Originally Posted by
Red Rider
If spinning up the hill in a low gear/high cadence isn't an option, then concentrate on pulling your knees up. Think "pull, pull, pull" instead of "push, push, push." Scraping the feet (pulling back with the heel at the bottom of the pedal stroke) is also helpful.
And yeah, practice. Hill repeats are painful but really pay off in the long run.
I think that's very true. I find when I am letting the climb beat me I just put my head down and mash. When I am attacking a hill I am using the full stroke, pulling back and down and then up and forward - you can hear my speed play cleats clicking away as the force is going back and forth. I think I just need to focus on pedal stroke and not so much on when will I get to the top of the hill.
I guess that's my mission for today as I have a nice litte 1200' climb on tap with grades ranging from 6% to 8% - will be riding alone so I can focus on form rather than keeping with the pack.