Originally Posted by
Brian Ratliff
Find a climb you can do in 10-20 minutes and do hill intervals up it at maximum constant pace. 2-4 intervals, two or three times a week and you'll be flying. Time yourself between two landmarks on that hill and use those times as benchmarks to get faster. Your power/weight ratio is directly proportional to your climbing speed.
Mashing vs. spinning; doesn't matter. Just get the job done.
This is excellent advice.
I would also suggest lots of sprinting. Flat terrain sprinting is good preparation for the sudden bursts of hard spinning you will have to do when the grade goes up all of the sudden.
And don't understimate the value of miles on your legs. Even flat miles on your legs help develop a good base for those moments when the climbing gets hard.