Road Cycling - When Climbing I Look At . . .

I used to focus on the road right in front of me. Watching the horizon or top of the hill was too depressing as it always seemed so far away.

This year I seem to watch the horizon more as I'm climbing better.

I tend to watch the road in front of me
(3-5 metres) with an occaisional glance
at the top of the hill to see how bad
my progress is :lol:

Marty

Originally posted by lotek
I tend to watch the road in front of me
(3-5 metres) with an occaisional glance
at the top of the hill to see how bad
my progress is :lol:

Marty

Ditto - I also try to avoid looking at my front tyre just incase I find I'm going slow enough to count the individual threads ;)

I try not to look at the road or anything. Believe it or not I can blank out (which could be the reason I am a horrible climber). I also stare at my handlebars or the scenery.

I'm with lotek and Richard D. I look just ahead of me to see if there is glass or other debris to avoid and rarely look at the top because it always seems that the closer I get the further away it is.

I was going to vote for "all of the above" but you failed to include it. :(
:D

My HRM, to see how much longer i have to live :)

i look at the road behind me to see how far ive gone :D

I watch the drops of sweat falling to the pavement!

I get a mean grimmace on and stare blankly in front of me, occaissionly looking at my HRM to see if I'm going to be able to make it to the top.

Usually I watch all the people passing me! Odd, some that pass me can motivate me to greater efforts, other make me want to turn around.
kev:crash: ;)

Originally posted by lotek
I tend to watch the road in front of me
(3-5 metres) with an occaisional glance
at the top of the hill to see how bad
my progress is.
Me too. But I also keep a close eye on the bike computer. If it's a long hill I set myself a speed and stick on it. If I start dropping beneath it I put on more effort. If I didn't have that fixed reference point I'd keep getting slower and slower.

I do a quick review of my life insurance policy. :eek:

The scenery. This is one of the best things about climbing.

I look at my computer, and if read very low on speed, I tried to increase it a notch, and look at the road infront of me, then look at the view that surround me anything to keep my mind from going back how hard it is to climb the hills, and then all of a sudden I am over the hills what an exhilarating expirience

It depends on the circumstances. I recall I had one long climb in the rockies and had a tailwind. It was aggravating being passed by butterflies. Butterflies!*%&^&*!

Usually, I look at the top of the hill and the road ahead of me. Sometimes I look at the south end of the northbound riders pulling away from me or if I am the MAN, I glance back at the contorted faces of the people behind me as they fall farter and farther behind me.

I look a little ahead of the bike for small goals to pass....a crack in the pavement, a mailbox, roadkill, whatever, then pretty soon, I am pedalling easier, 'cause I am at the top!
This last weekend, I had the pleasure of watching a lady work hills. She was a hoot! Short little gal riding a hybrid, and when she got to a hill, she would cross her arms and get down on the bars to get a little more aero, get a good cadence going, and just kick some a$$!!