How to ride small and/or shallow hills

[briztoon]

Hi guys,

I'm new to cycling. I have taken it up to get fit and lose a bit of weight, about 6 kilos from my gut. I quit smoking in December last year (after smoking for 20+ years) and have watched the weight pack on since. I walk 6 kilometers once or twice a week, but find this is having minimal effect on my weight, but has done wonders for my fitness levels. I used to run cross country and middle to long distance on the track when I was at school, but don't think my knees are up to it any more, hence why I started cycling instead.

Imagine Andy Schleck with a gut and that's me. 5'10" (178cm) and currently at 76kg's. I think 70kg's is a decent target weight.

I live in Brisbane, which is a hilly city, and struggle to maintain speed on even the shorter and/or shallower climbs. Currently I am cycling 25k's to 30k's two or three times a week. I can maintain 25/26k's an hour on the flat (when there is minimal wind), but most of my "speed" washes out rather fast when I hit a hill to about 10 to 12 k's and even slower on steeper or longer climbs.

I work afternoons and nights, so have most days free and get out on the road about 9:30-10:00am after the morning rush.

I've developed the "Dan Martin" bobbing style to climbing hills too.

So are there any techniques I can learn to climb hills? or is just a matter of building strength and endurance.

 

[k_gibbo]

Hills can be tough, the more you ride them the easier they get. Try and spin a bit faster to maintain your speed (90 - 100 cadence). After a while you will get used to the burn in your legs and you will be able to push yourself harder. I would try and stay seated for shallow hills and avoid bobbing, it just wastes energy. Good luck, it will get easier!!

 

[42x16ss]

It's all about leg speed. Remember that it's usually better to be in a gear that's too small than too big as well.

A good place to practice would be some rolling hills close together. Being in Brisbane the best place is coming out of the UQ campus heading towards St Lucia golf course. There are a 4-5 short hills all in a row there, one after the other.

If you are ever out on the River Loop, hit the downhill part on these hills early to get your bike speed and leg speed up for the next hill, DON'T just coast down.

Concentrate on keeping your legs ticking over rather than how fast you are going. As you get a bit stronger try doing this stretch of road 2-3 times in a row, starting with a downhill run each time. This will help you with short, sharp hills no end.

 

[Benotti69]

what was it that Lemond said?

"It never gets easier, you just go faster."