Chris Carmichael: Skills and Climbing, Hill Accelerations

[griffknows]

im 19 and ride 220 plus miles a week, training with a 50 pound mountain bike sometimes is very helpful and you will see the differences in time

[dc5606006]

im 19 and i am going to be the next best thing. i cycle over 140 miles a week and that number is increasing. im looking for local sponsors.

[donkiko3000]

@dc5606006 Im 16, I have no life, I'm a rower, getting my first road bike on Tuesday. So good luck with that, I have three years to catch up :P

[brandonformanes]

@dc5606006 Sounds cool; get on a club team first. 20 miles a day is cake, 42 miles of rolling hills with constant attacks, that is hard. My junior team typically rides 10 miles Monday, 30 miles Tuesday, 40 to 50 miles Wednesday, 20 or 30 miles of hard climbing/race simulation on Thursday, individual stuff/rest day on Friday, then a Cat 4 race, sometimes double up with a Cat 4 and Cat 3/4, or a 52 mi ride with rolling hills that is technically a race, then Sunday another race day. Repeat.

[1997danielh]

@dc5606006 im 13 and i can easily hit 65km/h... on a flat.

[SuperJonathanmunoz]

@1997danielh you should post a video of that. i'm 16 and can only hit 35mph (about 56km/h)

[TheRohBoat]

@1997danielh k

[DubstepAdict]

@yetibiker08 Mountain bikers also train on road bikes, did you know lance armstrong was a mountain biker ? :)

[yetibiker08]

@DubstepAdict

Of course that is why I watch Adam Craig, Carl Decker, Julian Absalon, Dave Weins and Lance when I can but this video sounds like an underwear commercial

[yetibiker08]

dude that pedaling stroke looks so gay and who is your girlfriend?

[Ris200]

@yetibiker08 ya!

[jcc2150]

just any hill should be ok? if 10% is good, i found my hill...just need to train on it...

[dwcubatch83]

you're just talking, not demonstrating. get out of the bike!!

[animation508]

What about longer climbs? I'm ok at sprints but I keep getting dropped on climbs. I'm the youngest in the group of riders (14 when most are in their 30's) so I should have the ability to train for this. The problem is as soon as I hit the hill my legs die on me. Is there a technique for pacing yourself? Are there any other training exercises I can do?

[icramer]

@animation508 You may want to try another of Chris's techniques... The Big Fade

Also, just ride more. Hills are your best friend for getting better! Keep up the good work.

[chrisbear08]

@animation508 Invest in a cadence computer, there around 40-90$ at your LBS. When (or if you get one) spin up the hill at around 70-80rpm. Why? Anything less will put to much strain on your knees, and anything over will tire you out more quickly due to high revoloutions.

And practice, practice, practice. Cyclist of any level (beginner-pro) once had the same difficulties.

[slickfast]

@animation508 Just to add to these other good comments, I recommend using the off season by training on an indoor trainer. They provide constant, relentless resistance which is what you need to become comfortable with in order to conquer those hills. I wouldn't go into the 70s on a hillclimb... shoot for 80s. Going lower or higher wouldn't kill you, but that's a nice pace for legs typically. Use the trainer to get comfortable at higher rpms too... it's a very good tool to have on your belt.

[deezynar]

That's good advice. Thanks.