average over 20 miles isn't exactly slow either....

Thank you, was feeling a bit rubbish til I read your reply.

 

[outlash]

I'd suggest that the OPs performance on an hour+ effort isn't terribly relevant to his ability to do steep 5 minute climbs

I'd look at the OP's claim as a general indicator of fitness which is relevant to riding of any type, climbing or otherwise.

 

[briantrumpet]

Proper mountains are much easier to train for on the flat, than the sort of lumpy stuff we have in the UK. With big mountains, gradients tend to be gentler vary relatively little, so just riding on a fairly constant power (like riding on the flat) works well. Get on the stuff that is constantly changing, going up to silly 20%ers or more just pummels the body. The lumpiness of Devon is in many way much more draining than the 600m+ drags you get in the Alps. It's really hard to train for lumpiness without riding it, as it's not just a question of power, or even power-to-weight.

Incidentally, from another post of mine... both of these are about 1000ft per 10 miles, one in the Alps, on on Dartmoor. You can guess which is which...

 

[HLaB]

Thank you, was feeling a bit rubbish til I read your reply.

Never feel bad about you're speed but for a flat area its not the power that'll get you up hills. My friends from the flatlands (fens) who struggle on hills are doing similar 17-19mph and the one's that blow me away on hills are doing up to 24mph average. Your 17mph is a good base but you need to up it and develop the power that will see you well on hills

 

[Jimidh]

A 17mph average over 20 miles isn't exactly slow either....

It's not really that fast over flat terrain on a proper road bike.

 

[grellboy]

It's not really that fast over flat terrain on a proper road bike.

Oh yeah, forgot to mention. Its a cx bike on 32mm rubber.

 

[srw]

It's not really that fast over flat terrain on a proper road bike.

That depends on who you are. Different people are able to ride at different speeds.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Chalkpit Lane is just hideous, as are a number of hills on that part of the ridge (Gangers, Tandridge, Titsey, White La). But I think a lot of it is in the head. My approach to these buggers is to whack it into bottom gear, don't look up and try to get a steady breathing rhythm. Try to relax mentally. I stand up for brief bits just for a change. Toys Hill ( from the south, from the north its Chart Lane, which is easier) is different. Its longer, it has lots of changes of gradient and a terrible surface in places. Its several hills one after another, so mentally I try to vary things a bit with standing up burst and sit down and suffer sections.

I don't think that your speed, either on the flat or uphill - especially not uphill - is relevant. Relaxing and getting into a survival state of mind rather than being impatient to get to the top works for me. Others may differ.

And be very cautious on the downhills. There are a number of hidden driveways on both sides of Toys, so avoid celebrating like a demon.

 

[PK99]

Chalkpit Lane is just hideous, as are a number of hills on that part of the ridge (Gangers, Tandridge, Titsey, White La). But I think a lot of it is in the head. My approach to these buggers is to whack it into bottom gear, don't look up and try to get a steady breathing rhythm. Try to relax mentally. I stand up for brief bits just for a change. Toys Hill ( from the south, from the north its Chart Lane, which is easier) is different. Its longer, it has lots of changes of gradient and a terrible surface in places. Its several hills one after another, so mentally I try to vary things a bit with standing up burst and sit down and suffer sections.

I don't think that your speed, either on the flat or uphill - especially not uphill - is relevant. Relaxing and getting into a survival state of mind rather than being impatient to get to the top works for me. Others may differ.

And be very cautious on the downhills. There are a number of hidden driveways on both sides of Toys, so avoid celebrating like a demon.

Ditchling Beacon is the classic example. 5/6 steeps with less steep bits* in-between. Treat the less steep bits as rest not sprint points and it is much easier!


* In the days of horse and cart the less steep bits were actually flats for the horses to rest on, they were graded with the advent of motor traffic

 

[outlash]

Oh yeah, forgot to mention. Its a cx bike on 32mm rubber.

If it's a proper crosser with 46/36 chainrings and you're climbing in the inner ring, they won't help your cause. A compact set has a 34 inner ring which would make life a little easier.