Dave K
08-05-2002, 03:09 PM
I've had trouble staying with the lead group on one particular long, steep hill known as Geronimo and always faulted my fitness, but I always considered myself a decent hill climber, so I discovered a strategy told to me by more experienced riders and now read in a book that made all the difference.
At the start of a long hill, pick the LOWEST gear that allows you to stay with the pack and seated. The tendency is to want to pick a high gear to "carry a lot of momentum" up the hill, but that only works on short hills where you can reach the top before you lose that momentum. By picking a lower gear that you usually would, then you can keep something in reserve as you near the top where you'll be in a position to cover the attacks that frequently start there. That way when the top is in sight, you can shift up a gear or 2, stand and deliver! Most riders guage their effort level up a hill at a pace that will leave them totally exhausted right at the top or even blow up just prior to reaching it. Using a lower gear will often allow you to catch them as they near the top, and then you are in a position to launch yourself over it and drop them or catch the lead group as they go over it as well.
Of course, this is easier said than done! It takes practice and good conditioning. I've got some really good hills off Stone Oak Pkwy just north of my house to train on. The more I ride them, the easier they get.
At the start of a long hill, pick the LOWEST gear that allows you to stay with the pack and seated. The tendency is to want to pick a high gear to "carry a lot of momentum" up the hill, but that only works on short hills where you can reach the top before you lose that momentum. By picking a lower gear that you usually would, then you can keep something in reserve as you near the top where you'll be in a position to cover the attacks that frequently start there. That way when the top is in sight, you can shift up a gear or 2, stand and deliver! Most riders guage their effort level up a hill at a pace that will leave them totally exhausted right at the top or even blow up just prior to reaching it. Using a lower gear will often allow you to catch them as they near the top, and then you are in a position to launch yourself over it and drop them or catch the lead group as they go over it as well.
Of course, this is easier said than done! It takes practice and good conditioning. I've got some really good hills off Stone Oak Pkwy just north of my house to train on. The more I ride them, the easier they get.