OLD MESSAGE: I'm your basic flatlander. Love the railstrails around DC and try to get in 25-30 miles a day 5-6 days a week. Recently spend 2 weeks at dauaghter's home in Charlotte. Took my Cannondale along and did some riding. Got to tell you, there ain't no flat spots. Went on a group ride one Saturday and got eaten alive.....So what is the secret with riding these hills? We did 40 miles and I must have got beaten by 45 minutes (and they waited for me at several points). Tell me, you hill and roller folks...what's the deal? Any hints?

Since The Weakest Link has recently posted the every popular "hill question," I thought I would resurrect this thread I started several months ago. It has loads of good advice--and the usual 50+ wise arse remarks.

I took what many of you said to heart. The most basic message was "go ride hills." But there were some technique hints as well as breathing suggestions, psyche games to play with yourself, equipment suggestions and the like. Lots of wisdom here. I encourage everyone who has hill or mountain issues to take a look.

In my own case, I lost some weight, found a partner who was willing to push and pull me up some hills (thanks Bobby C), got a better bike (with a compact crank), and finally, just rode, rode, rode (the fun part). While it did not turn me in to a polka-dot jersey wanna be, it has made me a decent climber who now no longer dreads or avoids the hills.

One little benefit of working on your hill technique that no one mentioned is that nearly everyone hates hills and you can gain a huge psychological (and distance) advantage over a group if you seem to relish the hills and then can pass them going up.

But in the end, speed does not matter. Getting there is all that counts. Tell yourself that when you get to the top you can take a break--you often discover that the prospect of that free ride downhill is all you need.