Originally Posted by
atl_biker
do have a medical condition -- my hemoglobin levels are low causing anemia. It may be Thalassemia but it's not officially diagnosed yet. But still, I read about people hitting 15 mph on mountain bikes (on roads, not off-road) when they are still rookies (i.e. not after a year of biking and training heavily) and I wonder why I am so slow.
Anemia can be a huge problem. Consult your doctor for guidance with regards to strenuous cardio activity.
15mph up what type of gradients and for how long?
Climbing is a simple matter of power to weight. I don't know how you're built, but I'd guess you could probably stand to lose about 5-10 lbs... gradually. Then you need to increase power through training. App-based indoor training with a power meter is where it's at right now. You can see huge gains in less than 6 months.