don't discount what you can learn by trying different things each time you tackle that hill. What fun would it be if someone had the perfect answer for your next hill climb?
Interesting perspective! I will ride it a few more times this year and use a different strategy each time.
Ride the bottom at a lower cadence and save yourself for the steep, top part. Climb the wall at the end out of the saddle.
This is one of the things I will try. First, though, I’ll practice standing more on shallower climbs.
I've found that pedaling technique is lost as I tire. I need to focus on unloading the weight of one leg from the pedals. One way is to push the knee over the top on the pedal stroke. Another focus is to draw the leg back into the heel cup of the shoe at the bottom for a rounder pedal stroke. Either focus seems to work as well for me.
I’ll try this, too. I have little doubt that my pedaling technique was far from textbook near the top!
I stood all the way and it took me 1:59 to the top. I circled around and tried again sitting and it took 1:50.
I’d take 1:59. My climb time was 4:20 – average speed under 4 mph.
My advice would be to find friends to ride the hill with you -- hill climbing can be really fun, and that enthusiasm is ultimately how I got much better at it.
Maybe WarrenR will join me. He could climb the hill twice while I climb it once.
Both times it just about tore my lungs right out of my chest. Now that I've determined my weak point I'm going to try again every now and then. It certainly is an unique workout on the bike.
Unfortunately, I think my weak point is biking.
At least I enjoy it, though.